Matthew DeCarlo
If you purchased Apple hardware such as an iPhone after September 10, you’re probably eligible for a free year of Apple’s new subscription video streaming service, Apple TV+, which happens to be launching today (November 1).
Back in September, Apple announced that Apple TV+ would launch with eight original series and one original documentary, which would be expanded every month with new Apple originals. The content is served up ad-free and on-demand with streaming support for up to six family members. Features include the ability to download and watch content offline, and support for 4K HDR and Dolby Atmos.
Pricing is set at $4.99 per month and in addition to a free trial for seven days, Apple launched a promotion alongside its announcement in September that includes a free year of Apple TV+ with any purchase of a new iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, or Apple TV. If you’ve purchased one of these qualifying devices, after you activate the device you have three months to claim the free year of Apple TV+.
Folks who have purchased a new qualifying Apple device during the promotion can activate their free year of Apple TV+ by simply logging in to the service with the Apple ID that’s associated with your new device. Once logged in, you should see a tappable message that reads something like “Enjoy 1 Year Free.” Tap and enjoy.
Note that if you’re using the free year-long trial, you might want to set a reminder to unsubscribe toward the end of that trial if you don’t want to pay the $4.99 subscription fee, seeing as Apple already has your payment information. If you unsubscribe sooner, you’ll lose access to the service. Nothing unusual but it can be easy to lose track of a subscription over the course of a month much less a year.
Besides watching Apple TV+ through the Apple TV app on Apple’s own hardware, the app is also available through some Samsung smart TVs and there are plans to launch the software on more smart TVs and streaming devices going forward. Of note, the fine print on the offer for a free year of Apple TV+ also applies to refurbished iPhones including those from the iPhone Upgrade Program. It’s also not restricted to any specific location of purchase—resellers included.
“Customers who purchase any new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac or iPod touch starting September 10 can enjoy one year of Apple TV+ for free. Beginning November 1, customers can initiate the one-year free offer in the Apple TV app on the device running the latest software. Customers have three months after device activation to claim the offer, or if the device was purchased and activated before the launch of Apple TV+, they will have three months starting November 1. The subscription will automatically renew at $4.99 per month after one year. Customers can cancel at any time in Settings at least one day before each renewal date. Customers who cancel during the offer period will forfeit the remainder of their offer. This limited time 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+ will launch. Up to six family members can share one Apple TV+ subscription and watch using their own Apple ID and password. Only one one-year offer is available per family, regardless of the number of devices purchased.”
As mentioned, today marks the maiden voyage of Apple TV+ and whether you’ve purchased a subscription or gotten a year for free, the video streaming service should be open for business. Content available at launch includes all of the shows below, which are all-new exclusives for Apple TV+:
- See, an epic drama starring Jason Momoa and Alfre Woodard, is set 600 years in the future after a virus has decimated humankind and rendered the remaining population blind. When all humanity has lost the sense of sight, humans must adapt and find new ways to survive.
- The Morning Show, a cutthroat drama starring and executive produced by Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston, and starring Steve Carell, explores the world of morning news and the ego, ambition and the misguided search for power behind the people who help America wake up in the morning.
- Dickinson, a darkly comedic coming-of-age story, explores the constraints of society, gender and family through the lens of rebellious young poet, Emily Dickinson.
- For All Mankind, a new series from Ronald D. Moore, imagines what would have happened if the global space race never ended and the space program remained the cultural centerpiece of America’s hopes and dreams.
- Helpsters, a new children’s series from the makers of “Sesame Street,” stars Cody and a team of vibrant monsters who love to help solve problems. It all starts with a plan.
- Snoopy in Space, a new original from Peanuts Worldwide and DHX Media, takes viewers on a journey with Snoopy as he follows his dreams to become an astronaut. Together, Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the Peanuts crew take command of the International Space Station and explore the moon and beyond.
- Ghostwriter, a reinvention of the beloved original series, follows four kids who are brought together by a mysterious ghost in a neighborhood bookstore, and must team up to release fictional characters from works of literature.
- The Elephant Queen, an acclaimed documentary film and cinematic love letter to a species on the verge of extinction, follows a majestic matriarch elephant and her herd on an epic journey of life, loss and homecoming.
- Oprah Winfrey joins the world’s most compelling authors in conversation as she builds a vibrant, global book club community and other projects to connect with people around the world and share meaningful ways to create positive change.
Here are some of the shows that will be added over the coming months:
- Servant, a new psychological thriller from M. Night Shyamalan, follows a Philadelphia couple in mourning after an unspeakable tragedy creates a rift in their marriage and opens the door for a mysterious force to enter their home.
- Truth Be Told, a gripping new series starring Academy Award winner Octavia Spencer and Emmy Award winner Aaron Paul, explores America’s obsession with true crime podcasts and navigates urgent concerns about privacy, media and race.
- Little America, inspired by the true stories featured in Epic Magazine, brings to life the funny, romantic, heartfelt, inspiring and surprising stories of immigrants in America.
- The Banker, a feature film inspired by a true story, stars Anthony Mackie and Samuel L. Jackson as two African American entrepreneurs who try to circumvent the racial limitations of the 1950s and quietly provide housing loans to the African American community in Jim Crow Texas. Nia Long and Nicholas Hoult also star.
- Hala, a feature film and official selection of the 2019 Sundance Film Festival and 2019 Toronto International Film Festival, follows a high school senior struggling to balance being a suburban teenager with her traditional Muslim upbringing.
