By Apple is reportedly planning to introduce Apple TV+ in China and has already engaged in discussions with the country’s telecom giant, China Mobile. According to a report by The Information, if the Cupertino-based tech company secures an agreement, Apple TV+ would become the sole U.S. streaming service to establish a presence in China.
Typically, Chinese regulations prohibit U.S. services from directly distributing their content. According to the report, the proposed agreement would allow China Mobile to offer Apple TV+ subscriptions for a monthly fee and potentially showcase its content on the company’s set-top boxes. Apple and China Mobile are anticipated to share the revenue from this partnership.
However, even if a deal is finalized, it would probably not permit the iPhone TV app to feature Apple’s content in the region, as this would contravene Chinese law, the report noted.
Apple’s Plans to Introduce Apple TV+ in China
- Apple initially aimed to launch the service in 2023.
- The company apparently intended to announce the partnership last year, but plans fell through.
- Previous reports indicated that discussions between Apple and China Mobile were ongoing at the end of 2023.
- The current status of the negotiations remains undisclosed.
Potential Lower Pricing for Apple TV+ in China
- In emerging markets like China, content subscription services are typically offered at significantly lower prices compared to the U.S.
- For instance, Apple Music costs less than $2 per month in China, whereas it is priced at $10.99 per month in the U.S.
