More NBC Content On the Way?

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

Variety reports (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117934071?categoryid=1009&cs=1&s=h&p=0&vm=r) on yesterday's addition (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2005/12/20051206070755.shtml) of NBC shows to iTunes.

According to Jeff Zucker, NBC Universal Television Group President, hints that there will be more NBC shows for iTunes in the coming weeks.

You are going to see a series of announcements in the coming weeks

Speculation points to MacWorld San Francisco 2006 (http://guides.macrumors.com/Macworld_San_Francisco) which takes place January 9-13, 2006 in San Francisco, CA.

[Lacero]

More please. :D

I would prefer some of the vintage TV shows priced at perhaps $1.00 each.

And maybe make available for download, the entire collection of The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Those "Carnac" skits were classics.

[59031]

Good, I hope this means NBC's "Las Vegas" will be coming, that's the show I'm waiting for.

[longofest]

With NBC's track record so far, it will cost you $9.99 for an hour show :eek:

[rdowns]

More please. :D

I would prefer some of the vintage TV shows priced at perhaps $1.00 each.

And maybe make available for download, the entire collection of The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Those "Carnac" skits were classics.

Buy the Carson DVDs. Best DVD collection EVER!

[twoodcc]

sounds good to me. more the better

[in_my_head]

More please. :D

I would prefer some of the vintage TV shows priced at perhaps $1.00 each.

And maybe make available for download, the entire collection of The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Those "Carnac" skits were classics.

and how about putting out the 'SNL' stuff?....Chris Farley, David Spade, Eddie Murphy, Steve Martin and on and on!....:-)

[nagromme]

"New Video Tuesdays."

It will probably get to be near-weekly.

How about some BBC stuff now? :) Coupling, The Office (the REAL versions--and yes I'm American), One Foot in the Grave, lots of great crime series... And Fox (Buffy, Angel, Firefly, Simpsons).

[webman2k]

You know, they really need to rename this app - something like iMedia or something. They were smart with iPod - that can stand for anything. But "iTunes" isn't cutting it anymore - the app is so much more than just "tunes."

[FFTT]

I'm still waiting for the release of the original Adams Family TV series.

[59031]

You know, they really need to rename this app - something like iMedia or something. They were smart with iPod - that can stand for anything. But "iTunes" isn't cutting it anymore - the app is so much more than just "tunes."

NO, iTunes is the name and iTunes is what it should stay. That's the brand. Don't be messing with a succesful brand.

[59031]

"New Video Tuesdays."
How about some BBC stuff now? :)

Hear! Hear! I would like AbFab to be available.

[WeBleed4Real]

My guess is you'll see Saturday Night Live pretty soon.

Between the iPod commercials and shameless product placement on the show recently and in the past (i.e. 'Steve Jobs' on Weekend Update), there's gotta be some deals going on backstage.

With Saturday Night's Main Event coming back to NBC, I wouldn't mind getting some of those wrestling shows. I doubt it's going to happen though. (Although Vince McMahon was listening to an iPod this past Monday night. Hmmm....)

[Lacero]

Last night on Access Hollywood, one of the hosts did a little demo of iTunes and how easy it was to download TV shows.

I think it's safe to say, Apple and iTunes has made it into the general consciousness of American society. Every Joe Schmoe now knows about iTunes.

Now, we need CBS to get on board with CSI, FOX with the Family Guy, and HBO with Sex and the City and Sopranos. <--- I don't get these channels.


Here's to the Crazy Ones http://forums.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=35452 (http://www.uriah.com/apple-qt/movies/think-different.mov)

[~Shard~]

And so it begins... :cool: Yes, I think this will be the beginning of weekly (or at least constant) updates to the video content of iTMS. Then it will be Fox, CBS, etc. It's the start of something big!

[~Shard~]

Now, we need CBS to get on board with CSI, FOX with the Family Guy, and HBO with Sex and the City and Sopranos. <--- I don't get these channels.

I don't watch the Sopranos, but the other 3 are favorites of mine as well! Those would definitely be nice to see... :cool:

[Bubbasteve]

Keep em coming is all I gotta say

[Xenious]

Come on Apprentice!

[Timothy]

At first I thought $1.99 was an OK price; now, I'm not so sure.

If you buy a sesons's worth of shows, you are paying as much for that as you are for the DVD box set of the show. And, you are getting significantly lower quality.

With an album purchase, I am generally paying significantly less than I pay for the CD, and the quality is relatively comparable. So, buying albums this way makes a lot of sense to me, and has become the primary way I buy music.

But, this pricing structure discourages purchases of entire collections. It is fine for a show here or there, but if they want me to buy more than that, they need to make the collection price significantly lower than the price to buy the DVD collection.

[dernhelm]

If this takes off, they'll be able to get some actual download numbers in addition to their viewership ratings. I'm not a statistician, but my personal belief is that the Nielson ratings system is pretty flawed. It may be interesting to see what effect this has on which shows are kept on and which shows are dropped.

Personally, I think you may see some higher quality programming that isn't so mass market suddenly be able to find an audience. This could be a good thing.

[russed]

it would be nice if they could get more tv shows on sale outside of the us. bbc programmes would go down a treat - a full series of top gear to watch as and when i want = brilliant!

[~Shard~]

it would be nice if they could get more tv shows on sale outside of the us. bbc programmes would go down a treat - a full series of top gear to watch as and when i want = brilliant!

Some BBC programing would indeed be great. I'd love to see Doctor Who provided, and normally I'd say I would like to see all the old episodes as well if I didn't already have all of them on my computer. :eek: ;) :cool:

[Lacero]

I'd like to see some British TV shows available in North America.

Classics like Benny Hill, Coronation Street, Paddington Bear, Doctor Who, Red Dwarf, Dressing For Breakfast and any shows featuring the Spice Girls.


