Apple TV Plus exec leaves two weeks after streaming service debuts to mediocre reviews

[Karlston]

Apple TV Plus exec leaves two weeks after streaming service debuts to mediocre reviews

None of Apple’s four big shows performed particularly well

 

To say that Apple TV Plus’ first slate of programming debuted to less than stellar reviews would be an understatement. Now, a top TV executive in charge of Apple’s programming has left the company less than two weeks after the service’s debut.

 

Kim Rozenfeld is leaving his position as head of current scripted programming, documentary, and unscripted content, according to The Hollywood Reporter. There aren’t any additional details on Rozenfeld’s departure, but it is remarkable. Rozenfeld has signed a first-look deal with Apple, which suggests an amicable split. He was one of the first people that Apple TV Plus chiefs Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht hired when they were building the team. Prior to Apple, he was a longstanding executive at Sony TV (where Van Amburg and Erlicht came from).

 

Also unclear is what Rozenfeld’s departure means for Apple’s originals slate. The company’s four heavily marketed shows, The Morning Show, See, Dickinson, and For All Mankind weren’t met with praise from critics. Some critics found See and For All Mankind average at best, but ultimately forgettable. Dickinson won some critics over with its carefreeness and queer storytelling. The Morning Show, Apple TV Plus’ most prized series, underwhelmed at best, but also soured many critics. James Poniewozik at the New York Times wrote:

It’s like something assembled in a cleanroom out of good-show parts from incompatible suppliers. Under the gleaming surface, as sleek and anodyne as an Apple Store, it is a kludge.

Parting ways with Rozenfeld might speak to Apple wanting to move in a different direction with their scripted series, although all four originals were renewed. Critical appeal isn’t everything, though. Most of the aforementioned shows landed much higher on Rotten Tomatoes’ site when it came to user ratings. The Morning Show, one of the worst critically rated shows of the bunch, has an audience score of 92 percent. See, a sci-fi series starring Jason Momoa that’s set in a post-apocalyptic future where everyone is blind, is the worst-reviewed show as far as critics are concerned, but has an audience approval score of 88 percent.

 

“Viewers aren’t critics,” analyst Eric Haggstrom at eMarketer told The Verge earlier this month. “People will watch these shows, regardless of what critics say. Whether they continue to watch them after a month depends on quality.”

 

If the negative reviews impacted subscriber sign up for Apple TV Plus in any way, it could be a reason why Apple and Rozenfeld are going in different directions, but the reasoning is unclear. Although, Apple executives were reportedly thrilled with first weekend signups.

 

Update (November 11th, 7:10pm ET): The story has been updated to include additional information about reported first wave signups to Apple TV Plus.

 

Source: Apple TV Plus exec leaves two weeks after streaming service debuts to mediocre reviews Source: (The Verge)

[halvgris]

to see "all" new content you must sign up for 2 months

now. apple just doesn't have enough to fill the apple

tv plus platform. certainly not worth 5 usd a month.

 

unless you pirate the shows now it's actually better to

wait it out until the platform has something to pay for.

 

[steven36]

5 hours ago, halvgris said:

unless you pirate the shows now it's actually better to

wait it out until the platform has something to pay for.

 It never will  because the others   already own the rights to everything  , Netflix started making there  own shows years ago  and spent billions of dollars in last 2 preparing  for the other services ..  they make shows for every country almost . Apple TV Plus is going to end up in the Apple Grave Yard .