Apple Getting Into TV With Reality Competition Show About App Developers

Image courtesy of Apple

If hours spent staring at your iPhone/Apple Watch/iPad/Mac isn’t giving you enough from Apple, the technology giant has a new offering in the works, with its first TV show, a reality competition featuring app developers duking it out for featured placement in the App Store. So it’s like Game of Thrones, just with more branding, a bunch of people wielding tech instead of swords, and no brutal battles to the death (we think).

Planet of the Apps — yes, we get it, Apple — has opened up the call for entries at planetoftheapps.com to find 100 tech entrepreneurs who want to be on the show slated to debut in 2017, Variety reports.

Those interested have until Aug. 26 to submit their online applications with a one-minute video explaining their bright idea for a new app. Selected candidates will then get the chance to get hands-on guidance from “some of the most influential experts in the tech community” while they’re on the show, as well as featured placement on the App store, and possible funding from venture capital firms.

There’s one obvious reason Apple is doing this, as you might guess: all the projects it’s greenlit have, so far, centered on its existing business. How do you spread news about your company? Make a TV show and slap your name all over it! Like a scripted series reportedly in the works from Dr. Dre, who happens to be the co-founder of music company Beats, which Apple bought for $3 billion in 2014. That show is expected to be featured on Apple Music, ostensibly as a way to attract new customers to the $10/month streaming music service.

Apple’s First TV Show, ‘Planet of the Apps,’ Will Feature 100 Developers in Competition Series [Variety]

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