Apple TV+, Prime Video Hike Subs

Apple TV+ is the latest streamer to quietly hike its monthly subscription fee.

It now costs $17.99 a month to stream the NZ service, $3 more than this time last week.

The 20%+ jump follows Apple’s announcement earlier this month that US rates were about to rise 30%, to US$12.99, but at that stage it wasn’t disclosing which global territories would be next.

In the US, Apple now costs nearly three times as much as it did when it launched in 2019 — but also offers a much stronger library, and one that remains ad-free and without 4K HRD or Spatial Audio costing extra.

“Since its launch, Apple TV+ has expanded its deep library of hundreds of Apple Originals, with thousands of hours of premium programming across genres and brand-new releases weekly — all ad-free,” the company said in a statement.

“Subscribers can explore a rich offering of thrilling dramas, epic sci-fi, feel-good comedies and live sports.”

Apple reportedly spends more than US$4.5 billion a year on content for a service that is costing it more than US$1 billion annually.

This week Prime Video also raised its monthly NZ sub by $3 — but gave subscribers the option of retaining their current $10.99 rate if they accepted “limited advertising”.

“This will allow us to continue investing in compelling content and keep increasing that investment over a long period of time,” subscribers were told.

Like Apple TV+, Prime Video subscribers don’t have to pay extra for 4K content, as Netflix customers do.