Is Apple TV+ worth $5 a month? Not yet but here’s a free way to watch
The future belongs to streaming — and the field is looking pretty crowded. Netflix continues with their original content while Disney and HBO arm themselves with enormous media catalogs in hopes of sweeping the competition. Click or tap here to see the pros and cons of the biggest streaming services coming down the pipeline.
One platform is often ignored in streaming war discussions: Apple TV+. The Apple-sponsored media network has some impressive creators behind its content, but enthusiasm for the service is low compared to names like Disney and Netflix. Not even the low monthly cost of $5 seems to be moving the needle.
But all that could change with a new promotion from Apple. By bundling Apple TV+ as a free bonus to another subscription service, Apple might expand it’s viewership and break into an untapped market.
Apple TV+ is free…for some
According to reporting confirmed by TechCrunch, Apple plans on making their AppleTV + service free to student subscribers of Apple Music.
The initial announcement was posted on Instagram by actress Hailee Steinfeld, who stars in one of the platform’s launch titles. In a fan Q&A, Steinfeld told her followers, “…those of you who are students with an Apple Music student subscription, you can now get Apple TV+ for free.”
This announcement came alongide the actress’ single “Afterlife” launch on Apple Music.
Related: 5 sites for streaming TV for free
Apple TV+ officially launches November 1, and costs $5 per month. Students pay $5 per month for their Apple Music subs, but will pay no additional fees for their newfound access to AppleTV +.
Currently, there is no word of any Apple service bundles for non-students.
How can I get a student subscription to Apple Music?
Unlike an ordinary signup for Apple Music, a student subscription requires an extra step to verify your status. Apple has partnered with UNiDAYS, a service that verifies student accounts, and you may need a form of student ID to complete the signup.
Apple allows you to sign up for a student subscription on both your desktop computer and iPhone. Here’s how to do it:
On a computer
- Open iTunes on your PC or Music on your Mac and sign up for a new Apple Music account. You will see a message that asks you to verify your student status.
- Tap or click Verify Eligibility.
- Tap or click Go to Website.
- Sign in to your school’s student portal.
- After you sign in, you’ll be directed back to Apple Music and should see a confirmation screen.
On an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch
- Go to Settings, tap [your name], then tap Subscriptions.
- Tap Apple Music Membership.
- Tap Verify your student status. You’ll be redirected to the UNiDAYS website.
- Follow the prompts to verify your eligibility. If the verification is successful, you’ll automatically return to Apple Music and continue your Apple Music student subscription.
Not only will signing up give you access to Apple TV+, you’ll also have access to Apple Music’s massive library of over 50 million songs. And here we thought college was supposed to be about studying!
For more information on Apple TV+, click or tap to view our guide to the new service and see how it stacks up against competitor Disney+.
Tags: Apple, Apple iPhone, network, streaming services
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