Here's to the Crazy Ones http://forums.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=35452 (http://www.uriah.com/apple-qt/movies/think-different.mov)

[puckhead193]

and how about putting out the 'SNL' stuff?....Chris Farley, David Spade, Eddie Murphy, Steve Martin and on and on!....:-)
that would be cool those dvd's of the best of...
But c'mon i want law and order SVU

[nagromme]

Some BBC programing would indeed be great. I'd love to see Doctor Who provided, and normally I'd say I would like to see all the old episodes as well if I didn't already have all of them on my computer. :eek: ;) :cool:
Yes--here in the US we don't have the new Doctor Who! I'd pay a couple bucks to check out the two new Doctors.

[jdechko]

Come on Scrubs! I really hope FOX and CBS jump in as well. Considering that 24, Scrubs and CSI are my favorite shows. CBS has a lot of other good shows too, including Without A Trace and Numbers.

[Clix Pix]

Being a relative newcomer to the whole iPod and iTunes thing, I just spent some time happily browsing in the iTunes store, downloading some music to my iMac. Later, in talking about it with a friend, I laughingly said, "well, gee, looks like I'm getting closer to an iPod..." Then the discussion turned towards the video segment of the market and I remarked, "I don't even watch much TV now, I can't imagine buying an iPod so that I could download TV shows....." I paused. "On the other hand, if they were to make episodes of "Law and Order" available....."

Son of a gun, the very next day or so didn't I look at the iTunes store and discover that, yep, "L&O" WILL be available!!! Woot!!!!

Do I hear an iPod calling my name?

OTB

[dernhelm]

At first I thought $1.99 was an OK price; now, I'm not so sure.

If you buy a sesons's worth of shows, you are paying as much for that as you are for the DVD box set of the show. And, you are getting significantly lower quality.

With an album purchase, I am generally paying significantly less than I pay for the CD, and the quality is relatively comparable. So, buying albums this way makes a lot of sense to me, and has become the primary way I buy music.

But, this pricing structure discourages purchases of entire collections. It is fine for a show here or there, but if they want me to buy more than that, they need to make the collection price significantly lower than the price to buy the DVD collection.

Agreed, the market they seem to be after is the group of people that don't have/want a TiVO (PVR), but still hate it when they miss an episode here or there of their favorite show. I don't really know how big that market is, but their pricing structure does seem to indicate that is their target.

Personally, I think they are missing the boat. If I could download even just reasonable quality versions of the few shows that I actually care to watch, I would cancel my satellite TV altogether, and buy everything I watch through iTunes. But the total cost would have to be less than $29.00/month that I currently pay, and the quality would have to roughly double before that would be reasonable for me. I watch far far fewer than 15 shows per month, so I would come out ahead in an a-la-carte scheme.

But I'm guessing most people watch a lot more than 15 different shows in a month, and at $2 a pop, their costs would soar if they kept their current viewing habits.

[dernhelm]

Some BBC programing would indeed be great. I'd love to see Doctor Who provided, and normally I'd say I would like to see all the old episodes as well if I didn't already have all of them on my computer. :eek: ;) :cool:

Dr. Who would be perfect. I'm renting everything NetFlix has to offer on the old series and I'm loving it!

[~Shard~]

Yes--here in the US we don't have the new Doctor Who! I'd pay a couple bucks to check out the two new Doctors.

So... you're offering me money for the Dcotor Who epsiodes I have?... :p ;) :D

Hmm, I don't think Apple would like it if I started "ShardTunes" and started selling digital content as well... :eek: ;)

But for the record, yes, I do have a copy of every single Doctor Who epsiode ever broadcast, with the exception of the lost Hartnell and Troughton ones - from 1963-present. And yes, I need help. :cool:

[clcnyc]

Hear! Hear! I would like AbFab to be available.

I'm ALL for that!

[~Shard~]

Dr. Who would be perfect. I'm renting everything NetFlix has to offer on the old series and I'm loving it!

See my above post, and PM me if you want to chat further about Doctor Who and my collection. There's a not-so-official thread (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=116330) here at MacRumors as well on Doctor Who... :cool:

[59031]

and HBO with Sex and the City and Sopranos. <--- I don't get these channels.

Don't hold your breath on this one.

[dernhelm]

See my above post, and PM me if you want to chat further about Doctor Who and my collection. There's a not-so-official thread (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=116330) here at MacRumors as well on Doctor Who... :cool:

Thanks! I can't really PM here from work (blocked at firewall, and officially discouraged) but I'll definitely check out the Dr. Who thread. I'm a fan from way back...

[~Shard~]

Thanks! I can't really PM here from work (blocked at firewall, and officially discouraged) but I'll definitely check out the Dr. Who thread. I'm a fan from way back...

You should still be able to PM me via MacRumors right here though - just click on my name and send me a PM that way... I didn't mean through AIM/MSN and the like... ;)

Definitely, check out that other thread - lots of good discussion!

Anyway, back OT... :o

[SmileyDude]

Thanks! I can't really PM here from work (blocked at firewall, and officially discouraged)

They've blocked Private Messaging via the Forum at the firewall? I think you might've misunderstood what he was saying... he meant for you to click on his name, and select "Send a Private Message" to him via the forum :)

[CaptainScarlet]

You know what I would like to see?!?!

Football!!!

It would be awesome to download and watch old Super Bowls...

I'd buy that for a dolor!!!!

[MarcelV]

I'd like to see some British TV shows available in North America.

Classics like Benny Hill, Coronation Street, Paddington Bear, Doctor Who, Red Dwarf, Dressing For Breakfast and any shows featuring the Spice Girls.


Here's to the Crazy Ones http://forums.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=35452 (http://www.uriah.com/apple-qt/movies/think-different.mov)

hey, don't forget 'The Young Ones'

[300ZX]

FX has some good original series.

