Apple's Original Programming to Launch in Early 2019 [Report]

Apple is planning to launch its original programming in early 2019, according to a new report from the New York Times. The company has made deals for twelve projects since October, with nine of them being straight-to-series orders, skipping the pilot episode stage.

Following its lackluster Planet of the Apps show, Apple hired veteran television executives Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht away from Sony Pictures Television. The two executives began building Apple Worldwide Video from the ground up, expanding it staff to about 40 people and opening divisions for adult dramas, children's shows and Latin American and European programming.

Working with a budget of around $1 billion, Apple made deals with Reese Witherspoon (three shows), Steven Spielberg, Damien Chazelle, M. Night Shyamalan, Jennifer Aniston, Octavia Spencer and Kristen Wiig.


Producers and entertainment executives who have met recently with Apple executives said the company has been leaning toward programming in keeping with its bright, optimistic brand identity. In other words, it seems possible that Apple will shy away from projects that are gratuitously dark or heavy on social issues. They added that the company was targeting somewhere between March 2019 and the summer of that year to roll out its slate of new programming.

It's still unclear how Apple plans to launch its original content. Episodes will likely appear in the TV app which lets you browse shows from various service providers; however, it's not known if users will need a paid subscription. It's possible that Apple could rebrand its Apple Music subscription to include other types of content.

More details in the full report linked below...

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