TechApple TV+ Arrives in the Middle East This Fall

So the rumours were true. Apple is going head-to-head with streaming services such as Netflix and StarzPlay with Apple TV+ this Fall 2019.

At its invite-only show at the Steve Jobs Theatre in California, Apple brought out the Hollywood big guns. It was a show of force by the company, and one that proves it ha been tinkering behind the scenes for some time.

The line-up of stars that Apple wheeled out for its show was blinding. Jennifer Aniston, Jason Momoa and legendary movie maker Steven Spielberg are all in support of the service, and will star or produce exclusive Apple shows.

As well as original shows, Apple TV+ subscribers (price TBA) will get access to the latest movies and documentaries, too.

Showtime

The Apple TV+ exclusive shows announced so far are…

• The Morning Show - Steve Carrell, Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston newsroom satire.
• Home Before Dark - Based on true life events of an eleven-year-old unearthing a cold case crime.
• See - Jason Momoa stars in a dystopia where everyone has become blind.
• Mythic Quest - Always Sunny’s Rob McElhenney and Charlie Day star in a comedy about video games.
• Helpsters - Fun kids show from the people behind Sesame Street.
• Toxic Labor - Documentary on work-based harassment.
• Little Voice - Sara Bareilles and Jessie Nelson star in a dramedy with musical interludes.
• Amazing Stories - Steven Spielberg vehicle with fantasy tales.
• Truth be Told - Aaron Paul fronted crime drama.
• For All Mankind - Sci-fi adventure about the space race between the US and Soviet Union.
• Dickinson - Comedy about the late American poet Emily Dickinson.
• Hala - A mysterious feature film.
• Dear - Almost zero details about a show that could be based on stage productions.
• Servant - M. Night Shyamalan psychological thriller.
• As yet untitled Oprah Winfrey project about mental health.

For us, the most interesting part is just how - if at all - the likes of Netflix and StarzPlay will react in the Middle East.

We might be on the cusp of a subscriber price war - each trying to undercut the other. This is great news for the consumer, obviously.

But with Disney expected to enter the market soon, and the rumour that Amazon Prime is set to arrive across the region, too, the split of content will be intriguing. You’re only realistically going to subscribe to one or two, right? Let battle commence.