Nip / Tuck
The Shield
Rescue Me

All of those would be great if they were available for download.

[nagromme]

But for the record, yes, I do have a copy of every single Doctor Who epsiode ever broadcast, with the exception of the lost Hartnell and Troughton ones - from 1963-present. And yes, I need help. :cool:
I was a big Doctor Who fan in the 80s--the good, the bad, the cheesy and the just plain weird! I haven't even quite seen all of the 6th and 7th Doctors, but I have seen all of 3rd-5th (and 8th), and whatever of Doctors 1 & 2 made it to PBS years ago (some did--yes, I've seen The Gunslingers :o ).

I'll avoid the Dr. Who thread and any spoilers, since I hear Doctors 9 and 10 are pretty good. But I await them on Netflix! And if iTunes had them first, I'd check out a couple early, out of curiosity.

Doctor Who was never what I'd call GOOD sci-fi... not in the sense of consistently combining quality writing, acting, and the whole package... but there was always something about it.... It just can't be compared to other things. I get the sense that the latest seasons may push into consistently good territory, and I'm in some suspense to see if that's true!

[strummert]

itunes becames better and better but the concurrence too :(
will the new version of os X be ass beautifull ass the ms vista? what about a new version of eMac in january?

[iGary]

Is any of this stuff larger than 2.5" x 2.5" ?

[gregarious119]

itunes becames better and better but the concurrence too :(
will the new version of os X be ass beautifull ass the ms vista? what about a new version of eMac in january?

Ha - eMac....try Mac Mini or iMac, emac is all but gone (it's amazing that they're still even considering using CRTs, if only for edu.

Sorry that you think Vista is beautiful. It's XP with different colors and poorly placed search bars. Of course, it's all in beta so who can say what about it anyways.

[yoda13]

I know its not very popular anymore, but I would like to the see the West Wing being offered by NBC as well. Also I would like them to add all the L&O shows. I need fox for 24 and Prison Break too. Then I need CBS for CSI and CSI: Miami, plus NCIS. Then I am pretty much good to go.:D

If I don't get a video iPod for Christmas, then I will be purchasing one the day after....:p

[strummert]

Ha - eMac....try Mac Mini or iMac, emac is all but gone (it's amazing that they're still even considering using CRTs, if only for edu.

Sorry that you think Vista is beautiful. It's XP with different colors and poorly placed search bars. Of course, it's all in beta so who can say what about it anyways.

no that s not te problem. I only thought that apple could present a new education mac. For vista: I m a HAPPY switcher (very happy), but ms has still more money and I really hope that apple will last the best choice. I won t have to switch back to ms. that s all.

[whenpaulsparks]

i was really happy to see law and order and the office and monk, but they now need law and order SVU, my name is earl, E-ring, and scrubs, 4 of the shows i watch religiously. all of my favorites (including alias, which i'd also like to see ABC put up) i'd download in a heartbeat:

alias
e-ring
law and order
law and order SVU
my name is earl
the office
gilmore girls (come on WB, join the bandwagon!)
supernatural (WB)
scrubs

[brogers]

I'm looking for episodes of National Geo. or History Channel stuff. For those of us that really don't watch reagular TV programing, these would be great additions. SOmetimes I just can't catch that great documentary show or whatever. This would be cool to be able to go to iTunes and grab it.

BR

[dicklacara]

The 2006 Winter Olympics are Feb 10 - 26, are in Torino, Italy.

Complete TV coverage is by NBC and BBC.

Wouldn't be interesting/exciting if we could buy coverage through ITMS?

Further, wouldn't it be interesting/exciting if one could purchase more in-depth coverage of the sports that are of interest to him... more in-depth than available over the one-size-fits-all broadcast channels.

Say, I am interested in Luge and Cross-Country Skiing...

Wouldn't it be nice if I could concentrate my limited viewing time on these sports?

Or, maybe, I am an instructor who teaches Figure Skating...

You get the drill!

With the viewer in command, there are some interesting opportunities to fill small (but profitable) content demand that cannot be served by the traditional TV delivery methods.

[golfstud]

Tim

I agree with your assessment. If you were getting 720x480 with MPEG2 quality or higher I would be ok with $1.99. But as is this is a bit much.

How many TIMES can you watch any video as compared with a good song. Even when people buy DVDs in store I wonder if they are going to watch that enough times to warrant the cost.

Here is the dilenma as I see it..using ITUNES for music is great..since if you have an IPOD you don't need the CD and the music is cheaper..and you don't have to spend time ENCODING IT(not a big deal anymore, but a step nonetheless).

Buying a video...I get less quality and I really want to watch it on my TV too on occasion--and this won't look real good. Rumor has it that the chip in the current IPOD can handle 640x480 video but it has been turned off because of battery power.

the cool FREE video that we are getting AND the future APPLE/TIVO box that will let me record two versions(or export on the fly) from over the air programing would be cool. I get the commercials this way, but the content is for FREE.

The only thing cool right now is that the episodes of TV don't have commercials I have to skip.

I sure the APPLE guys know how screwy the VIDEO thing is, but the networks see it as another way to generate revenue...remember Apple just REALLY wants to sell IPODS...they don't make that much(if anything at all) on content throught ITUNES. The cool service hooks in the hardware.

At first I thought $1.99 was an OK price; now, I'm not so sure.

If you buy a sesons's worth of shows, you are paying as much for that as you are for the DVD box set of the show. And, you are getting significantly lower quality.

With an album purchase, I am generally paying significantly less than I pay for the CD, and the quality is relatively comparable. So, buying albums this way makes a lot of sense to me, and has become the primary way I buy music.

But, this pricing structure discourages purchases of entire collections. It is fine for a show here or there, but if they want me to buy more than that, they need to make the collection price significantly lower than the price to buy the DVD collection.

