Apple announces original content, a credit card and a news subscription service

Apple’s big services event didn’t disappoint, with a bunch of potentially disruptive launches accompanied by new levels of hyperbole and clapping.

The headline service was Apple TV+, which marks Apple’s first major foray into original content. We were treated to an interminable procession of Hollywood types, starting with Stephen Spielberg and culminating with Oprah Winfrey, all taking it in turns to come onto the stage and hype their projects. Judging by the line-up Apple has realised it needs to spend big if it wants to take on the likes of Netflix.

As ever the audience of media and analysts at the live event were about as objective and sceptical as hungry puppies. Every pause in the polished narrative was filled with rapturous applause and ecstatic whoops. So choreographed was it that we wouldn’t be surprised if there were actual prompts and the tendency to cheer at the mere mention of a new product without waiting to even find out anything about it was especially jarring.

Even more so was Apple CEO Tim Cook’s toe-curling hyperbole. “TV at its best enriches our lives and we can share it with the people we love,” he pronounced at the start of the TV announcement. The original content bit was preceded with the revelation that “great stories can change the world.” This sort of stuff was pretty hard to stomach when Steve Jobs was delivering it, but his messianic zeal just about pulled it off. Cook offers little such salve.

The other potentially disruptive announcement was a new Apple credit card called Apple Card. This had been rumoured for a while and, as expected, it has been created in partnership with Goldman Sachs and MasterCard. In reference to Apple Pay Cook felt compelled to say “Its growth has been literally off the charts.” The most intriguing part of the card is the offer of 2% cash back on every purchase, which makes you wonder how much merchants are going to get stung for its use. There’s also a physical card made out of titanium that only offers 1% for some reason.

Apart from that we got a couple of new subscription services. The more significant one is for news and magazines that will set you back a tenner a month and will be positioned as a potential solution to the cash crisis faced by the media, but let’s see. “We believe in the power of journalism,” said Cook. There was also a teaser for a games subscription service that will offer exclusive titles and make it easier to play across platforms.

“We’re honoured that the absolute best line-up of storytellers in the world — both in front of and behind the camera — are coming to Apple TV+,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s SVP of Internet Software and Services. “We’re thrilled to give viewers a sneak peek of Apple TV+ and cannot wait for them to tune in starting this fall. Apple TV+ will be home to some of the highest quality original storytelling that TV and movie lovers have seen yet.”

“Apple Card builds on the tremendous success of Apple Pay and delivers new experiences only possible with the power of iPhone,” said Jennifer Bailey, VP of Apple Pay. “Apple Card is designed to help customers lead a healthier financial life, which starts with a better understanding of their spending so they can make smarter choices with their money, transparency to help them understand how much it will cost if they want to pay over time and ways to help them pay down their balance.”

“We’re committed to supporting quality journalism, and with Apple News+, we want to celebrate the great work being done by magazines and news outlets,” said Lauren Kern, Editor in Chief of Apple News. “We think the breadth and quality of publications within Apple News+ will encourage more people to discover stories and titles they may never have come across before.”

Note Apple News has an Editor in Chief. Cook made it clear that Apple would only serve up the right kind of news for its subscribers and he has been clear about his willingness to impose a moral filter on everything Apple does. You have to wonder how empowered to interfere with the content published on Apple News this Editor in Chief will be.

“This represents a landmark moment for Apple with a major event solely focussed on services,” said Analyst Paolo Pescatore, who was at the event. “It underlines a growing and strong focus on services as a future source of revenue growth. In essence Apple is seeking to become a Netflix of everything in services; music, news and magazines, video and games.

“Netflix has done a great job to date. However, more content and media owners will pull programming off its offering. This represents a significant opportunity for the likes of Apple who has scale and greater resources. There are too many players chasing too few dollars. The market will evolve towards a handful of players in the future.”

Apple idiosyncrasies aside this felt like a fairly solid  launch event. The company has an amazing track record of disrupting industries and seems likely to do so again with original TV content and consumer finance. The scene is set for a content arms race with only the biggest spenders likely to survive and Apple has a deepest pockets of all. Game on, here are some vids.