by Thinus Ferreira
Overnight Apple TV+ in South Africa has undergone a massive price hike of 47% in South Africa - its first-ever - immediately jumping from R84.99 per month to a whopping R124.99 per month, following a $2 price hike in America that was applied to South Africa as well without any warning.
Apple says Apple TV+ will now cost more since the video streaming service's content offering has grown and it has more content available for subscribers to watch.
A rep from DNA Brand Architects didn't immediately have a response from Apple about the soaring price increase in South Africa when asked about it in a media query late on Monday night.
This is the first-ever price hike for Apple TV+ in the United States, as well as in South Africa and elsewhere in the world.
Besides the shocking Apple TV+ price hike, Apple Music is also becoming much more expensive, surging from R59.99 to R69.99 per month - a sudden increase of 16.7%. The Apple Music Family plan jumped a whopping 22.2% overnight from R89.99 to R109.99 per month, while Apple One surged from R139.99 to R179.99 per month.
In the South African market, Apple TV+ is competing against Netflix SA, MultiChoice's Showmax, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, VIU, Britbox SA, eMedia's eVOD, Acorn TV, and others, who all want to sign up subscribers who have access to internet broadband, with more streamers like SABC+, Paramount+, NBCUniversal's Peacock, and Warner Bros. Discovery's combined HBO Max and discovery+ still to launch in the country.
In a statement Apple says "We introduced Apple TV+ at a very low price because we started with just a few shows and movies".
"Three years later, Apple TV+ is home to an extensive selection of award-winning and broadly acclaimed series, feature films, documentaries, and kids and family entertainment from the world's most creative storytellers."
About the Apple Music price hike, Apple says "The change to Apple Music is due to an increase in licensing costs, and in turn, artists and songwriters will earn more for the streaming of their music. We also continue to add innovative features that make Apple Music the world's best listening experience".