‘Pluribus’ drives viewership records for Apple TV in December
‘Pluribus’ drives viewership records for Apple TV in December
Viewership on the streamer rose 36% thanks to the release of the new Vince Gilligan series.
While Apple is traditionally cagey about specifics when it comes to details like subscriber numbers or specific revenue figures, it doesn’t mind celebrating its own success now and again. On Monday, the company shared another of its rare updates regarding its subscription services, including the Apple TV streaming platform.
Key Details:
- Rare occurrence: Apple offered an infrequent snapshot of the performance of Apple TV on Monday.
- Record-breaker: Viewership on the Apple TV streaming service jumped 36% in December.
- What’s new?: The company attributed the month’s success to new titles like ‘Pluribus’ and ‘F1.’
Apple’s senior vice president of services, Eddy Cue, revealed that total viewing hours on the Apple TV streaming service grew 36% in December 2025 compared to the last month of 2024. While the specific number of viewing hours during the month was not disclosed, Cue did mention that the figure represented a new record for monthly engagement on Apple TV.
The new series “Pluribus” was a key part of that viewership jump; the show follows Carol Sturka, a woman who is somehow one of the only people on Earth unaffected when a mysterious force turns the entire world blissfully happy. Not only is she determined to retain her misery, but Carol is also bent on reversing the phenomenon, which she’s convinced is somehow nefarious at its core.
“Pluribus” was released on Apple TV on November 7, but has been releasing new episodes all throughout December. Apple also credited the release of “F1” on Dec. 12 for driving its record-setting month, as well as the demand for “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” The streamer also released its original film “The Family Plan 2” in late November, which undoubtedly attracted views during the holidays.
That was, unfortunately, the last of the new updates provided on Apple TV. The company did tout the addition of Major League Soccer games to the service starting in 2026, making virtue out of adversity after announcing the shutdown of the MLS Season Pass streaming service in November.
Apple TV will also welcome Formula 1 races in 2026, and also launched a native app for Android devices in 2025. Whether or not the streamer is — or ever will be — a profitable revenue center for its parent company is an open question, but the streamer clearly had a strong end to 2025.
Apple TV
Apple TV (formerly known as Apple TV+) is a subscription video streaming service for $14.99 per month, offering a growing slate of original series, films, documentaries, and specials. Unlike other platforms that combine licensed titles with originals, Apple TV is built entirely around exclusive programming, making it the home of critically acclaimed hits such as “Ted Lasso,” “Severance,” “The Morning Show,” and “Silo.” Its lineup continues to expand with award-winning dramas, comedies, family-friendly shows, and blockbuster original films like “CODA,” which won the Academy Award for Best Picture.