Apple Eyes China Mobile for Apple TV+ Expansion

According to information obtained by The Information website, Apple appears to be in negotiations with China Mobile, potentially bringing Apple TV+ content into the Chinese market via its telecommunications service platform.

Previously, Netflix attempted to enter the Chinese market through a content exchange partnership with iQIYI, but ultimately ended the collaboration in 2019. Therefore, if Apple successfully collaborates with China Mobile and introduces Apple TV+ content to the Chinese market through its service platform, it could become the first American company to provide streaming video services in China.

Discussions between Apple and China Mobile seem to have commenced late last year but have been delayed due to certain factors. The collaboration model involves Apple licensing Apple TV+ content to China Mobile, which would then offer the service to users on a monthly subscription basis, with subscription revenue split between China Mobile and Apple.

However, under this cooperation model, Apple cannot directly provide Apple TV+ subscription services to users within China, nor can it offer a dedicated Apple TV+ app. Content can only be provided through China Mobile’s service platform, limiting the potential user base to China Mobile’s customers. Given the fierce competition in China’s video streaming market, the actual user scale that Apple TV+ can attract through this method is relatively limited.

Nonetheless, for Apple, successfully introducing Apple TV+ to the Chinese market through this model could pave the way for replicating this approach, allowing other Apple subscription services to be offered in China.