[golfstud]

Agreed.

the ramifications of having a good library of the History Channel and other documentaries would be fantastic for teachers...Imagine downloading the exact video you need to re-inforce a concept in class..and being easily able to show just the parts you need to show.

VIDEO is more than just SITCOM TV and COP SHOWS.

I'm looking for episodes of National Geo. or History Channel stuff. For those of us that really don't watch reagular TV programing, these would be great additions. SOmetimes I just can't catch that great documentary show or whatever. This would be cool to be able to go to iTunes and grab it.

BR

[Lacero]

Any idea if Apple foots the bandwidth bill for all these video downloads? I think costs are deferred with the studios based on amount of traffic. I'd like to sell my own videos on the iTMS, and Apple may pave the way for independent producers.


Here's to the Crazy Ones http://forums.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=35452 (http://www.uriah.com/apple-qt/movies/think-different.mov)

[golfstud]

see this:

http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1405

The networks are figuring out TIVO. This is why I don't see how the new MAC MINI will have DVR funtionallity--Apple wants to keep content providers happy and keep the coming to ITUNES. I just how the new TIVO stuff coming for IPODs works with my DirectTV TIVO boxes...I think they are series 2...but I'm not sure.

Syncing my pod with my TIVO box..now that would be cool.

[~Shard~]

I was a big Doctor Who fan in the 80s--the good, the bad, the cheesy and the just plain weird!

That's an accurate way to describe the series back then. The 70's although cheesy and campy noawadays, were my favorites (3rd and 4th Doctor).

I'll avoid the Dr. Who thread and any spoilers, since I hear Doctors 9 and 10 are pretty good. But I await them on Netflix! And if iTunes had them first, I'd check out a couple early, out of curiosity.

The 10th Doctor starts this year, but the 9th was excellent. If you want my copies of the last season, just PM me - I recorded all of them onto my Mac, excellent quality. :)

Doctor Who was never what I'd call GOOD sci-fi... not in the sense of consistently combining quality writing, acting, and the whole package... but there was always something about it.... It just can't be compared to other things. I get the sense that the latest seasons may push into consistently good territory, and I'm in some suspense to see if that's true!

Very much agreed. :cool:

At any rate, no more Doctor Who chat here, it's getting off-topic. ;) I'd be mroe than happy to discuss the show either via PM or in the Doctor Who thread though if anyone's interested. :cool:

[beatle888]

I'm ALL for that!


hilarious, portable laughs. thats perfect. one of the only "vintage" shows that can still be enjoyed over and over and....

[quigleybc]

I'm surprised that their is a lot of interest in buying current tv shows...

I guess I don't get it...:confused:

[BlueRevolution]

At first I thought $1.99 was an OK price; now, I'm not so sure.

If you buy a sesons's worth of shows, you are paying as much for that as you are for the DVD box set of the show. And, you are getting significantly lower quality.

With an album purchase, I am generally paying significantly less than I pay for the CD, and the quality is relatively comparable. So, buying albums this way makes a lot of sense to me, and has become the primary way I buy music.

But, this pricing structure discourages purchases of entire collections. It is fine for a show here or there, but if they want me to buy more than that, they need to make the collection price significantly lower than the price to buy the DVD collection.

what about a system where if you buy every episode of a season, or the entire season, you get the DVD set shipped to you automatically? that would certainly solve pricing issues. it would also be cool if DVDs contained iPod- and PSP-compatible copies of their content. not that it's particularly hard or outside your rights to rip a DVD you own to iPod-compatible format for personal viewing, but that's not something most people know how to do. the benefit for the publisher with bundling iPod-compatible videos is that they can put DRM on them, wheras ripped copies of their DVDs will be totally open and I'd think would encourage piracy.

Any idea if Apple foots the bandwidth bill for all these video downloads? I think costs are deferred with the studios based on amount of traffic. I'd like to sell my own videos on the iTMS, and Apple may pave the way for independent producers.

you could always podcast them...

[GregA]

NO, iTunes is the name and iTunes is what it should stay. That's the brand. Don't be messing with a succesful brand.

I disagree. A new app could separate out your music from TV stuff. We use our music and TV quite differently. That's not to say that iTunes couldn't have 2 distinct modes (tunes vs tv) to capitalise on the name to start with.

Any idea if Apple foots the bandwidth bill for all these video downloads?Yeah I wondered the same. I'd really like to see a bittorrent style peer-to-peer built into iTunes, controlled by Apple so keeping the security they want.

[BlueRevolution]

Yeah I wondered the same. I'd really like to see a bittorrent style peer-to-peer built into iTunes, controlled by Apple so keeping the security they want.

it may not be in iTunes, but some dedicated podcasting software supports Bittorrent. example: Juice (formerly iPodder) (http://juicereceiver.sourceforge.net/index.php)

[themacman]

Come on Apprentice!
yea. that would be awesome, and also maybe some of the old olympic content?

[VIREBEL661]

Squidbillys - Aqua Teen!

[Doctor Q]

I suspect that NBC will gradually introduce other shows to iTMS as the lawyers work out the deals/royalties/licenses, and that they aren't saving them up for a grand introduction of a more complete lineup at MacWorld.

If a big splashy Macworld introduction had been the plan, I think they wouldn't have introduced any NBC shows yet.

[crazyjoeda]

One word, Seinfeld. Every episode, they should have like a complete Seinfeld for like $150.

[crazyjoeda]

yea. that would be awesome, and also maybe some of the old olympic content?

They should put up content for up coming Olympic games. It may be to late to secure the rights for Torino but it could posible to have Beijing, Vancouver and London Olympic games content on the iTunes store. Imagin every event avalible to download.

[iomar]

wow.. this great... why why didn't I buy Apple Stock when the iPod Video and new iMac G5s come out. I producted that their stock will job really high maybe over 100 at end of this year.. and it has moved up 20 point already.

