Apple hasn’t revealed official subscriber numbers for its TV+ streaming service because it launched in 2019, however it could be smaller than analysts beforehand estimated. According to CNBC, the tech big informed the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees that TV+ has fewer than 20 million subscribers within the US and Canada. A couple of months in the past, Statista published an estimate that places the service’s subscriber quantity to 40 million by the tip of 2020 within the US alone. 

The agency admitted, nevertheless, that the estimate doesn’t “necessarily reveal how many paying subscribers use the service.” CNBC did not say whether or not the 20 million subscribers the corporate declared had been paying clients both. It additionally did not point out what number of of these acquired their subscriptions totally free: Apple used to provide away year-long subscriptions to clients who buy new iPhones, iPads and Macs, however it shortened the supply to a few months again in June. 

According to the report, having lower than 20 million subscribers allowed Apple to pay manufacturing crew decrease charges than greater streamers. Under the present contract seen by CNBC, streaming companies pays their staff decrease charges in the event that they report lower than 20 million subscribers to the IATSE each July 1st, as a result of streaming profitability is “presently uncertain.” The union is negotiating for a greater contract, although, since present guidelines do not make an exception for tech giants like Apple. It additionally argues that streaming can not be thought-about “new media.” 

An Apple rep informed CNBC that the corporate pays in keeping with main streaming companies however refused to touch upon the claimed subscriber quantity. 20 million is however a fraction of the variety of subscribers the most important streaming companies have: Netflix claimed 208 million subscribers in April, whereas Disney+ claimed over 100 million again in March.