• by Karlene Lukovitz  @KLmarketdaily, August 20, 2019

As fall approaches, more specifics about the coming streaming services from the big tech and media giants are beginning to emerge.

The latest news includes Apple TV+’s launch timing — it will debut in November, the same month as Disney+, according to a  Bloomberg report based on unnamed sources “familiar with the matter.”

Apple Inc. is considering a monthly price point of $9.99, according to the report — the same fee it charges for Apple Music and Apple News+.

Apple, which is pushing to drive its total services revenue to $50 billion by 2020, as sales of its iPhones and other devices slow, is also prepping the launch of an Apple Arcade gaming service, and offers iCloud subscriptions. But it appears that no bundle offer including Apple TV+ is currently being planned.

In comparison, Disney+’s stand-alone price will be $6.99 (or $12.99 bundled with Disney’s Hulu and ESPN+). WarnerMedia’s HBO Max is reportedly considering a $16 to $17 monthly fee. Netflix charges $15.99 for its premium plan and $8.99 for its basic plan; Amazon Prime Video also costs $8.99 on a monthly basis.

Apple Inc. is planning to offer just five shows at launch, according to The Verge: “The Morning Show,” featuring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Steve Carell; “See,” featuring “Aquaman” star Jason Momoa; “Truth Be Told,” with Octavia Spencer; Steven Spielberg’s revival of “Amazing Stories” and a documentary series, “Home.”

Apple TV+’s programming will also eventually include attractions like documentaries from Oprah Winfrey, and it is reportedly spending hundreds of millions on “The Morning Show” and “See.” However, its reported first-year programming budget of $6 billion (per unnamed sources cited recently by The Financial Times) would pale in comparison with Disney’s reported $24-billion streaming content budget for 2019, and Netflix’s $14 billion-plus.

Apple will likely offer a free trial as it expands its offerings, per Bloomberg’s sources, which also report that the service will be available in more than 150 countries.

Some analysts have suggested that Apple TV+ could attract as many as 100 million subscribers worldwide over the next five years. The new service will be available through OTT streaming devices like Amazon Fire’s and Roku, as well as installed in Apple’s TV app and Samsung TVs.

Apple Inc. has not commented on the Bloomberg or FT reports.

Disney+ Announces More Platforms, Global Rollout

Meanwhile, Disney is garnering maximum buzz by slowly leaking out tidbits about Disney+.

The company has now announced that in addition to Roku and Sony’s Playstation 4, Disney+ will at launch support Android, iOS, Apple TV, Android TV, Google Chromecast and Xbox One.

And while Apple TV+ may be going head to head with Disney+ in some respects, Disney+ will be available for in-app purchase on Apple devices.

Disney, which already announced November 12 as Disney+’s U.S. launch date, has now revealed that the service will also launch on that date in and the Netherlands, for a monthly fee of C$8.99 and €6.99, respectively.

In addition, the service will launch on November 19 in Australia and New Zealand, for $8.99AUD and $9.99NZD per month, respectively.