[59031]

That's not to say that iTunes couldn't have 2 distinct modes (tunes vs tv) to capitalise on the name to start with.

It already does. It's called your Videos Playlist vs. your Music Playlist.

Once again, you do NOT mess with a successful brand name.

[JoeG4]

ZOMG I predict a fully upgradable mini tower portable PC with an dualcore intel processor that'll be 1309827529085257 times faster than any powermac on the market today because of this!

[longofest]

ZOMG I predict a fully upgradable mini tower portable PC with an dualcore intel processor that'll be 1309827529085257 times faster than any powermac on the market today because of this!

What are you talking about?

[GregA]

It already does. It's called your Videos Playlist vs. your Music Playlist.

Once again, you do NOT mess with a successful brand name.
Sorry, are you saying iTunes blocks these out for you?
I can't buy videos here so I haven't seen that. I have got video podcasts though, and they are grouped with the music podcasts.

[hyperpasta]

That ad is digusting! Hopefully it's replaced ASAP.

[machan]

That ad looks like it was created by a 12 year old who just started using Motion yesterday. YEEESH!!! Terrible!!!!

[59031]

Sorry, are you saying iTunes blocks these out for you?
I can't buy videos here so I haven't seen that. I have got video podcasts though, and they are grouped with the music podcasts.

There is a playlist called "Videos" that the application automatically creates. You don't have this?

[berkleeboy210]

SNL and Bravo "Coming Soon" !

Although I have to wait for a new iPod since my old one was Stolen out of my bag in NYC last Week.

[w_parietti22]

Horrible Ad. It's not Apple, its NBC.

[killuminati]

One word, Seinfeld. Every episode, they should have like a complete Seinfeld for like $150.

If your truly a seinfeld fan you should just get the DVDs. Much better quality, theres bonus features and its just a lot easier to watch. I'v started ripping a bunch of episodes so that I can watch them on my ipod. I saw that amazon is selling seasons 1-6 for about 150, much cheaper than buying each one for about 60 bucks. BTW, is your name crazy joe davola?

[GregA]

There is a playlist called "Videos" that the application automatically creates. You don't have this?I do have that playlist. But videos are still incorporated into the rest of iTunes in various ways - it's not like 2 distinct uses (music vs TV). Anyway, we disagree on the value of that, fair enough.

[nagromme]

I'm surprised that their is a lot of interest in buying current tv shows...

I guess I don't get it...:confused:
If you miss en episode, without iTunes, that's it. Watch the rest of the season despite having missed something important, or just stop watching your show--until you can (if ever) rent it on DVD and get caught up. Which would mean renting the one you missed AND all the rest of the season--much more than $1.99. And is the DVD (if any) out before the NEXT season, or are you out of luck for all time with no way to get caught up? (A worry with ongoing series like Lost and Galactica more than with other kinds--but the dilemma exists to some extent for any series.)

Dilemma solved with iTunes. $1.99.

[~Shard~]

Squidbillys - Aqua Teen!

My vote would be for Harvey Birdman! He was my avatar for the longest time... :cool:

[Frisco]

That's an amazing NBC-Apple commercial!

[iDM]

SNL skits.......now we are talking, i will/would definitely buy these.

[JDOG_]

SNL skits.......now we are talking, i will/would definitely buy these.

I wouldn't. Not with the state of the show these days. It'll be interesting to see how they price them, but honestly I think these companies are seriously missing the mark with the $1.99 pricepoint. That's just flat out a lot of money for what you get.

The countless DVD vs. iTMS Video File comparisons have been made, but seriously the more important part is the need to back up whatever you buy or you're S.O.L. I recently had my laptop HD die and I lost a few tracks I had bought on the iTMS, if these had been $1.99 videos I would have been pissed. Not to mention I usually back things up, unlike the average consumer.

Nightly shows like Conan should be $.79 (it would be cooler if they were less). Shows like Lost, yeah the $1.99 makes sense since they're freaking awesome. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

I still feel like as part of their target demographic, $1.99 for these shows just doesn't appeal to me at all. I hate to say it, but it just makes bittorrent that much more attractive. :rolleyes:

[ducam23]

is it just me or did that ad look like the work of a six year old. come on an apple logo with a white background on top of a black background. this just doesn't look like apple's work.

[Porchland]

Don't hold your breath on this one.

"Sex and the City" is already on free cable (TBS), so I wouldn't necessarily be surprised to see it come to iTunes.

HBO obviously has a different business model than ABC, NBC, etc., so I'll be curious to see whether "Sopranos" shows up on iTunes soon. HBO won't want to alienate its customers that are paying for exclusive access to HBO's original programming, but iTunes is essentially the same pay-for-content business model.

The show brands are going to become bigger than the network brands. I can't wait until Apple gets its first 13-episode order for a show that doesn't even air on TV. (Can you imaging billboards, print ads, even TV ads, for a show that you can only get from iTunes?)

[GregA]

I can't wait until Apple gets its first 13-episode order for a show that doesn't even air on TV. (Can you imaging billboards, print ads, even TV ads, for a show that you can only get from iTunes?)
Actually, imagine if ABC sold the NEXT episode of Lost online now, 5 weeks ahead of when it comes back to TV. What would the sales increase on this episode be (in comparison to the sales on an episode that was shown on TV already)?

[Porchland]

SNL and Bravo "Coming Soon" !


Bravo basically means "Project Runway," "Queer Eye," "Inside the Actors Studio" and reruns of NBC shows. Ummm, I'm thinkin' I'll be able to sleep OK until that magical day arrives.

[GregA]

What about NBC's 99c announcement with DirecTV?
http://news.com.com/2100-1026_3-5938773.html

Is it defunct? Will iTunes cost go down?


