From PC Mag: Apple TV+ reportedly had fewer than 20 million subscribers in North America as of July 2021, according to the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE).
By reporting figures under the 20-million threshold, Variety reported, Apple may pay discounted rates to production crew members, versus rivals like Netflix and Hulu, which boast up to three-and-a-half times more subscribers in the US and Canada.
IATSE approved reduced production rates for streaming providers in 2009—when, as Variety noted, "the streaming industry was still nascent." Now, a contract fight with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), of which Apple is a member, aims to eliminate that discount.
Apple did not immediately respond to PCMag's request for comment. A company spokesperson, however, told CNBC that it "pays rates in line with leading streaming services."
View: Full Article
