When Apple TV+ launched in 2019, I never expected Ugandans to show much love to Apple’s streaming service in comparison to the frenzy and excitement that happened when Netflix launched in 2016. This attitude has not changed much even after Apple gave away a free year of the service with the purchase of select hardware. Subscriber numbers are close to nonexistent, especially when compared with giants like Netflix and Amazon Prime.
ALSO READ: A list of all the countries with Apple TV+ support
So, is it worth subscribing to Apple TV+ now in Uganda? Perhaps not. We shall not be talking about things like expensive data bundles as this affects all streaming services. Since there are so many streaming services available, you might want to save your money trying to subscribe or stream unnecessary content. Here are all the reasons why Ugandans are avoiding Apple TV+ subscriptions in favor of Netflix.
1. Content Gap
Though Apple TV+ has a smattering of licensed content, the majority of the shows and movies on the service are original. That’s great because it means that you’re not scrolling through countless things you’ve seen elsewhere. However, it also means that Apple TV+ just doesn’t have much content. You’ll probably burn through everything that you want to watch in a month or two if that.
The COVID-19 pandemic delayed filming on further original productions for most companies including Apple. Though Apple purchased rights to films like Tom Hank’s Greyhound to help fill the gap, it still wasn’t as much as competitors like Netflix were able to pump out since they always planned movies and series years in advance.
With time, Apple TV+ will get more programming, but right now it’s perhaps not enough.
2. No Binging option
We love to have binge-watch content and move on to the next thing, the idea of waiting a week to watch the next episode of your latest favorite series seems archaic. When Netflix releases a show, it drops all the episodes at once. It means you can watch at your own pace. For many, that means binge-watching. That’s not how Apple TV+ plays, instead opting to release new episodes every week.
3. Lack of device support
If you have a modern smart TV, games console, or streaming stick, then you are in luck—there’s likely an Apple TV+ app.
However, if you own a device from 2018 or prior, chances are Apple TV+ doesn’t support it. For example, while you can download an app for every streaming service under the sun on your 2018 Samsung smart TV, Apple TV+ won’t be one of them.
Perhaps you own an Android phone or tablet; the operating system has over 70% market share. Well, there’s no Apple TV+ app. You can watch in the browser, but the experience isn’t as smooth as a dedicated app. It’s unfortunate that Apple are choosing to cut off such a large number of users.
4. No User Profiles
If you want to share your Apple TV+ account with others and you’re not bought into the wider Apple ecosystem, good luck.
While you can use Apple’s Family Sharing feature to connect Apple IDs together, this is far from the convenient in-app solution that most streaming services offer for creating profiles.
It means that if you have multiple people in the same household watching Apple TV+, it’s impossible to maintain individual watch progress.
5. Lack of Regional Content
When Apple TV+ launched, collaborations with partners like Steven Spielberg and Jennifer Aniston drew headlines. While the big names are impressive, Apple TV+’s content is decidedly Hollywood and lacks that international feel.
Unlike Netflix, which has produced foreign-language shows in Nigeria and now Korea with the likes of the popular Squid Game and Narcos and made them global successes, Apple TV+ falls short when it comes to global representation. It feels like Apple is only fixated on US content only.
6. Complex Account System
If you want to use Apple TV+ on some devices, the account system can be unnecessarily confusing and complex for some people.
You have to create an Apple ID, which is fine, but for some devices, you’ll need to go through additional verification. You have to download, install, and verify your account via iTunes—but if you don’t use the program in the first place, that’s a hassle.
Also, you best hope you don’t encounter a bug in the process which stops you from accepting iTunes’ account terms because then you’ll need to contact Apple support to get it resolved.