... early next year... select shows from NBC Universal's flagship network, NBC, and its cable networks will be made available for on-demand viewing to homes equipped with a new DirecTV digital video recorder (DVR).

NBC's initial offerings will include the two spinoffs of its "Law & Order" franchise--"SVU" and "Criminal Intent," as well as workplace comedy "The Office" and sea monster thriller "Surface." Two cable shows also will be part of the mix--USA Network's "Monk" and Si Fi channel's "Battlestar Galactica."

...NBC's shows... will be sold for 99 cents per episode

[iDM]

I wouldn't. Not with the state of the show these days. It'll be interesting to see how they price them, but honestly I think these companies are seriously missing the mark with the $1.99 pricepoint. That's just flat out a lot of money for what you get.

The countless DVD vs. iTMS Video File comparisons have been made, but seriously the more important part is the need to back up whatever you buy or you're S.O.L. I recently had my laptop HD die and I lost a few tracks I had bought on the iTMS, if these had been $1.99 videos I would have been pissed. Not to mention I usually back things up, unlike the average consumer.

Nightly shows like Conan should be $.79 (it would be cooler if they were less). Shows like Lost, yeah the $1.99 makes sense since they're freaking awesome. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

I still feel like as part of their target demographic, $1.99 for these shows just doesn't appeal to me at all. I hate to say it, but it just makes bittorrent that much more attractive. :rolleyes:

I was assuming that they meant the best skits of past, I agree that SNL has really fallen off as of recent. However if they offer anything Tracy Morgan(Safari Planet, Astronaut Jones), Blue Oyster Cult Skit, or any other classics then I will buy.

[GregA]

I wouldn't. Not with the state of the show these days. It'll be interesting to see how they price them, but honestly I think these companies are seriously missing the mark with the $1.99 pricepoint. That's just flat out a lot of money for what you get.

... the more important part is the need to back up whatever you buy or you're S.O.L. I recently had my laptop HD die and I lost a few tracks I had bought on the iTMS, if these had been $1.99 videos I would have been pissed.I agree $1.99 is too high. Especially if you work out what they currently earn per-viewer. There'll be plenty of competition though so hopefully we'll see some real movement in the cost (and perhaps a "season pass" will be sold cheaply?)

But with the backup stuff I disagree with you. If you lose your laptop it's all online... ooops.. scratch that.. that's a different rumour thread!


The countless DVD vs. iTMS Video File comparisons have been made,....
$1.99 for these shows just doesn't appeal to me at all. I hate to say it, but it just makes bittorrent that much more attractive. :rolleyes:I know DVD is better than iTunes... any idea how iTunes (180MB?) files compare to DivX (350MB) files?

[EricNau]

I want Medium from NBC, House from Fox, and Invasion and Gray's Anatomy from ABC.

[MacFan782040]

is it just me or did that ad look like the work of a six year old. come on an apple logo with a white background on top of a black background. this just doesn't look like apple's work.

haha i thought the same thing. That Ad sucked.

[beatle888]

wow.. this great... why why didn't I buy Apple Stock when the iPod Video and new iMac G5s come out. I producted that their stock will job really high maybe over 100 at end of this year.. and it has moved up 20 point already.


you can still buy. last time it reached 80 it split. so if they split at 80 again you will end up with two shares for every one you buy now.

[NewbieNerd]

you can still buy. last time it reached 80 it split. so if they split at 80 again you will end up with two shares for every one you buy now.

Yeah along with everyone else and at half the current price.

[Peace]

What about NBC's 99c announcement with DirecTV?
http://news.com.com/2100-1026_3-5938773.html

Is it defunct? Will iTunes cost go down?

This is really baffling..

I can pay $.99 for an "on demand" TV show in pristine video qualty.Yet I have to pay $1.99 for an inferior quality video from iTunes..

This whole thing doesn't make any sense at all..

[crazyjoeda]

BTW, is your name crazy joe davola?

HAHA no. I use this handle everywhere and I never thought of that, im a huge Seinfeld fan. I own some of the DVDs, I just thought a $150 would be cheaper and you can still play them on a tv with the dock.

[droid]

is it just me or did that ad look like the work of a six year old. come on an apple logo with a white background on top of a black background. this just doesn't look like apple's work.

It is not just you, if that were not on an apple.com domain I would swear it was a fake video. That must have been created by NBC, I can't see Apple creating anything as cheesy as that.

[nbs2]

Not to insult any of the people posting that X show needs to be added because they like it, I have a feeling that TV ratings (http://tv.yahoo.com/nielsen/) will determine what needs to be added. Given that, I'm surprised that Grey's Anatomy hasn't been added. I would expect the studios to want to add the most popular shows, since they can be expected to have a following. Adding those they they want to promote would be good, but then you run the risk of it being cancelled quickly and left with half a season on iTunes looking lonely.

All that being said, the only show on the Top 20 for any given week that I watch is MNF, so I'm out of luck until the NFL and NFL Films jump on board. Eh. Maybe they will add more vintage as they go after the nostalgia crowd.

[Yvan256]

I do have that playlist. But videos are still incorporated into the rest of iTunes in various ways - it's not like 2 distinct uses (music vs TV). Anyway, we disagree on the value of that, fair enough.

I agree on that. We need two librairies of content: "Music Library" and "Video Library". As long as both are mixed-up, it'll be akward to use.

[jdechko]

With NBC's track record so far, it will cost you $9.99 for an hour show :eek:

So a full episode of SNL which lasts approximately an hour and a half will cost you what? $15? I don't think so.

I do hope, though, that they separate out certain skits from the full episodes, specifically, the Celebrity Jeopardy skits. Those are my absolute, all-time favorite.


I agree on that. We need two librairies of content: "Music Library" and "Video Library". As long as both are mixed-up, it'll be akward to use.

