Apple announces Apple TV+ video streaming service, will be available in 100+ countries including India this fall

Apple has officially forayed into the video streaming market with Apple TV+. Apple announced the long-rumored Netflix-rival Apple TV+ video streaming service at a star studded 'It's show time' keynote event at the Steve Jobs Theatre at Apple Park, California on Monday night. While exact pricing and availability specifics are still under the wraps, Apple confirmed that Apple TV+ will launch in over 100 countries including in India this fall (sometime in September). 

The Apple TV+ service will be part of a new and updated Apple TV app - which will also see Apple hosting on-demand TV channels and third-party streaming services including Hulu and Amazon Prime Video (but no Netflix) all under one roof (available in May). Moreover, Apple will be also bringing its Apple TV app to the Mac, smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony and Vizio, as well as streaming devices from Amazon and Roku - so more people will be able to access its new service(s).  

Apple is touting Apple TV+ as an ad-free original video subscription service that will allow subscribers to stream "a host of original shows, movies and documentaries, created by the world’s most celebrated creative artists, including Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Octavia Spencer, J.J. Abrams, Jason Momoa, M. Night Shyamalan, Jon M. Chu and more." 

“We’re honored that the absolute best lineup of storytellers in the world - both in front of and behind the camera - are coming to Apple TV+,” Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services said in a statement. “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 is said to be investing over $1 billion to produce in-house original content this year - but Netflix is spending even more. And the fact that Apple did not have any trailer to show off its new collaborative efforts show there's still a lot of work to be done. But going by Apple's history and its bang-on services game (thanks to a billion Apple devices worldwide), Apple might just be able to pull this off. Regardless, it will be interesting to see how Apple approaches its next frontier, especially in India where its products/services generally cost more in comparison to say in the US.