Apple's rival to Netflix will launch with a number of high-profile original shows
Details of Apple's new TV streaming service Apple TV Plus first emerged earlier this year, but now a launch date has been confirmed - as well as an update on the original shows that it will feature.
As revealed at yesterday's keynote event, Apple TV Plus is set to go live on November 1st and will cost Irish users €4.99 a month.
Apple are attempting to go toe-to-toe with Netflix and the forthcoming Disney+ service by investing a reported $6 billion into developing original titles. Their titles include the previously-announced 'The Morning Show', starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Steve Carrell, and 'For All Mankind', an alternative-reality sci-fi series about the space race.
The others will be 'See', a post-apocalyptic sci-fi series starring Jason Momoa and 'Dickinson', a Hailee Steinfeld-starring drama about poet Emily Dickinson. Distribution rights for Bryce Dallas Howard's 'Dads' documentary has also been snapped up by Apple.
Other titles that will be available on the launch date include various kids' TV shows, like 'Snoopy in Space' and 'Helpsters', a reboot of '90s kids series 'Ghostwriter', a new series developed by M. Night Shyamalan called 'Servant' and drama series 'Truth Be Told', based on Kathleen Barber's novel 'Are You Sleeping'.
€4.99 is certainly an attractive price point, but it clearly doesn't touch the wealth of choice offered by Netflix... yet. Apple is expected to roll out further new series over the coming months.
In addition, Apple customers who buy a new iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Mac or Apple TV will also get free access to Apple TV Plus for a year. Up to six family members will be able to share the one subscription, using their own Apple ID and password.