Although Apple TV+ is one of the few streaming services without commercials, the company is reportedly talking to media agencies about adding adverts to its shows.
If true, Apple is likely considering a cheaper ad-supported tier for TV+, not forcing all subscribers to watch commercials.
Apple TV+ could be getting on the ad bandwagon
Hulu has always given subscribers the option to watch adverts and pay less for its streaming content. Some of its biggest rivals resisted, but earlier in 2022 both Netflix and Disney+ announced ad-supported plans. Apple TV+ might be joining them.
The Mac-maker held discussions about “a more serious push into monetizing its original video content with an ad play,” according to an unconfirmed report from Digiday. The source is multiple sources at media agencies that allegedly met with Apple to discuss TV advertising.
The meetings are with Todd Teresi, Apple’s VP, Advertising Platforms. “During these meetings, Teresi described what the agency sources characterized as an unusual approach to selling ad time on Apple TV,” according to Digiday. No additional details are available.
The sources indicated that commercials won’t be on the streaming service in 2022, making 2023 the earliest they might appear.
How they’ll affect Apple TV+ subscription prices is not yet known. The service is only $4.99 a month, much less than most of its rivals. Cupertino could be planning to follow in the footsteps of Disney+, which raised the cost of its no-advert option and added a new ad-supported tier for what the no-ads version used to cost.
This isn’t the first unconfirmed report that Apple intends to put adverts in TV+. Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman mentioned the possibility in August, but without details.
More and more ads
Apple plans to put ads in many more places than its streaming service. The company revealed this summer that a paid advertisement will be added to the Today tab of the App Store. And Apple will reportedly start showing ads inside Apple Maps on iPhone starting in 2023.
That raises questions about where else commercials might show up. Apple Music is a possibility – unlike arch-rival Spotify, it doesn’t offer a free ad-supported tier.
