Why Apple TV+ outshines Netflix and DStv in quality in South Africa - IOL

Rebecca Ferguson attends Apple TV+'s "Silo" Season 3 Photo Call at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on June 15, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. Picture: Monica Schipper/Getty Images/AFP

While the biggest streaming services in South Africa remain DStv and Netflix, the most critically acclaimed option isn't even in the top three.

Sitting behind Netflix, DStv, and Prime Video in subscriber count is Apple TV+, yet it consistently boasts the highest-rated shows at any given time.

That includes competing head-to-head against flagship Netflix originals like Stranger Things, which often benefit from inflated ratings driven by the sheer weight of viewership numbers pushed by the streaming giant.

While Netflix relies on having the largest collection of movies and series, Apple has prided itself on prioritising quality over quantity for years.

Hits like Pluribus (7.9), Silo (8.1), Severance (8.6), Ted Lasso (8.7), and Widow’s Bay (8.1) all hold exceptionally high scores on the Internet Movie Database (IMDb).

Comparing heavyweights highlights the trend: Stranger Things holds an 8.6 rating from 1.7 million users, whereas Ted Lasso edges it out with an 8.7 rating from just 470,000 users. It’s a telltale comparison, as both series stand among the flagship hits of their respective platforms.

This isn't to say Netflix lacks brilliant content—it most certainly has it—but subscribers have to dig much deeper to unearth those rare gems hidden beneath the sheer volume of low-effort streaming clutter.

In fact, examining a flagship like Stranger Things illustrates how a dominant platform can compromise narrative momentum. Running from 2016 to 2025 with a massive budget, it produced a grand total of just 42 episodes.

While episode ratings naturally fluctuate across any series, Apple TV+ maintains a remarkably consistent high standard. Delivering superior storytelling with a comparatively smaller footprint proves that Apple isn't just competing on content—it's quietly redefining what quality streaming should look like.