Comments on: Apple cuts the TV out of TV programming

iTunes TV foray likely to change media distribution. But it could be a harder business than music.

[ablocker]

Sounds good, but ...

the initial content offering is limited. I hope that this is the start of a great new distribution channel for TV content; I would gladly pay $2 per episode of several TV shows that I can't catch. Let's just hope that the studios aren't too shortsighted to cash in.

[lwvirden]

How many would pay $1.99 for a tv episode?

It appears that price is not incompatible with some of the season dvd releases - for instance, 25 episodes at $1.99 runs about $50 . However, remember that at this price, no extras are included; no commentaries, etc. Also, I'm guessing many people don't pay the list price for the dvds; for instance, I see that Amazon takes about 15-20% off those prices. So many people are really paying about $1.49 or less per episode.
For instance, on Amazon (and I'd guess there are other places offering things at even cheaper prices), you can get the 23 episode first season of Desperate Housewives for $38.99 - with commentary and extra scenes, etc. That's $1.69 an episode. A similar situation exists for Lost - 24 episodes, lots of extras, $38.99 ... that's $1.62 an episode.

So, are you willing to pay 37 cents more an episode for less info?

[olsenmichael]

Cool Factor v. Convenience

Initially, the 'cool factor' will be the main reason to pay for tv content on your ipod. But convenience will play a factor. For instance, Battlestar Galactica is the top of my Tivo season pass manager. Most of the time I simply watch it on my TV. However, there have been a couple of times where I have wanted to take an episode mobile. Here is what I have to do:

Transfer the program to my laptop using TivoToGo: 1 hour.
'Unwrap' the .tivo file format using Direct Show Dump Utility: 20 minutes.
Encode for my PSP using PSP Video 9: 30 minutes.

So now there are two hours devoted to watching a one hour show on my PSP. I would rather pay $2 for the convenience of directly downloading the episode right to an Ipod.

[ppdeagle]

Convenience & Comfort will win out!

There are other companies out there who are marketing "super-tivo"-like devices which permit people to watch downloaded content in a comfortable convenient way. Brightbox for one. For details, check out the Brightbox video blog:
http://brightboxblog.com/ppdeagle

(You'll find lots of information on how "convergence" is shaking up the TV/Internet/Phone industries).

The race won't be over for about 5 years; the big boys (Microsoft, Apple, etc) are struggling to keep up with the change...

[CHESARASARA]

Laptop download

Actually, you can download the TV shows directly to your laptop, then to your video iPod!

[Brandon King]

they said free??

The article claims cable customers are accustomed to 'free' content with on demand shows. I don't consider $90+/mo. I pay for my cable service free by any standard!

Anyway, we use the DVR cable box from TW and it fills what I consider to be the needs of average network tv consumers. Yeah people on the go may enjoy the ability to watch a show on a mobile device, but if the media companies think someone like me (again, considering myself an average network/cable tv consumer who doesn't travel or commute 2hours one way to work) is going to pay to view something on a 2.5 inch screen, they have lost their minds!

[Thrudheim]

The Future

Imagine a future where you can just buy TV shows a la carte
rather than pay that $90 subscription fee. That's what is cool
about this new distribution model. Right now, Apple selling
low-res content geared for iPods. They know that only a small
part of the marketplace really wants video on the go. Jobs has
said so himself. The iPod is still a music player first and
foremost.

But, as broadband speeds increase, the ability to buy full
resolution shows could be a very attractive alternative to cable
subscriptions. Apple clearly is positioning itself to be a seller of
that kind of content and I expect that they have a home
entertainment device in the works to serve as the interface/
storage/playback for this kind of service.

[CHESARASARA]

itunes6 to laptop

Again, I believe you can download the TV shows form iTunes6 directly to your laptop, then to youe Video iPod if you wish. My laptop's screen is 17" wide!!

Video on the hard drive???

This recent announcement/intro by Apple has me sitting up straight!

I am sort of a 'leap-frog' adoptor; meaning I stretch my purchases usefullness for as loooooong as possible. (Note: I'm still using my PB G3/lombard and OS 9.2.2). And we are still using 'rabbit ears' for TV reception!!! (Due to cost).

I've recently been shopping for an external hard drive for additional backup and I've been thinking now: can I soon get movies on a download and just store them on the HD?

