Apple TV+ drops free episodes for non-subscribers
David Farnor | On 03, Nov 2019
This weekend sees the launch of Apple TV+, Apple’s new subscription streaming service. (See our guide explaining everything you need to know here.)
The online giant is hoping to take on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and more to carve out its own space in the streaming landscape, and has lined up a heap of A-list talent to try and make and splash, from Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon to Jason Momoa and Joel Kinnaman.
Apple TV+, however, faces more headwinds than just the existing competition: it needs to have people actually watching its shows to start talking about it. Apple TV has already made steps to widen its reach, adding the Apple TV app to Fire TV devices and some smart TVs (see our guide to how to get Apple TV+ here). It’s also offered a 12-month free subscription to Apple customers who buy a new device, such as an iPad or iMac, or even an Apple Music subscription.
But what about everyone else? With Apple TV+ costing £4.99 a month, a seven-day free trial may not be enough to woo new subscribers. And so Apple TV+ has taken the unusual approach of releasing two episodes of some of its originals for free to stream.
The first two instalments of See, The Morning Show, For All Mankind and Dickinson are now available to watch for free – but only through the Apple TV app.
That means if you are accessing Apple TV+ through tv.apple.com, you won’t be able to watch without joining the trial. For anyone with an Apple TV or iOS device, though, you can get a taste without the need to sign up. (The Apple TV app comes as default on all Apple devices, with the option to subscribe to Apple TV+ within it.)
Once signed up, Episodes 1 to 3 of See, The Morning Show and Dickinson are available, with remaining episodes added weekly. The whole of Dickinson, however, is already available now.
That leaves one question unanswered: are the Apple TV+ originals worth watching? Read our reviews here.