Yeah, that does make a lot more sense. What they really need to do is just rename "Library" to "Music" and remove the video links from the "Music" list. Or maybe keep the "Library" as it contains everything, and just add a "Music" link. There's already a Video link that exclusively lists Videos, so why shouldn't iTunes have something that exclusively lists music.

[kwajo.com]

i guess this is good news, but I want apple to keep working on its hardware, not just iPods and iTunes

[~Shard~]

i guess this is good news, but I want apple to keep working on its hardware, not just iPods and iTunes

Well, with the recent updates to the PowerBooks, iMacs and PowerMacs, imminent updates to the Apple displays, and the whole transition to Intel, I don't think Apple is neglecting its hardware in the least. :cool:

[blilly]

is it just me or did that ad look like the work of a six year old. come on an apple logo with a white background on top of a black background. this just doesn't look like apple's work.

Obviously some intern at NBC worked on that. Surprised Apple would allow that on their site at all . . . ugh.

[LimeiBook86]

Haha, now that ABC and NBC have joined others like FOX and CBS will sort of be "forced to". I would love to a see a nice collection of cartoon shows. If Cartoon Network and Fox released their top shows, I'd see this thing kicking off big-time. Then you download your favorite shows, show them on your new intel Mac Mini DVR on your TV. I can see this happening, I would love this to happen...*counts money*, almost there! :D

[Multimedia]

I think $1.99 for shows is too much money. 99¢ each seems like more reasonable. These shows are relatively low resolution 320 x 240 right? Why should they cost 2 bucks? :rolleyes:

[artifex]

If you miss en episode, without iTunes, that's it. Watch the rest of the season despite having missed something important, or just stop watching your show--until you can (if ever) rent it on DVD and get caught up. Which would mean renting the one you missed AND all the rest of the season--much more than $1.99. And is the DVD (if any) out before the NEXT season, or are you out of luck for all time with no way to get caught up? (A worry with ongoing series like Lost and Galactica more than with other kinds--but the dilemma exists to some extent for any series.)

Dilemma solved with iTunes. $1.99.

Yah, whatever, in my house dilemma solved with ReplayTV, and people who will send shows from theirs to mine :)
In full size, too.

[ifjake]

these shows seemed to be geared towards mainly use on the iPod. the resolution thing is for the same reason that they aren't selling AIFFs on iTMS: file size. they're encouraging people to build up TV show collections, and the majority of computer users don't have a media server; these things are all going to go on people's computer hard drives, and especially the hard drives of the iPod, which don't go any higher than 60GB. if you want people to buy lots of movies, then you have to make sure they can buy lots of movies.

anyway, they should open this up to Europe. Knight Rider would sell like hotcakes in Germany. something about Hasselhoff. ;)

[m-dogg]

Any idea if Apple foots the bandwidth bill for all these video downloads? I think costs are deferred with the studios based on amount of traffic. I'd like to sell my own videos on the iTMS, and Apple may pave the way for independent producers.


Hmmm...what kind of videos do you make Lacero? And how do you find the time to produce them when you're always posting on MR? :D

[~Shard~]

Hmmm...what kind of videos do you make Lacero? And how do you find the time to produce them when you're always posting on MR? :D

She's very good at multitasking, as a few of us others are as well... ;) :cool:

[ccperkdog]

I wonder if this weeks episode of The Office, "Christmas Party" was intentionally centered around a new video iPod, as a cross marketing campaign? The tuesday timing seems too perfect and I lost count of how many times 'iPod' was mentioned. Heck, they even got the price in script! Did Apple pay for this product placement? If so, that goes to show the power of their influence and reach, a whole 30 minute sitcom script. Very funny episode which I highly recommend for download from the iTMS at the very low price of $1.99 ;)

An aside, it is too funny to see all these shows where the characters are obviously using Powerbooks (ie. Boston Legal) but the glowing logo is covered over with cheap gaffers tape. Just an observation.

[iSee]

I have a confession to make:

I bought all of last season of Lost from iTunes, and I've been buying each new episode since--except the last one. I must've spent almost $60 so far (the 1st season as a package cost something less than $1.99 per episode). My wife and I had (somehow) missed the show last year until the season finale, which got us totally hooked. This year she works late on Wednesdays, so iTunes has been really conveinent. But...

The cost is really starting to bug me. I finally got my act together and I'm recording the show now. In the end iTunes TV was a fad for me. Ultimately it turns out that I'm not willing to spend $1.99 to see Lost, even though my wife and I are as addicted to it as we could possibly be.

Now, I *love* The Office, and I really like Law and Order and I've missed a few episodes of each. But I have no urge to pay $1.99 to see the episodes I missed. I'll catch them on reruns, or perhaps I'll never see them.

When the TV content came out I couldn't really decide if $1.99 was the right price or not. With music, it was fairly easy to compare $.99 to the cost of an album, consider that you didn't get any filler tracks, and conclude that .99 was a good price. With the TV shows I just wasn't sure.

Now I'm thinking that 1.99 is just too much. Not that there aren't circumstances where I'd be willing to pay it. But it seems to me to relegate iTunes TV content to a niche market. Or to put it simply: iTunes is the first place I look to buy music, but the last place I'll go to get TV content--because of the price. And many others, I'm guessing, will feel the same way.

Does anyone know what the average TV show generates in ad revenue per showing per household? Maybe that would be a better basis for pricing shows, since the producers and distributors of the show would be able to get paid what they are used to being paid for a show. So if a show generated .30 in ad revenue per showing per household, iTunes might charge .60 for an episode (Apple's gotta get paid too, ya know). The revenue per showing per household should be fairly flat across shows since ad prices are based on viwership numbers.

OK, I'm probably thinking too much about this. But 1.99 seems too high to me.

