Apple’s new TV shows will be squeaky clean

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The TV app coralls all your favorite content.
The TV app may become the distribution channel for Apple's original shows.
Photo: Apple

Apple wants to create a hit TV show that’s as popular as Game of Thrones only without all the nudity and violence.

According to a new report, Hollywood talent pitching Apple’s TV team has been informed that the company wants to make original shows that are suitable for all audiences so they can be played at Apple stores.

Apple plans to spend $1 billion on original content in the next year. How it plans to distribute those shows is still a bit unclear, but Apple is prepping to have a slate of shows ready by 2019.

Bloomberg reports that Apple’s new shows won’t be placed on Apple Music, which will limit its focus to music-related video.

“The company plans to release the first few projects to everyone with an Apple device, potentially via its TV app, and top executives don’t want kids catching a stray nipple. Every show must be suitable for an Apple Store. Instead of the nudity, raw language, and violence that have become staples of many TV shows on cable or streaming services, Apple wants comedies and emotional dramas with broad appeal, such as the NBC hit This Is Us, and family shows like Amazing Stories.”

Apple’s desire to make shows with mass appeal has already hindered some of its efforts though. The report claims the launch of Carpool Karaoke was delayed earlier this year because Tim Cook demanded foul language and “references to vaginal hygiene” be scrubbed from some episodes.

So far Apple’s original content efforts have fizzled. Planet of the Apps and Carpool Karaoke haven’t earned rave reviews. Apple is hoping to change that though by bringing on two former Sony executives who helped bring Breaking Bad to AMC. Just don’t expect Apple to have any shows about a high school chemistry teachers turning into a drug lord any time soon.

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