Another week, another streaming service increasing its price: Following its price hike last year, Apple TV+ has once again decided to raise its subscription cost in the UK.
As of now, subscribing to Apple TV+ will set back UK customers by £8.99 a month, a notable jump from the previous £6.99 monthly charge.
New subscribers will be charged the new prices immediately, whereas existing subscribers will be notified about the price increase, which will then take effect from their next billing date.
This move comes amidst a broader adjustment in the pricing of Apple’s digital services, which also sees a price increment in Apple Arcade, Apple News+, and the Apple One bundle (see full details below).
Apple attributes these price alterations to its commitment towards delivering premium experiences to its customers, underscored by the continual addition of high-quality entertainment, content, and innovative features across its services.
The previous price hike, which occurred exactly one year ago in October 2022, saw Apple TV+ moving from a monthly cost of £4.99 to £6.99.
So, within a year, Apple TV+ has transitioned from being one of the most affordably priced streaming services in the UK at an initial £4.99 per month, to now being on the higher end of the spectrum with the new monthly charge of £8.99.
In one bit of good news, it seems Apple TV+ has brought back the 7-day free trial of the service, which was discontinued last month.
The price hike joins other streaming services that have announced price hikes in the UK – from Netflix, to Disney+ (which is raising prices next week), Amazon’s Prime Video, and others that will possibly join the trend in the near future.
What Is Apple TV+?
Apple TV+ has gradually carved a niche for itself in a highly competitive market dominated by established streaming players like Netflix, Amazon’s Prime Video, and Disney+.
The service’s unique selling proposition lies in its exclusive focus on original programming, unlike other platforms that offer a blend of original and licensed content.
This strategy has resulted in critically acclaimed shows such as Ted Lasso, Foundation, Hijack, and Silo, among others, which have contributed to its growing popularity despite its relatively smaller content library.
Apple TV+ lets you share your subscription with up to five family members – and, as of this writing, there are no known plans from Apple’s side to restrict account sharing, something that’s already being done by Netflix as well as Disney+.
It’s worth noting that over the years, there have been quite a few ways to get Apple TV+ for free. For example, if you buy a new iOS device (iPhone, iPad etc.), you can get 3 free months.
Roku is also currently running an offer where new and existing owners of their streaming devices can get Apple TV+ for free, also for 3 months.
And there are plenty of other offers that come and go – from Sky, to Currys and others. Therefore, there are still ways to go around the current price hike.
More Apple Services Seeing Price Hikes
While the spotlight is on Apple TV+, it’s important to note the parallel price adjustments across other Apple digital services.
Apple Arcade now stands at £6.99/month, up from £4.99, while Apple News+ has moved from £9.99 to £12.99 per month, and Apple One from £16.95 to £18.95 per month.
According to Apple, Arcade has nearly tripled its game titles since its debut, providing players with a more extensive variety to choose from.
Similarly, Apple News+ has broadened its scope by including over 450 publications, a notable rise from its initial offering, alongside added features like narrated audio articles and daily crossword puzzles.
Apple’s Response
In a statement given to 9to5Mac, Apple had this to say about the price increases:
“The subscription prices for Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+, and Apple One will increase in the US and select international markets beginning today.
“Existing subscribers will see these price increases 30 days later, on their next renewal date. We are focused on delivering the best experiences possible for our customers by consistently adding high-quality entertainment, content, and innovative features to our services.
“Since launching four years ago, Apple TV+ has made history for streaming services by crossing major milestones in a short span of time, thanks to its extensive selection of award-winning and broadly acclaimed series, feature films, documentaries, and kids and family entertainment.”
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