This story is part of Apple Event, our full coverage of the latest news from Apple headquarters.
One of the biggest surprises at Apple’s iPhone 11 event concerned the price of its newApple TV Plus service. No, we’re not talking about the normal price: $5 per month, with the first shows starting streaming on Nov. 1.
We’re talking about the throw-in price: free.
Apple TV Plus will be free for the first year — ostensibly a $60 value — with any purchase of an iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac or iPod Touch starting now. In its press release, Apple says the offer applies “to both new and refurbished models, including devices from the iPhone Upgrade Program, is not restricted to any specific sales channel (e.g., Apple Store, resellers) and will be available in all countries where Apple TV Plus will launch.” Apple did not announce when the offer would end, but it does characterize it as a “limited time offer.”
The free offer casts a really wide net. You can get a refurbished Apple TV for $129 from Apple, and some of those devices, like the iPod Touch, are potentially even cheaper as refurbs. Meanwhile, despite peaking iPhone sales, Apple will still sell millions of brand-new iPhones, iPads and Macs for the 2019 holiday season and beyond.
That means most Apple TV Plus watchers won’t have to pay a dime for its shows until November 2020 at the earliest. For nearly everyone who will watch its initial slate of shows, Apple TV Plus is free.
Read more at cnet.com