Apple is experimenting with making the first episode of some of its sci-fi series available for free on YouTube and twitter. It is meant to promote the Foundation season 2 premiere this Friday.

Last month, Apple TV+ made the first episode of its sci-fi series Silo available for free on Twitter in a tweet that was promoted by Elon Musk himself to reach more than 53 million views. Apple's tweet has since been removed.

Later today at 11:00 am PT or 8:00 pm CET, Apple TV+ will debut the first episode of Foundation season 1 for free on YouTube alongside a live Q&A with the producer David S. Goyer. It will be available here.

Rather than a one-off thing it is starting to look like a new tactic from Apple, so do not be surprised to see more free episodes in the future.


Foundation season 2
While the first episode of Silo was released on Twitter ahead of the season finale, the first episode of Foundation is released on YouTube ahead of the season two premiere.

Season 2 of Foundation premieres this Friday on Apple TV+.




Using social media to raise awareness is not unusual for streaming services but the idea of releasing full episodes on social media platforms is not something we see very often. Still, we would advise you to simply download the Apple TV app and experience the shows in 4K Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos instead. The first episodes are also free in the Apple TV app.


Apple TV+ movies in theaters
Apple TV+ is still an emerging streaming service and it is difficult to evaluate its success relative to Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max, Netflix and others as Apple has refrained from releasing any data on TV+ subscribers.

Later this year, Apple will start premiering its movies including Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon exclusively in theaters before they become available on Apple TV+.