Apple TV+ is about to face the biggest test of its HBO strategy yet

The biggest Apple TV+ hit to date, Severance, is airing its season finale next week. Apple wants to keep all of its new subscribers who joined TV+ for Severance. And as part of doing that, its current HBO-inspired content strategy is about to be put to the test. Apple TV+ is following HBO’s playbook with quality over quantity Historically, HBO has built a strong following through producing high-quality TV shows. It doesn’t churn out the most content, but it tends to make some of the best. Apple TV+ has sought to follow the same playbook, and has even been called ‘new HBO’ at times. Yet even HBO, in the current streaming era, isn’t succeeding on its own. It’s bundled into the larger Max subscription that offers access to a vast library of hits from Warner Bros. and more. Apple, meanwhile, continues to bet that it can keep viewers subscribed if at least one prestige show is airing at a time. It’s all originals, all the time for Apple. That strategy is about to be tested by Severan ... Read full article.