On Sunday, Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) services chief Eddy Cue shared insights into Apple TV+’s selective content strategy while praising the global success of “Severance,” calling it one of the most culturally impactful shows of recent years.
What Happened: During a panel at the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas, Cue joined actor-director Ben Stiller for a wide-ranging discussion on the breakout success of Severance and Apple TV+’s content approach.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve seen a show capture the imagination like this,” Cue said of Severance, which Apple says is now its most-watched series ever on the platform.
Despite having early access to episodes, Cue admitted he still waits for each weekly drop: “I tend to wait… I just love the storytelling.”
Cue emphasized Apple TV+’s strategy of focusing on quality over quantity. “We’re not going to throw 20 shows up against the wall and hope that one sticks,” he said. “The ones that we do — they all need to stick. Otherwise, we have nothing else.”
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Why It’s Important: Cue’s remarks highlight Apple’s continued focus on prestige programming in a crowded streaming landscape.
Rather than emulate rivals like Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) with a high-volume output, as Cue highlighted, Apple TV+ plans to carve out a niche with select, critically acclaimed titles.
Severance, created by Dan Erickson and directed by Stiller, explores a dystopian workplace where employees are surgically separated from their personal lives.
With appearances by Adam Scott, Patricia Arquette, and Christopher Walken, Severance is shaping up to be Apple TV+’s flagship franchise.
Now in its second season, the series has earned critical acclaim and a cult following. Apple has already confirmed a third season is in development.
Unlike Netflix shows that drop all episodes at once for binge-watching, “Severance” follows a weekly release schedule, with its season 2 finale set for March 21.
Apple’s streaming service costs $9.99 per month, making it one of the more affordable ad-free options available.
Price Action: Apple’s stock ended Friday at $239.07, gaining 1.59%. It later slipped 0.15% in after-hours trading, according to Benzinga Pro data.
Photo by Ivan Marc on Shutterstock
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
