Insiders say the Apple TV+ app will appear on Android phones in an unusual way

Apple TV+ is Apple’s TV subscription service. Like most Apple apps, it is designed exclusively for Apple devices such as iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV. But a new report suggests it’s already on its way to Android devices.

Tim Cook at the “Ted Lasso” season three premiere at the Regency Village Theater on March 7, 2023. … (+) in Los Angeles, California. (Photo: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)

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Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman insists a job posting has been posted in recent days and says Apple is looking for someone to lead the development of what he calls “fun new features.”

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This is intriguing. The ad said it was looking for someone to “help build an app used by millions to watch and discover TV and sports.”

All of this strongly suggests that Apple is going to do something it has already done for Apple Music and almost no other apps: create an Android version.

Typically, Apple keeps its apps unique to draw customers into its world and encourage them to buy its devices. However, as with Apple Music, it looks like it wants to make the Apple TV+ app more available with a $9.99 monthly subscription.

Gurman says this means Apple wants to increase its share of the video streaming market. After all, other streaming services like Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video are platform agnostic and available in many places.

Apple TV: One of the streaming devices for Apple TV+.

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The reasoning is clear: you won’t sell any additional devices, but expensive movies and TV shows will be able to reach a wider audience and gain more subscriptions.

Likewise, popular movies that include the Oscar winner CODA and some highly acclaimed series like Ted Lasso, Severance and the wonderful Slow Horses won’t be tied to just Apple devices if a new app comes out.

Android has more users worldwide than iOS, so this move would be important. There are already Apple TV+ apps for systems like Amazon Fire Stick streaming devices, some smart TVs, and Roku devices. And Google Chromecast streaming devices have access to Apple TV+.

Apple TV+ now costs $9.99 per month, which is double its launch price, so getting it on billions of Android devices around the world could make a significant difference for the platform.

This will all still be a while away if employees don’t already work for Apple, but it’s an exciting development.

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