APPLE TV+ WILL BUNDLE VIACOMCBS' PREMIUM SERVICES

Apple has reportedly closed a deal with Viacomcbs to begin selling a bundle of its services at a reduced price and launch the iPhone maker’s first bundled video offering. Apple TV+ subscribers pay US$4.99 per month, but it's free for a year for those who purchase new apple device. The service will be offered to both CBS All Access and Showtime for an additional US$9.99 per month, according to Bloomberg. The change would reflect cost-effective savings with the services costing a total of US$20.98 per month combined.

This service will consist of a range of content from its brands including CBS, MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, it's Paramount film studio, and the previously mentioned SVODs Showtime and CBS All Access. “We’re targeting early 2021 for the launch of our international streaming service, a super-sized offering of truly compelling content with first-run originals and libraries from all ViacomCBS brands, including Showtime. We will focus next year’s initial rollout on a set of high-value territories where we see an opportunity to become the market leader. These territories include Australia, Latin America, and the Nordics,” ViacomCBS CEO Bob Bakish said. 

CBS All Access and Showtime had a total of 16.2 million subscribers at the end of Q2 and is targeting 18 million by the end of the year. The company will undoubtedly attract many more should this deal come to fruition. While subscribers signing up to the services via Apple TV+ will draw a significantly diminished ARPU, ViacomCBS will likely look at the next few months as a marketing exercise to drum up interest in its ‘super service’ streamer that will launch next year.

The bundle is the first to debut on Apple TV+, which debuted in November with shows such as “Oprah’s Book Club” and Jennifer Aniston’s “The Morning Show”. Apple is meanwhile reportedly preparing a series of bundles that will offer discounted access to its services like Apple TV+, Apple Music, and Apple Arcade.