As for movies to go. I thought it was pretty silly to have video screens in the back of headrests in cars, yet they seen to keep on with it. I imagine that the folks who buy for that reason are Apples target market, with the video iPod. It might work; kids have their own iPods/movies--less fighting, more isolation, less communication, socially disfunctional down the road!!! Bring on the therapists...

But really...the iMac as a hub in the living room has me thinking of leapfrogging again!

[papersushi]

You don't have to watch it on iPod

You don't have to have a new iPod video to download and watch the show. Actually you don't need an iPod at all, you can just download the TV shows through iTunes and watch it on your computer. They are H.264 encoded, which delivers pretty impressive quality even on a large display or TV.

If you are lucky to have one of the new iPod video, not only you can watch it on the iPod's 2.5 inch screen, you can alaso connect your iPod to a TV to play back the TV show on TV by purchasing an optional AV cable from Apple for 20 dollars.

And another note, yes, you can transfer your own video to the new iPod video.

The new iPod can playback following video formats:
H.264 video: up to 768 Kbps, 320 x 240, 30 frames per sec.
MPEG-4 video: up to 2.5 mbps, 480 x 480, 30 frames per sec.

iTunes will sync these clips to your new iPod video.

[CHESARASARA]

EXACTLY RIGHT !!!

Wow, somebody finally realizes this. Thank you!

[TV James]

Subscriptions and free TV content

Subscriptions can't be far off. We're talking about Disney, so I imagine it won't be too long before you can subscribe to SportsCenter and have it download new episodes every day.

I also would like to see free content added, like Channel 101 and 102.

And videocasting. Let's get that up and running. (Power to the people!)

[random_foo]

Videocasting is already here

Check out sites like http://www.vobbo.com/ that let you record your own video, live through the browser (and free, if you can do it fast enough). News cast? Talk show? Silly drunk pranks? It's just 2 clicks away.

[ppdeagle]

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

From the Article:
------------
Just as many people are already watching movies primarily at home, on DVD, consumers may stop thinking of television as the primary way to access TV content.

"A lot of people who want this kind of content may not even bother with a TV anymore," said GartnerG2 analyst Mike McGuire.
--------------

People will always want to watch video (however it is accessed) using their Television. The other viewing methods (Internet, iTunes for Video, etc.) will be settle-for alternatives. Who really wants to view entertainment content on a 2" screen or on a computer -- it'll be watched on a big-screen or projection TV with full surround sound...

[bertbuster]

TV Sidekick

If you think people won't want to watch TV from a PC/Mac, you are right. BUT did you know that the new iMac also has "S-video and composite video output(2)"? You just hook up the iMac to your LCD or Plasma, using the S-video port and Voila, the videos are run on your main set. As a result, the new iMac with FrontRow will act as your TVs sidekick, sitting there on the side. You use the iMac to select the media and watch all your videos on the TV. I expect future versions of the iMac to come with DVI out, Component Video Out or maybe even HDMI. How do I know this? Users in Asia and Europe have been using a DIY version of this setup for months. (We have very little to watch over here) Hurray for Apple, but I also think the other winners will be High Def TVs, hard drive companies, & broadband ISPs, whereas the losers will be TV Stations, Cable TV companies, DVD makers, Advertisers, Ad Agencies, Amazon-type companies, illegal download sites and eventually movie theaters. Lastly, I just found out that if you live outside the U.S., but own a US Credit Card, you can still download the TV shows via iTunes. Is that a big deal? YES, because (1) We don't have Tivo out here and (2) we now don't have to wait months after a show airs in the US to watch it locally. I've got my Apple religion back, all over again!

Good one Robert

Great thoughts Robert! Thanks for the technical, it opens up many possiblities...

I'm paying attention!

[CHESARASARA]

iTunes6 TV shows

Yes, the 5 shows currently available is a very short list. I will be using it, but hope iTunes expands to other network shows quickly!

[CHESARASARA]

iTunes6 TV show downloads to LAPTOP, OR video iPod!!

Like Fish Sun has said, you can download directly to your laptop. No need for the new video iPod!

[Jcabbott9]

Russ, Is That You?

WPI, class of 1979.

Thanks Fish Sun

"You don't have to have a new iPod video to download and watch the show. Actually you don't need an iPod at all, you can just download the TV shows through iTunes and watch it on your computer. They are H.264 encoded, which delivers pretty impressive quality even on a large display or TV."
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Thanks Fish Sun. I didn't know that. Being able to 'video' out to a larger device opens a whole world of possibilities!