Apple's TV deals for the new ipod and what the future may hold
With the launch of apple's new video plaing ipod came the release of itunes 6, and the ability to download music videos, tv shows, and movie shorts.
According to apple, there are currently 2000 music videos availabe for purchase on itunes. Each video costs $1.99 to download. When compared to the price and length of tv episodes (which also sell for $1.99 an episode), this price seems bit steep. But maybe another way to look at it is that you are getting a 99 cent song and the $1 extra is for the video.
The current collection of TV shows all come from ABC and include the following shows:
Currently has 3 episodes from Desprate housewives Season 2. You can download all of Desprate housewives season 1, with 23 episodes for $34.99
Currently has 3 Lost episodes from Season 2. You can download all of Lost season 1, with 25 episodes for $34.99
2 episodes from the current season of Night Stalker are available.
Offers a partial set of season 3's episodes. There are currently 14 that's so raven shows available for download.
15 Episodes of The suite life are available for download
Apple to give TiVo some competition?
From what they've been able to do with the music aspect of iTunes, it's very easy to see how Apple could be seen as a competitor to TiVo, especially with its TiVoToGo service.
"We think this is a real breakthrough,...It's never before been done, where you can buy hit prime-time TV shows the day after they're broadcast." Steve Jobs
I couldn't agree more with Jobs. As more tv networks get on board, the selection of tv shows available for download will increase to a point where you should be able to find most of the hot shows you want on itunes. Of course this will only be work for a certain type of tv viewer. At this point in time all new shows are only downloadable the day after the show airs. The video quality and resolution also means that this content will only be viewed on the ipod. If Apple wanted to, I'm sure they could work to secure rights to make higher resolution versions available for pc viewing. Quicktime 7 already includes the ability to play HD quality video. Taking all this to the next step could be exactly what the industry needs to get people used to buying video content online, instead of downloading them for free on some P2P network.
Other Directions for video content.
Apple already has a large collection of trailiers online at http://www.apple.com/trailers/ This content is also available in itune, but right now only for viewing in itunes. The next logical step I'd see would be for apple to make these available for downloading into the new ipod. Traillers should of couse be free downloads, and will serve as a way to increase the amount of video content users can access on their new ipods. I'd assume this would help sales. Also if the movie studios have been paying apple to host their trailers, this will just serve as extra bang for the buck.
Other Sites discussing this issue:
Big news from Apple -- moving towards becoming a Media Center? (PVRblog)
The other big milestone is that iTunes now offers TV Show downloads. This is really big, almost as big as the launch of the iTunes Music Store in the first place. more...
Today, it's "Desperate Housewives" & "Lost." Tomorrow, it's ... ? (Jim Hill Media)
After yesterday's announcements by Steve Jobs and Bob Iger, Roger Colton wonders if it won’t too be long before consumers will be able to purchase their favorite videos right from the comfort of their own desktop… more..
2006: The Year of Vidcasting and Advercasting (Micro Persuasion)
Marketers will also jump feet first into advercasting. And why not? They already have vast libraries of video available at their disposal from years of TV and rich media advertising. Imagine if the now defunct BMW films republished their webisodes in vidcast form. I would love to subscribe to these via RSS in iTunes and consume it all on the go on a video-capable iPod. Of course, citizens will jump into the act with their own advercasts as well. more...
