Apple orders 'Fraggle Rock' reboot for Apple TV+, buys streaming rights to back catalog [u...
Classic children's television series "Fraggle Rock" has found a new home on Apple TV+, with the tech giant buying streaming rights to all classic episodes and ordering a reboot that will include full-length installments.
Apple struck a deal with the Jim Henson Company to produce new episodes of the beloved kids' show that will air on Apple TV+, reports Vulture. Original puppet characters Gobo, Red, Boober, Mokey, Wembley and Uncle Travelling Matt are set to star in the series.
As part of the arrangement, Apple purchased exclusive streaming rights to 96 episodes of the original series that aired from 1983 to 1987. The company's thinking on the acquisition -- its first for previously filmed and aired content -- is that viewers will be able to watch all live-action "Fraggle" episodes in one place instead of going through previous owner HBO, according to people familiar with the matter.
While not initially persuaded by a pitch from Henson executives to bundle old with new, Apple ultimately decided it made sense to consolidate the show's assets under one umbrella, sources said. The move makes Apple TV+ the de facto home of "Fraggle."
Apple's "Fraggle" back catalog will be available for streaming on Apple TV+ in 100 countries on Wednesday, May 27.
Vulture sources claim Apple is not eyeing a move into library curation, a strategy that Netflix and others leveraged to kick off the streaming revolution. Originals will continue to be the focus of Apple TV+, though the company is open to purchasing library titles if it plans to work on a new production related to existing property, the report said. A report last week claimed Apple is in talks with studios to fill out its Apple TV+ catalog with a library of older movies and series.
News of the "Fraggle" purchase and series order arrives weeks after Apple debuted the shot on iPhone "Fraggle Rock: Rock On" special, a series of mini-episodes that deal in part with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The show's finale, which debuted on Tuesday, features notable special guests including Alanis Morissette, Common, Tiffany Haddish, Neil Patrick Harris, Ziggy Marley and Jason Mraz.
Update: Apple confirmed the new series in a tweet on Tuesday.
Apple struck a deal with the Jim Henson Company to produce new episodes of the beloved kids' show that will air on Apple TV+, reports Vulture. Original puppet characters Gobo, Red, Boober, Mokey, Wembley and Uncle Travelling Matt are set to star in the series.
As part of the arrangement, Apple purchased exclusive streaming rights to 96 episodes of the original series that aired from 1983 to 1987. The company's thinking on the acquisition -- its first for previously filmed and aired content -- is that viewers will be able to watch all live-action "Fraggle" episodes in one place instead of going through previous owner HBO, according to people familiar with the matter.
While not initially persuaded by a pitch from Henson executives to bundle old with new, Apple ultimately decided it made sense to consolidate the show's assets under one umbrella, sources said. The move makes Apple TV+ the de facto home of "Fraggle."
Apple's "Fraggle" back catalog will be available for streaming on Apple TV+ in 100 countries on Wednesday, May 27.
Vulture sources claim Apple is not eyeing a move into library curation, a strategy that Netflix and others leveraged to kick off the streaming revolution. Originals will continue to be the focus of Apple TV+, though the company is open to purchasing library titles if it plans to work on a new production related to existing property, the report said. A report last week claimed Apple is in talks with studios to fill out its Apple TV+ catalog with a library of older movies and series.
News of the "Fraggle" purchase and series order arrives weeks after Apple debuted the shot on iPhone "Fraggle Rock: Rock On" special, a series of mini-episodes that deal in part with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The show's finale, which debuted on Tuesday, features notable special guests including Alanis Morissette, Common, Tiffany Haddish, Neil Patrick Harris, Ziggy Marley and Jason Mraz.
Update: Apple confirmed the new series in a tweet on Tuesday.
Comments
Who is making such a big deal of it?
As for their reasoning for buying the back catalog, it's because they're producing original content. It certainly happens, but I wish that happened more often with these streaming services.
As for buying more back content, they certainly could simply buy it up. They could even buy one of the big, established streamers to get access, but that clearly isn't what Apple is going for.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jim_Henson_Company
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"I just hate hearing people saying that Apple doesn't have enough content and there's no reason for a company with Apple's cashflow not to be able to afford to order older content."
... what?
As someone who grew up on Fraggle Rock, this is awesome. That's a big win for Apple over HBO, given the original series was an HBO production. Not sure how that works but guessing a large pile of money was involved.