Apple is preparing to take a new step in the development of its news application. After establishing itself as a major force in the media industry in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, the Cupertino company plans to extend its service to new territories, without the we know which ones exactly.
A growing influence in the media landscape
Launched almost 10 years ago, Apple News now reaches approximately 125 million monthly users in countries where it is available. The application has established itself as the main news source on iOS, benefiting from its native integration on the iPhone. For many publishers, it now represents a significant source of income. The British Mirror, for example, finds almost a quarter of its total readership there with 4.5 million monthly readers.
The application offers two plans: a free version financed by advertising and Apple News+, a premium service at $12.99/month giving access to more than 450 publications, games, podcasts and newsletters. Publishers can either manage their own advertising and keep 100% of the revenue, or let Apple handle it for a 30% commission. Apple News+ is also included in Apple One subscription plans.
International ambitions and new features
According to the Financial TimesApple plans not only to extend its service to new countries, but also to enrich its existing offering. In the United Kingdom, for example, the firm plans to strengthen its coverage of local news and introduce its games and puzzles section, currently limited to the United States and Canada. It’s not yet clear whether Apple plans to bring this service elsewhere in Europe, although we can imagine that’s the long-term goal.
To ensure the quality of its service, Apple relies on a team of around 100 editors spread between London, New York, Sydney and California. Led by Lauren Kern, former editor of New York Magazine, they combine human curation and automation to select and highlight the most relevant articles.
This expansion demonstrates Apple’s desire to strengthen its Services segment, which already generates $96 billion per year thanks to offerings like Apple TV+ and Apple Pay. Although the company does not communicate specific figures to News, the service is gradually establishing itself as a key player in the digital media landscape, particularly in a context where Meta and Google are reducing their support for press publishers.
