Apple TV+ is exploring a new compensation model for actors and production staff that ties pay to the success of a show or movie. An internal document reveals that this performance-based pay would consider metrics like subscriber growth, viewing time and production costs relative to viewership. Successful productions could see bonuses of up to $10.5 million USD.
This proposed change aims to incentivize higher quality content by aligning financial rewards with performance. Apple has begun discussions with talent representatives to gather feedback. While the idea has met with some skepticism in Hollywood, with concerns about lower base pay, supporters argue it could drive better performances and more engaging productions. United Talent Agency chief Jeremy Zimmer and producer Jason Blum have both expressed support for merit-based pay, noting that it encourages higher standards.
Apple is not the only company considering this model; Netflix and Amazon are also developing similar compensation structures and Disney has already implemented merit-based bonuses. For these models to gain acceptance, streaming services will need to provide transparent viewership data to ensure fair compensation. The proposed system, still in its early stages, would apply to in-house Apple productions if adopted.
