Apple TV+ expands library
Apple TV+ expanded its film library in the U.S. adding 20 licensed movies. The service is currently offering Apple TV+ subscribers popular movies for free, including Anchorman, Silver Linings Playbook, and the Hunger Games series. Notably, these titles are linked to similar content on the service, offering viewers a reason to tune in longer. While these titles are only available for a limited time, if successful, look for Apple to rollout additional licensed content in the future.
The NPD Take:
- The service will need to continue to expand its content offering to help subscribers rationalize staying after the recent price increase.
- Apple continues to carefully curate its programming by matching relevant and premium programming to its core offering. This is quite a different approach than the broad offerings of a Netflix or targeted programming mix of a Hallmark Movies Now.
Amazon plans to invest in movies for theaters
Amazon is planning to spend more than $1 billion on movies that will be released in theatres for a total of 12-15 movies/year. This number is similar to major studios such as Paramount Pictures showing that Amazon intends to be a key competitor in this space. They will start releasing a few movies in theaters next year and increase quantity over time. Amazon Prime will likely air these movies at some point after their theatrical release. This model goes back to the traditional approach where a studio such as Paramount releases Top Gun: Maverick in the theater and then generates home entertainment revenues on the back end, so 1990.
The NPD Take:
- Studios continue to find movies are more valuable in home when they first have a theatrical run. As such, Amazon is pivoting from prioritizing streaming to fueling streaming with valuable content.
- Anyone surprised here? The company did just invest over $8 billion to purchase the iconic MGM studios known for A-level theatrical franchises like James Bond.
Fubo Sports Network is available on Freevee
Fubo Sports Network is now available on Amazon’s ad supported Freevee platform, vastly increasing its reach to sports fans at no additional cost. Fubo reports FSN is now on 155 million devices across streaming platforms. FSN recently added two new series of original programming Airing It Out with Housh and Scandrick and The Young Person Basketball Podcast with R.J. Hampton further expanding their content offering.
The NPD Take:
- Sports on a FAST platform, times are changing. Of note, FSN increased its viewership by 121% in September YoY.