ISLAMABAD: Apple TV appears to be nearing a Pakistan rollout, with users able to subscribe for Rs200 ($0.72) a month, but streaming remains unavailable.
Pakistan TV Digital independently tested the subscription process on three different devices in Islamabad, Karachi and Rawalpindi after reports emerged that Apple TV subscriptions had become available to users with Pakistan-region Apple accounts.
The test found that the billing option is available, although access and functionality remain inconsistent across devices.
On a desktop browser, the Rs200 payment was processed successfully, and the Apple account showed an active Apple TV subscription. An attempt on an iPhone did not complete.
The bigger problem came after the subscription was activated: video playback remained unavailable.
This is consistent with a report published by TechJuice on Monday, which said some Pakistani users were able to subscribe to Apple TV for Rs200 a month and receive an official confirmation showing the active subscription, monthly price and renewal details.
The report noted, however, that “the videos are currently not playing, even with an active subscription.”
ProPakistani, a Pakistani technology news website, reported a similar development last week, saying users had successfully activated Apple TV subscriptions through Pakistani Apple accounts for Rs200 per month. It said the subscription and payment system was active, but “video streaming has not yet been fully enabled.”
Billing works, streaming does not
Apple's own documentation makes clear that an Apple TV subscription is intended to provide access to its streaming catalogue across supported devices. Apple describes the service as an “all-original streaming service” featuring hundreds of exclusive shows and movies, with access through the Apple TV app and online at tv[dot]apple[dot]com.
Apple's support documentation also cautions that “not all features and content are available in all countries or regions,” meaning regional availability can differ.
But Pakistan TV Digital's testing raises a more immediate question: if Apple is accepting a subscription payment from a Pakistani customer, what exactly is the customer receiving at this stage?
In testing, an active subscription did not translate into functioning playback. A VPN could be used to open the Apple TV service and browse its catalogue, but the content still did not play, according to the tests and reports reviewed by Pakistan TV Digital.
The uneven rollout is also reflected in user reports. TechJuice said some users were still unable to sign up because Pakistan did not appear in the country-selection menu, suggesting that the subscription option has not been made uniformly available.
Apple has yet to confirm a full launch
Despite the appearance of a Pakistan-specific price and successful subscription transactions, Apple has not publicly announced a full Apple TV launch in Pakistan.
The developments point to a possible phased rollout in which Apple's billing infrastructure has been activated before full streaming access.
Apple's official Apple TV page currently describes the service and its subscription model but does not publicly identify Pakistan as a newly launched market or announce a Pakistan-specific Rs200 plan.
Pakistan TV Digital contacted Apple Media Relations for comment, but had not received a response by the time of publication.
Editorial note: This story will be updated if Apple responds. Readers are advised to refresh this page for the latest version.