Eddy Cue Explains Why Apple TV+ is Now Apple TV

On the latest episode of The Town podcast, Apple's services chief Eddy Cue explained why the company decided to rename Apple TV+ to Apple TV.

Apple TV Color
According to Cue, many people already referred to Apple TV+ as Apple TV, so the company finally decided to embrace the simpler name.

"We just decided," he told host Matthew Belloni.

"We all called it Apple TV and we said, given where we are today, it's a great time to do it," added Cue. Launched on November 1, 2019, Apple's streaming service is now well established, and it offers a growing library of award-winning series.

Nonetheless, the new name may cause confusion, as there is now an Apple TV streaming service, an Apple TV app, and Apple TV hardware.

Cue argued that the Apple TV box is actually named the Apple TV 4K nowadays.

"Our hardware is called Apple TV 4K for your TV," he said. "I think that's fine, and the app is called Apple TV. It's been called Apple TV on our third-party products as well, so I don't think that'll be a problem at all."

The new name has yet to appear in most places, but the changeover should happen soon.

Cue's comments were first reported by 9to5Mac's Zac Hall.

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Top Rated Comments

tyranne201 Avatar
3 hours ago at 02:32 pm
[HEADING=2]Eddy Cue Explains Why Apple TV+ is Now Apple TV[/HEADING]

"We just decided,"
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dlondon Avatar
3 hours ago at 02:37 pm
I don't think anyone ever calls the hardware 'Apple TV 4K' unless you work in an Apple Store or write tech reviews.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rayansb Avatar
3 hours ago at 02:32 pm
It's a big confusing mess.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
upthetoffees Avatar
3 hours ago at 02:34 pm
Well that cleared things up, thanks Ed ?
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Exponent Avatar
3 hours ago at 02:42 pm

Nonetheless, the new name may cause confusion, as there is now an Apple TV streaming service, an Apple TV app, and Apple TV hardware.
This is exactly analogous of the situation at Apple when Steve Jobs came back in at the end of 1996. They had a very confusing slate of products, poorly differentiated, poorly marketed.

Jobs wiped out the existing lineup, and introduced the "Four Quadrants" strategy that helped right the ship. Mac had 4 products: consumer portable (iBook), professional portable (PowerBook / MacBook), consumer desktop (iMac), professional desktop (PowerMac).

They need someone with clarity again at the top of the org. Tim Cook and Eddie Cue aren't such people.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
aeralto Avatar
3 hours ago at 02:47 pm
It’s astonishing that someone in such a position of power has never taken two seconds to consider the many contradictions in their TV branding strategy. He says that their app on third-party devices is already called “Apple TV” but that’s simply not true!

The app that provided access exclusively to their subscription service was called Apple TV+. This is what I had on my Xfinity set-top box. It doesn’t let you watch your purchased TV shows and movies.

The app that provided to all your purchased content, as well as the subscription service, was called Apple TV.

There was absolutely a distinction between the two and now it will be impossible to tell the difference without investigating whether the app supports your purchased content or just the paid service.

It’s just baffling that such a well-paid person can’t understand such obvious problems he is creating.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)