Apple’s streaming service has been in the works for years. The software giant invested more than a billion dollars into the project to bring its own Netflix competitor into fruition. The company is even investing millions to develop its own original shows that’d compete with Netflix Originals and Amazon Prime Originals.
So far, though, things have been a little rocky for Cupertino. WSJ is reporting that the company is enforcing a family-friendly approach for all its original content, possibly delaying the launch of its streaming service even further. WSJ notes that Tim Cook said the company’s Vital Signs show — based on Dr. Dre’s life — was “too violent” after watching it a year ago. “Apple can’t show this,” the report mentions.
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That’s not all. Bryan Fuller, the showrunner for Apple’s reboot of Steven Spielberg’s Amazing Stories, left the firm earlier in the year after a major conflict over Apple’s focus on family-friendly content. The company is even facing problems with its other show — based on a morning news show starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon — which costs the company more than $12 million an episode. After initially replacing the original showrunner for the show, the company is now facing scheduling issues with Witherspoon, resulting in further delays.
Apple has invested a ton of money into its streaming service, and the family-friendly approach could end up hurting the company in the longer run. Some within the company are even calling its streaming service efforts as the “expensive NBC.” Apple made it clear to its showrunners and producers it doesn’t want gratuitous sex, profanity or violence, and it even wants to stay away from politics and religious subjects.
And that’s exactly the opposite approach its competitors like Netflix are taking.
With shows like Narcos, House of Cards, 13 Reasons Why, Sacred Games, Sense8, and others, Netflix hasn’t shied away from content that Apple would otherwise consider being too profane, or violent. Graphic content obviously isn’t the key to success, though Apple could find itself struggling to produce entertaining content if it’s not ready to banish the conservative approach for its shows.
skane2600
<blockquote><em><a href="#326870">In reply to MikeGalos:</a></em></blockquote><p>Back to the twin beds.</p>
m_p_w_84
<p>Apple never have liked reality. </p>
shameermulji
<blockquote><em><a href="#326876">In reply to jbinaz:</a></em></blockquote><p>Not necessarily. They have a lot of shows in development.</p><p><br></p><p>https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/07/11/here-are-all-of-the-future-tv-shows-that-apple-has-signed-deals-for</p>
My Hell baby speaking
<blockquote><a href="#326898"><em>In reply to DataMeister:</em></a></blockquote><blockquote><br></blockquote><blockquote><em><span class="ql-cursor"></span>I find notihng preferable in pointless kids friendly (stop calling it family friendly when its only friendly to the kids while mom and dad cringe of the floundering idiocy of today's kid show characters and way of narration? </em></blockquote><blockquote><em>If I had to choose I would go for relevent mature content and the kids would stay in their room and read a book.</em></blockquote><blockquote><em>Tip to Apple: Take some inspriration from Google's developer series on yt where content adressed at code savvy people is presented in the style of Die Sendung mit der Maus.</em></blockquote><p><br></p>
My Hell baby speaking
<blockquote><em><a href="#327049">In reply to curtisspendlove:</a></em></blockquote><p>I have to excuse, since English is not my mother tongue. With mature content I literally mean content for grown ups, which does not explicitly end with sexual content. In English of course mature content is derived from the rating. </p><p>And I agree with you saying that atom bombs and female breasts do not turn a bad story into a good one. I tried to refer to works from L.v.Trier and A.Tarkowsky or movies like Soldier Blue, La vita e bella, or La grande bouffe. There is an immense treasure of films where one has to rely on DVD/Blue Disk, because they are not appearing in the range of streaming services afaik. </p><p>I find it legit to curse Apple for explicitly turning towards clean kids friendly stuff missing out beacons of cinematography.</p>
pargon
Premium Member<blockquote><em><a href="#326968">In reply to Awhispersecho:</a></em></blockquote><p>Doesn't count as "political content" as long as it attacks conservative beliefs, values, the Constitution, or Christians. So there's a lot they can still do here!!</p>
skane2600
<p>So I guess that would eliminate any dramatic version of Shakespeare or many other classics. Or maybe they'd have to make extreme changes: "It was the best of times. Yep it certainly was". </p>
skane2600
<blockquote><em><a href="#327001">In reply to hrlngrv:</a></em></blockquote><p>It depends on whether they want to ban sex and violence completely or only graphic depictions. ATOTC is a violent story whether blood is shown or not. </p><p><br></p><p>One of the funniest child-friendly adaptations of Shakespeare I read was "Much Ado About Nothing" where Hero was shunned because they mistakenly thought she was observed "talking to a man". </p>
skane2600
<blockquote><em><a href="#327352">In reply to hrlngrv:</a></em></blockquote><p>One could argue that superhero movies have cartoon violence too. We typically don't treat sex and violence equally. I doubt that people concerned with family-friendly content would accept cartoon sex as easily as cartoon violence. </p>
dontbe evil
<p>is long queue for latest overpriced iPhone xyz days in advance considered sex and violence?</p>