Apple held talks with China Mobile in 2023 to bring Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade to China. If the two parties agree, Apple will gain access to over 200 million of China Mobile’s broadband and TV customers.
It is unclear whether Apple and China Mobile are still in talks and have reached an agreement.
Apple held talks with China Mobile to bundle Apple TV+ with its broadband service
None of the popular US streaming services, including Netflix, HBO Max, and Prime Video, are available in China. Apple is no exception, but if it can strike a deal with China Mobile, it would become the first streaming service to launch in the country.
The Information reports that Apple was keen to bring Apple TV+ to China through a deal with China Mobile. The two companies were talking in late 2023, but they apparently have yet to reach a conclusion.
As part of the agreement, China Mobile would offer Apple TV+ to its users for a monthly subscription fee. China Mobile will also prominently display Apple TV+ content on Mobile HD, the set-top box it bundles with its connection. Both parties would split the revenue generated.
Apple seemingly was also looking to bundle Apple Arcade as a part of a package.
Apple TV+ content cannot show China in a bad light
The report does not mention pricing, but Apple won’t price Apple TV+’s monthly subscription at the same rate as the US ($10.99). That’s due to the weaker currency and streaming services generally being far more affordable in the Asian country.
Apple signing a deal with China Mobile would have been just one part of the equation. The two parties would then have to examine the content available on the platform to ensure it does not violate the Chinese government’s guidelines. Apple has already been strict on this front, though. It has not allowed any content on the platform that portrays China in a bad light. This was a key reason behind Apple canceling The Problem with Jon Stewart over creative differences.
If China Mobile and Apple can finalize a deal, though, it would open a big new market for Apple TV+. One that could potentially generate millions in revenue every month.
IMDb ratings rank Apple TV+ content the highest for quality, so Chinese viewers will also benefit if the deal goes through.
