Apple TV Outage Impacts Tens of Thousands During ‘Pluribus’ Premiere on Nov 6-7

Apple TV+ experienced a major outage on November 6-7, impacting tens of thousands of viewers worldwide. This outage occurred just as the highly-anticipated series “Pluribus” was set to premiere. Created by Vince Gilligan, the mastermind behind “Breaking Bad,” the sci-fi drama stars Rhea Seehorn as romance novelist Carol Sturka.

The outage began around 9:00 PM ET on November 6, causing streaming errors for subscribers globally. Downdetector reported over 11,700 outages within hours. This unfortunate timing disrupted the premiere of “Pluribus,” which had been heavily promoted as one of Apple TV+’s biggest fall releases.

After approximately 12-18 hours, Apple restored service on November 7, allowing viewers to finally access the premiere. The cause of the outage has not been publicly disclosed, highlighting the vulnerabilities of streaming services during high-profile launches.

“Pluribus” is particularly significant this season as it marks Vince Gilligan’s return to television since “Better Call Saul” and “Breaking Bad.” The show combines philosophical questions and intense character drama in a unique sci-fi premise. Rhea Seehorn’s character, Carol Sturka, must save society from a mysterious virus that induces happiness in everyone except her.

The first two episodes of “Pluribus” premiered on November 7 at 9:00 PM ET. The nine-episode first season will air weekly on Fridays through December 26. Apple TV+ offers new subscribers a seven-day free trial, with regular subscription priced at $12.99 per month. Viewers can access the show through the Apple TV app on compatible devices.

As the season progresses, weekly episodes will be released every Friday, with the finale slated for December 26. This scheduling aims to keep viewers engaged and excited for each new episode.

Streaming enthusiasts should keep an eye on Apple’s system status to avoid any potential future outages and enjoy uninterrupted viewing of “Pluribus” and other Apple TV+ content.