Apple TV+ still feels outside of the primary streaming competition

The Ringer

"Nearly a year and a half after its launch, the service feels like an outlier in a field that’s rapidly expanded even in its short lifetime," says Alison Herman. "Owned by a tech company rather than an entertainment giant, Apple TV+ doesn’t have the massive vault of IP driving Disney+, HBO Max, Peacock, or Paramount+. Nor does it enjoy the head start that allowed Netflix to build a subscriber base with leased catalogs before going all in on originals, or that allowed Amazon to experiment with gimmicks like a virtual pilot season until it found an equilibrium. And at just $5 a month—not including free trials, many of which are still ongoing—Apple TV+ is priced like an add-on rather than a full-fledged cable alternative."