Apple Reportedly Budgets $1 Billion for Original ProgrammingThat's about half of what HBO spent on content in 2016, and the same amount Amazon spent on programming in 2013, according to The Wall Street Journal.
This story originally appeared onPCMag
Apple's first original TV shows are noGame of Thrones, but the Cupertino tech giant is ready to shell out some serious cash to produce a comparable hit.
The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter, on Wednesday reported that Apple is budgeting "roughly $1 billion" over the next year for its push into original content. That's about half of what HBO spent on its shows in 2016, and the same amount Amazon spent on programming in 2013, the report notes.
TheJournal's sources reckon that Apple could produce as many as 10 TV shows with that money. Apple Senior Vice President Eddy Cue wants the company's shows to stack up againstGame of Thrones, according to the report. Something of that caliber could cost more than $10 million per episode to produce.
Apple's first original show,Planet of the Apps, debuted in June to mediocre reviews. The show is basicallyShark Tankfor apps: every episode, entrepreneurs have 60 seconds to pitch their apps to four celebrity advisors.PCMag'sChandra Steele, whowatched the show so you don't have to, said "40 minutes of discussions about products that are best viewed on a smartphone screen is not exactly must-see TV."
Meanwhile, early reviews of Apple's second original show,Carpool Karaoke: The Series, which debuted last week, have also been lukewarm. Based on the popular segment fromTheLate Late Show with James Corden系列功能16名人ridin配对”g along in a car together as they sing tunes from their personal playlists and surprise fans who don't expect to see big stars belting out tunes one lane over," Applesaid.
