Apple and Netflix Come up Short at Oscars, Apple’s Blockbusters Gamble, The Theatrical Release Question Lingers

Following the Oscars this past Sunday, today’s update will have a movie theme. We discuss Apple and Netflix coming up short at this year’s Oscars. The discussion then turns to Apple’s gamble with blockbusters at the movie theater ("Killers of the Flower Moon," "Napoleon," and "Argylle"). We also look at a lingering industry question found with theatrical releases.

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Netflix 4Q23 Earnings, Netflix Buys Rights for WWE Raw, Spatial F1 Racing on Apple Vision Pro

Some weeks, the news flow comes together in such a way as to result in a fun conversation at the end of the week covering several related topics. We will do that in today’s update. The update will begin with Netflix earnings, turn to Netflix getting into live sports/entertainment, and then conclude with a closer look at an intriguing concept for live sports consumption on Vision Pro.

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Apple Discussing Apple TV+ and Paramount+ Bundle, Verizon Announces Netflix and Max Bundle, Combatting Video Streaming Churn, Above Avalon Gifts (2023)

We kick things off with Neil’s thoughts on an Apple TV+ / Paramount+ streaming bundle. The discussion then turns to Verizon unveiling a Netflix and Max streaming bundle. We look at these developments from the perspective of companies attempting to combat video streaming churn.

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An Above Avalon membership is required to read this update. Members can read the full update here. (Members: Daily Updates are accessible via the archive. If you haven’t logged into the archive before, fill out this form to receive an invite.)

Payment is hosted by MoonClerk and secured by Stripe. Apple Pay and other mobile payment options are accepted. After signup, use this link to update your payment information and membership status at any time.

An audio version of this update is available to members who have the podcast add-on attached to their membership. More information about the podcast add-on is found here. Special Inside Orchard bundle pricing is available for Above Avalon members. Additional membership customization is available via the Financial Models add-on.

Apple Demos More Vision Pro Spatial Videos, 3D Movie Icon Appears on Apple TV, Humane Ai Pin vs. Spatial Photos/Videos

Hello everyone. Welcome to a new week. We do have a few CY3Q23 earnings reports to go over. However, today’s update will take a spin through Vision Pro land.

Apple Demos More Vision Pro Spatial Videos

Over at Daring Fireball, here’s John Gruber:

“Yesterday Apple released developer beta 2 of iOS 17.2, the first version of iOS to include support for capturing spatial video with iPhone 15 Pro models. Today came the public beta, enabling the same feature. Apple invited me to New York yesterday, not merely to preview capturing spatial video using an iPhone, but to experience watching those spatial videos using a Vision Pro.

The experience was, like my first Vision Pro demo back at WWDC in June, astonishing…

My demo yesterday was expressly limited to photography in general, and spatial video in particular, and so my demo was, per Apple’s request, limited to the Photos app in VisionOS. It was tempting, at times, to see where else I could go and what else I could do. But there was so much to see and do in Photos alone that my demo — about 30 minutes in total wearing Vision Pro — raced by.”

The full post made for an interesting read, especially if you want the details regarding how Apple is implementing spatial videos via iPhone 15 Pro. For example, the iPhone 15 Pro needs to be held horizontally “to put the two capturing lenses on the same plane. The iPhone uses the main (1×) and ultra wide (0.5×) lenses for capture when shooting spatial video, and in fact, Apple changed the arrangement of the three lenses on the iPhone 15 Pro in part to support this feature.”

When Apple announced this past September that the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max would be able to capture spatial video, my assumption was that iPhone videos

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Additional Thoughts on Apple’s MLS Season Pass, Playing Devil’s Advocate With Warner Bros. Discovery (Daily Update)

In today’s update, Neil examines a few follow-ups to yesterday’s discussion. We begin with how success for Apple and its MLS Season Pass streaming service will be measured. The discussion then turns to Warner Bros. Discovery and the ongoing rumors that David Zaslav is ultimately trying to sell the company. Neil puts his devil’s advocate hat on to examine the argument for Warner Bros. Discovery M&A.

Hello everyone. There are a few follow-ups to yesterday’s discussion that are worth pursuing in today’s update. Let’s jump right in.

Additional Thoughts on Apple’s MLS Season Pass

What will success look like for Apple with MLS Season Pass, its upcoming paid streaming service for U.S. soccer?

Soccer in the U.S. is not the NBA or NFL. It’s certainly not English Premier League either. Those aren’t controversial statements. Based on viewership data, U.S. soccer has 500,000 to 600,000 regular fans. When considering other countries, we can add a little bit more to the total. The NFL sees multiple times (i.e. 10+) that number with the NBA and English Premier League at more like a few times over that range on a per game basis.

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Thoughts on Apple’s New and Updated Products (Apple TV, iPad, iPad Pro) - Daily Update

Hello everyone.

In this special edition of the daily update, we will discuss Apple’s various product announcements from earlier today.

Thoughts on Apple’s New and Updated Products (Apple TV, iPad, iPad Pro)

Heading into October, signs were pointing to Apple having a few more product announcements ready to go for 2022. The question was whether Apple would host another event at the end of October or unveil new products via press release. The latter strategy was used by Apple during the early months of the pandemic.

We now have an answer.

Earlier today, Apple unveiled via three press releases the following:

We will discuss each product in detail.

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The daily updates have become widely read and influential in the world of Apple and technology. They are unmatched in the marketplace in terms of comprehensive analysis and research on all things Apple. Members reside in 60 countries and hold a diverse range of backgrounds and occupations. They include Silicon Valley executives and investors, the largest Apple shareholders, and the leading Apple journalists in the business.

More information about Above Avalon membership, including the full list of benefits and privileges, is available here.