Apple TV+ Slammed for Promoting TV Shows Over The End of Hitchcock’s Psycho

Apple TV+ Slammed for Promoting TV Shows Over The End of Hitchcock's Psycho

As a lifelong cinephile who has witnessed the evolution of movie-watching experiences, I must say that the recent incident with Apple TV+’s intrusion into the final moments of Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece “Psycho” has left me utterly dismayed. It’s one thing to endure the occasional interruption during credits on modern movies; it’s quite another to disrupt a classic like “Psycho,” which, as we all know, doesn’t have conventional end credits to begin with!


People often recall the experience of watching a movie on traditional TV networks, only to be frustrated when a voiceover interrupts during the credits to preview what’s coming next. Now, there have been complaints about Apple TV+ on Twitter for taking this annoyance a step further by prematurely minimizing the conclusion of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic film to advertise The Big Bang Theory instead.

Instead of removing end credits from a film like Psycho, which doesn’t have traditional end credits to begin with, streaming platforms such as Apple insert their promotional content. This interruption occurs during the suspenseful scene where Anthony Perkins (as Norman Bates) stares intensely into the camera and in the sequence that follows, showing Marion Crane’s car being retrieved from a grimy lake.

Of course, such disrespect towards a cherished cinema classic wouldn’t go unnoticed. As a matter of fact, when comments poured in about the post, even a notable Hollywood actor expressed their shock in response.

The initial post’s debate revealed a widespread dissatisfaction among subscribers who feel inconvenienced by interruptions in their viewing experience, particularly those who have opted for an ad-free service. Some viewers found the interruption acceptable because the film had ended, but many expressed concern over why streaming platforms don’t offer the choice to skip having credits (and sometimes the last 30 seconds) removed from their content.

Psycho’s Lack of End Credits Poses a YouTube-Style Problem for Streamers

Apple TV+ Slammed for Promoting TV Shows Over The End of Hitchcock's PsychoApple TV+ Slammed for Promoting TV Shows Over The End of Hitchcock's PsychoApple TV+ Slammed for Promoting TV Shows Over The End of Hitchcock's Psycho

Over a long period, viewers on YouTube have likely encountered annoying adverts that pop up at inopportune moments, disrupting content such as movie trailers, music videos, and other material during the final 20 seconds, due to their monetization and cross-promotion, which covers nearly the entire screen.

When you subscribe to a streaming platform like Apple TV+, it’s reasonable to anticipate a somewhat enhanced experience compared to free options. Yet, even paid services often aim to advertise their additional offerings. Interestingly, many classic films, such as Psycho, display their titles at the start of the movie instead of the end, which implies that the actual ending of the movie is indeed the very end.

In simpler terms, when streamers schedule their promotional messages to play at specific times during a movie, they sometimes interrupt the last scenes or shots instead of waiting for the credits. Movies like Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 masterpiece may have crucial elements right up until the very end, and having these promotions before the screen goes black can disrupt the film’s atmosphere.

The public outcry observed on the internet may not prompt any significant changes in the strategies of major streaming platforms, but it certainly brings into sharp focus the discontent of viewers towards ads and self-promotion in general. Having abandoned the network television model, these streamers have recently reintroduced ad-supported content and are now releasing new episodes of their top shows on a weekly basis. Given this trajectory, it appears that the irritating interruptions, as exemplified by Psycho, may be a persistent issue for quite some time.

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2024-09-25 02:33