Apple doesn’t fall far from the TV

Everything you need to know about the streaming service launching Friday

What is Apple TV+?

It’s a streaming service from Apple, similar to Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, that’s starting Friday. Apple TV+ is the tech giant’s first time entering the video streaming market. In the past, they’ve offered users the ability to buy or rent movies and TV show seasons from the itunes store. But this is entirely digital.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

Apple TV+ will cost $5.99 a month, and will allow six users to watch simultaneously in high-definition 4K. A seven-day free trial of Apple TV+ will be available, as well. Though if you do catch yourself in need of a new iphone, ipad or Mac, they’ll offer a one-year subscription to the service for free. There’s no word on how long that deal will last.

WHAT WILL I BE ABLE TO WATCH?

Only Apple originals will be available on the streaming platform. They’ll be updated monthly, according to Apple. But some of Hollywood’s biggest stars are signed onto the streaming service’s new shows.

Launching with the service is The Morning Show starring Jennifer Aniston, Steve Carell and Reese Witherspoon. Former

Game of Thrones star Jason Mo- moa will play a blind Viking-type warrior Baba Voss in See. Two separate space shows will be available: For All Mankind, an alternate history drama set in the 1960s where the Soviet Union beat the U.S. to the moon, and a Peanuts spinoff called Snoopy in Space.

The makers of Sesame Street have a new show called Helpsters, which will teach kids about the basics of coding. Oprah’s Book Club will be paired with Apple Books, the company’s ebook distributor, to promote Oprah Winfrey’s favourites.

She’ll discuss the books on her show, which will have new episodes every two months. A portion of sales from Oprah’s pick through Apple Books will go toward the American Library Association to support libraries. Her first choice is The Water Dancer by Ta-nehisi Coates.

HOW DO I GET IT?

If you have an Apple device, you’re probably ready to watch. On ipads and iphones, the TV app came pre-installed and offers access to standard channels such as CBS and the ability to buy movies once they’re released digitally. The same goes for the actual Apple TV box, the little $200 device that sits under your television. The app is available there, too.

The app is available through Amazon Fire TV and Roku as well. It’s currently available on Samsung smart TVS, with Sony, Vizio and LG apps coming soon, according to a recent statement from Apple.

There was a stand-alone app released through an update to Mac software earlier this month, but if you haven’t downloaded it, you can stream Apple TV+ through your browser on tv.apple.com.