Apple is raising the cost of its subscription services across the board, and the change includes increases to Apple TV+, Apple Music, and its Apple One bundle.
Apple says it's raising its prices to account for the music industry’s “increase in licensing costs” and explains its Apple TV+ hike is in order after a “very low price” launch. The publisher has grown its TV and movie offerings since its 2019 debut at $4.99, remaining one of the cheapest streaming services until now.
Apple’s sweeping price bumps take effect today and include:
- Apple TV+ – $6.99 a month, previously $4.99
- Apple Music – $10.99 a month, previously $9.99
- Apple One – $16.95 a month, previously $14.95
While those increases cover individuals, the rates for family packages also jump. Apple One — a subscription bundling Music, Apple TV+, Arcade, and iCloud+ — now costs $22.95. The Premier package, which adds extra storage, News+, and Fitness+, raises to $32.95 for families.
In the complete statement from the company, an Apple spokesperson explained the rise in subscription fees:
The subscription prices for Apple Music, Apple TV+, and Apple One will increase beginning today. The change to Apple Music is due to an increase in licensing costs, and in turn, artists and songwriters will earn more for the streaming of their music. We also continue to add innovative features that make Apple Music the world’s best listening experience. We introduced Apple TV+ at a very low price because we started with just a few shows and movies. Three years later, Apple TV+ is home to an extensive selection of award-winning and broadly acclaimed series, feature films, documentaries, and kids and family entertainment from the world’s most creative storytellers.
The price bump is a first for the publisher’s Apple TV+ service, but it’s not the only streaming platform to raise its subscription fees this year. Netflix kicked off 2022 with a price hike and later announced a limited, ad-supported plan will be released on November 3. Disney+ and Hulu also just raised their fees, and Disney+ launches its ad-based tier on December 8.
Across the world, consumers continue to grapple with raising subscription prices during a period of inflation and rising operational costs. For options like Apple TV+, its library remains among one of the smaller options when compared to other streaming giants like Hulu and Netflix, but the service has come a long way.
The original 2019 IGN review called the $4.99 Apple TV+ pricetag too high for its “lackluster library of movies and TV shows.” However, after revisiting the service in 2022, we praised Apple’s improvements, noting “you just can’t beat the quality-to-price ratio” found in the current library.
Andrea Shearon is a freelance news writer at IGN covering games and entertainment. Find her on Twitter (@Maajora) chatting about FFXIV and other RPGs
Source: IGN.com Apple TV Plus is Getting a Price Increase