Since its inception, Apple TV, Apple TV Plus, has built a reputation for quality over quantity. It has far fewer shows and movies than the likes of Netflix or Disney Plus, but generally, the projects it puts out are pretty good. It’s a strategy that has drawn comparisons to the HBO classic, and 2026 features a solid mix of new hits and returning favorites. It took a few years, but the Apple TV seems to be finally hitting its stride.
That’s a solid plan on its own. But what’s really helped Apple TV’s offerings is that those shows come off the back of existing properties, many of which have been running for several years. The past few weeks have ushered in new seasons of sci-fi detective series Sugara postapocalyptic thriller The beastagain Star Citythe conclusion of a long-running historical series To All Humanity.
The next few months look like a similar mix. A Dark Story, Slow Horsesagain Ted Lasso all will return with new seasons. Meanwhile, there are new thrillers as well Last Seen and the Anya Taylor-Joy-led I’m lucky, and buddy jokes: Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh entered May Dayand Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson in My brothers. Maybe this year Apple will finally release its long-delayed series The Savantinvestigating domestic terrorism.
It took a few years to get to this point. That needed to go down and not just a few songs that could go on for multiple seasons, like that Slow Horses again To All Humanitybut also to explore different types. Apple has been particularly successful in the field of science fiction, but many of its most talked about series – such as Ted Lasso again Widow’s Bay – they are jokes. At this point, the service offers a solid mix of both light fare and traditional celebrity television. It’s a trend that looks set to continue, at least for the foreseeable future. Liked by The beast again To All Humanity they are coming to an end, but new eras for heavy hitters Pluribus, Separationand awards dear Studio waiting in the wings, while the highly anticipated adaptation of William Gibson’s cyberpunk classic The Neuromancer it doesn’t have it either.
What’s most striking about Apple’s focus on premium-style televisions is how different it is from the growth mindset of its competitors. Netflix is a prime example. With the end of the series as Stranger Things again Squid gamethe broadcaster is no longer dependent on tentpole TV shows. Instead, reality television, live shows, podcasts, and talk shows have become more of a focus as Netflix tries to reach a larger, broader audience. Disney, likewise, has been trying to turn Disney Plus into a “focused, interactive digital platform for the company,” which will involve focusing on things other than traditional programs to attract subscribers.
The Apple TV is obviously not perfect; its film offering leaves a lot to be desired, with upcoming features like toy car adaptations Matching box don’t instill too much confidence. It has also started to spread to areas such as live sports, including Formula 1. But on the television side, the broadcaster’s approach is refreshing. While almost every subscription service seems to focus on pleasing as many customers as possible, Apple TV is simply a great TV platform. Signs point to that changing in the future, but for now the service is the closest thing streaming has to a popular home.
