Apple on Monday afternoon announced that it is rebranding its Apple TV+ video streaming service to simply Apple TV and dropping the "+".
Apple TV+ will no longer be distinguishable from Apple's connected smart TV product.
"Apple TV+ is now simply Apple TV, with a vibrant new identity," Apple said in a press release announcing that its Apple Original Film F1 The Movie will be released for global streaming on Apple TV on 12 December.
Netflix will abruptly stop working on thousands of TV sets from today - over 60 models from Sony - even though the remote control has a dedicated Netflix-button, as well as from some Apple TV models as well.
Netflix says viewers' TV sets are too old, although it is TV sets which are about a decade old which according to Netflix now have technical limitations.
In an on-screen message, affected Sony TV model owners are told "Unfortunately, Netflix will no longer be available on this device. Visit netflix.com/compatabledevices to see a list of supported devices."
From today Netflix is abruptly ending support of its Netflix app on these 16 Sony TV models:
KDL-60W610B
KDL-60W630B
KDL-55X830B
KDL-65X830B
KDL-70X830B
XBR-55X800B
XBR-65X800B
XBR-49X850B
XBR-55X850B
XBR-65X850B
XBR-70X850B
XBR-55X900B
XBR-65X900B
XBR-79X900B
XBR-65X950B
XBR-85X950B
On 24 July, the Netflix app will stop working on another 42 Sony TV models:
S9 Series
KD-65S9005B
KD-75S9005B
W5 Series
KDL-48W585B
W6 Series
KDL-40W605B
KDL-48W605B
KDL-60W605B
W7 Series
KDL-32W705B
KDL-32W706B
KDL-42W705B
KDL-42W706B
KDL-50W705B
KDL-50W706B
W70 Series
KDL-32W705C
KDL-40W705C
KDL-48W705C
W8 Series
KDL-42W805B
KDL-42W815B
KDL-42W817B
KDL-42W828B
KDL-42W829B
KDL-50W805B
KDL-50W815B
KDL-50W817B
KDL-50W828B
KDL-50W829B
KDL-55W805B
KDL-55W815B
KDL-55W817B
KDL-55W828B
KDL-55W829B
W85 Series
KDL-60W855B
W95 Series
KDL-55W955B
KDL-65W955B
X85 Series
KD-49X8505B
KD-55X8505B
KD-65X8505B
KD-70X8505B
X9 Series
KD-55X9005B
KD-65X9005B
KD-79X9005B
X95 Series
KD-65X9505B
KD-85X9505B
On 31 July the Netflix app will no longer work on second and third-generation Apple TVs.
Netflix in a message is telling older Apple TV users: "You're receiving this email because you've used Apple TV (2nd generation) and/or Apple TV (3rd generation) with Netflix in the past. Unfortunately, we will no longer support these devices from 31 July 2024."
"We know this can be frustrating, but we're doing this to ensure you maintain the best possible viewing experience."
Apple is taking on Netflix in the video streaming wars with its new Apple TV+ streaming service that will launch later in 2019.
Apple TV+ will give users access to a bunch of new drama series, films and documentaries currently in development and in production, in partnership with marquee banner-names ranging from Oprah Winfrey and Jennifer Aniston to Steven Spielberg, J.J. Abrams and M. Night Shyamalan.
As was expected from Apple's "Show Time" media announcement it made Monday evening in its Steve Jobs Theatre at its Apple Park headquarters in Cupertino, California and streamed worldwide, Apple is entering the subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) market to compete against the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime Video with its own roster of high-quality original TV and film content.
Apple is upgrading its Apple TV app that will include Apple TV Channels and that will start in May 2019 in more than 130 countries, with Apple that will announce the pricing of its Apple TV+ pay-TV service later in the year.
Apple TV+ bosses Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg said that users will be able to stream watch shows or download them, entirely ad-free, with more content that will be added monthly.
Apple has already spent more than $1 billion to produce over 20 drama series and comedies, as well as films and documentaries to create its first-ever slate of Apple Originals, with more on its way.
"Our vision for the Apple TV app is to bring together your favourite shows, movies, sports and news and make them available on all of your devices," Tim Cook, Apple CEO, said.
Apple played both a black-and-white vignette of all the stars, producers, writers and directors talking about the creative process(above), as well as a short sizzle-reel teasing some of its upcoming content (below).
Steven Spielberg is the executive producer of a new reboot of his former science fiction anthology series for Apple, Amazing Stories.
Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Steve Carell will star in The Morning Show, a backstage drama series following the behind-the-scenes conflict at an American breakfast show, with the show that has a two-season 20-episode order.
Jason Momoa and Alfre Woodard have starring roles in the 10-episode See, a science fiction drama series set hundreds of years in the future where what's left of mankind lost the sense of sight and only a few people who still believe that mankind once had the ability to see with their eyes.
Kumail Nanjiani is doing an anthology series Little Americaabout immigrants.
Oprah Winfrey took to the Apple stage at the end, announcing two documentary projects, as well as a plan for an Apple-Oprah book club, saying she decided to team up with Apple TV+ "because they're in a billion pockets y'all".
"The Apple platform allows me to do what I do in a whole new way – to take everything I've learned about connecting to people to the next level. Because they're in a billion pockets y'all," said Oprah.
"The whole world has them in their hands and that presents a major opportunity to make a major impact. I'm proud and honoured to be part of this platform. My intention is to illuminate consciousness and create greater awareness with leaders, artists and newsmakers."
Oprah's Book Club returns Oprah Winfrey also plans to relaunch and return her Book Club made famous by her TV talk show.
"I want to convene a meeting of the mind connecting us through books. For me there is nothing more thrilling than being transported by a brilliant book."
"The only other thing more gratifying than an extraordinary read is being able to share that experience with others, and we're going to do just that by building the biggest, the most vibrant, the most stimulating Book Club on the planet!" Oprah Winfrey exclaimed.
"Imagine where Apple stores stream a conversation with the author and me, live across all devices, across all borders, uniting people to stories that remind us that no matter who you are, or where you are from, every man, woman and child looks up in awe at the same stuff."
"For as long as I remember, I had this dream for us all to someday realize that deep potential that we're all each born to, abides in every soul; I know this to be true."
"My deepest hope is that we all, humans, get to be the fullest version of ourselves as human being, to join in the mission and vision for our common good, to leave this world more enlightened, kinder and better than we found it, and to move together one billion-plus strong into a future of our own design, all connected through Apple!"
South African TV viewers will be able to buy Apple TV, in essence Apple's own set-top box (STB) for the first time from this Friday, a very strong indicator that Apple plans to soon add TV shows to its iTunes service for South Africa.
The commercial roll-out of the hardware would make no sense without content to play through it, and now Apple TV will start selling locally from Friday at the recommended retail price of R1 099.
With the device already used in other countries and by South Africans who've bought it overseas, South African viewers channel TV content such as television shows, films and even music through the box which connects to iTunes as well as to other content receptacles within its reach. Content is then streamed to TV sets.
The Apple TV will be available from Friday in South Africa from Makro, Incredible Connection, Dion, Wired, Hi-Fi Corp, Digicape and iStore.
