The Town with Matthew Belloni Apple’s Hollywood Identity Crisis: Who Do They Want to Be?
43 snips
Mar 22, 2025 
Julia Alexander, a media correspondent at Puck specializing in streaming video analysis, joins to discuss Apple’s identity crisis in Hollywood. They dive into the challenges Apple faces in the streaming market, highlighting hits like ‘Severance’ but also subscriber retention issues. The conversation critiques Apple’s cautious content strategy, debating the balance between prestige and popularity. They also touch on the future of the James Bond franchise, speculating on potential directors and the importance of strong creative leadership.
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Apple's Content Spending and Subscriber Retention
- Apple TV+ spends $4-5 billion annually on content, much less than competitors like Netflix or Disney.
- Despite high-quality content and big stars, Apple TV+ struggles to retain subscribers and faces a potential $1 billion annual loss.
Apple's Unclear Streaming Strategy
- Apple's strategy with Apple TV+ is unclear, with some questioning their commitment to the streaming market.
- Despite producing hits like 'Severance', Apple's challenge lies in subscriber retention, not content creation.
Apple TV+'s Distribution Challenge
- Apple TV+ faces a distribution problem, not a content problem, according to a rival executive.
- The platform's limited accessibility compared to established cable systems hinders its growth.