[ifjake]

Apple and product placement is interesting. Really, there aren't any other machines that look as good. I've seen old G4 iMacs still in shows if only because they look slick. they might want to be careful with the iPod though. people could be getting a little tired of hearing about it.

[andiwm2003]

Now I'm thinking that 1.99 is just too much. Not that there aren't circumstances where I'd be willing to pay it. But it seems to me to relegate iTunes TV content to a niche market. Or to put it simply: iTunes is the first place I look to buy music, but the last place I'll go to get TV content--because of the price. And many others, I'm guessing, will feel the same way.

Does anyone know what the average TV show generates in ad revenue per showing per household? Maybe that would be a better basis for pricing shows, since the producers and distributors of the show would be able to get paid what they are used to being paid for a show. So if a show generated .30 in ad revenue per showing per household, iTunes might charge .60 for an episode (Apple's gotta get paid too, ya know). The revenue per showing per household should be fairly flat across shows since ad prices are based on viwership numbers.

OK, I'm probably thinking too much about this. But 1.99 seems too high to me.

i'm ok with the 1.99. it's just the sweet spot. i won't download many shows but i'm traveling often and so i'm missing episodes. since i'm not home i also can't record them (without buying a tivo or so). so once in a while ordering a episode of galactica is what i'm going to do. and then 2 bucks is ok.

[Porchland]

Haha, now that ABC and NBC have joined others like FOX and CBS will sort of be "forced to". I would love to a see a nice collection of cartoon shows. If Cartoon Network and Fox released their top shows, I'd see this thing kicking off big-time. Then you download your favorite shows, show them on your new intel Mac Mini DVR on your TV. I can see this happening, I would love this to happen...*counts money*, almost there! :D

And I don't think Apple is going to offend any of them by coming out with a DVR that will allow you to transfer programming to an iPod, computer or any other device.

Before the ABC announcement, a lot of people still expected that any forthcoming Mac mini media center would be a DVR. Apple figured out that it makes more sense to control the content than sell glorified tape recorders. Brilliant move. A Mac mini media center could be a DVR/Tivo killer without recording a single show.

The model isn't the VCR; it's iTunes. And it would be better than pay-per-view (or at least Comcast On Demand, which is the only pay-per-view I have used), which is slow and has a bad UI.

I wouldn't say the networks were in trouble yet, but their function as content providers is about to get more important and their function as a broadcasters less.

Wait until an established producer who has previoulsy produced shows for television through Warner or Paramount signs a 3-year first-look deal to produce shows for Apple. NBC, ABC, etc., will think they've been hit by a neutron bomb. (Makes me wonder if Apple had to agree NOT to provide it's own content to get the nets on board and whether they've had to make this same deal with the record labels.)

[GregA]

Does anyone know what the average TV show generates in ad revenue per showing per household? Maybe that would be a better basis for pricing shows, since the producers and distributors of the show would be able to get paid what they are used to being paid for a show. So if a show generated .30 in ad revenue per showing per household, iTunes might charge .60 for an episode (Apple's gotta get paid too, ya know). I'd be interested in that too.

You don't have to add to the .30 charge though - whatever the revenue is, it also pays for the local channel and transmitters etc, the rest goes to the show producers.

[iMeowbot]

Does anyone know what the average TV show generates in ad revenue per showing per household?
For popular network TV shows, in the neighborhood of 30-50¢ per viewer-hour.

[GregA]

For popular network TV shows, in the neighborhood of 30-50¢ per viewer-hour.
Thanks iMeowbot. Do you know if that's the value to the producers selling the program to a channel, or to the channel itself (ie. does 50c/viewer/hr pay for their transmission costs)?

[iSee]

i'm ok with the 1.99. it's just the sweet spot. i won't download many shows but i'm traveling often and so i'm missing episodes. since i'm not home i also can't record them (without buying a tivo or so). so once in a while ordering a episode of galactica is what i'm going to do. and then 2 bucks is ok.

OK, $1.99 is the sweet spot for occasional download--for special circumstances. But what is the price point where iTunes becomes your primary method for getting TV content? I know iTunes needs more shows for that to happen anyway, but that seems to be working itself out. I'm worried that iTunes is going to lock itself in to a dead-end pricing model.

I'm guessing something on par with the ad revenue (.30 - .50 / viewer hour someone mentioned) might do it.

I guess I'm just looking for a way to dump my cable company for good...

[Sunrunner]

OK, $1.99 is the sweet spot for occasional download--for special circumstances. But what is the price point where iTunes becomes your primary method for getting TV content? I know iTunes needs more shows for that to happen anyway, but that seems to be working itself out. I'm worried that iTunes is going to lock itself in to a dead-end pricing model.

I'm guessing something on par with the ad revenue (.30 - .50 / viewer hour someone mentioned) might do it.

I guess I'm just looking for a way to dump my cable company for good...


Mark my words, iTunes prices wont go up overall, instead the main thrust will be the incorporation of ad time into each file. The big future battle will be "how much ad time is too much ad time".

[Sunrunner]

Not to insult any of the people posting that X show needs to be added because they like it, I have a feeling that TV ratings (http://tv.yahoo.com/nielsen/) will determine what needs to be added. Given that, I'm surprised that Grey's Anatomy hasn't been added. I would expect the studios to want to add the most popular shows, since they can be expected to have a following. Adding those they they want to promote would be good, but then you run the risk of it being cancelled quickly and left with half a season on iTunes looking lonely.

All that being said, the only show on the Top 20 for any given week that I watch is MNF, so I'm out of luck until the NFL and NFL Films jump on board. Eh. Maybe they will add more vintage as they go after the nostalgia crowd.

You wanna see download-mania, just wait until SciFi channel ads more of their library (Firefly and the like) then youll see the geeks downloading in droves... after all who has most of the computers and intrest in doing 'techie' things like downloading video?

[cryptochrome]

Favorite SNL Skits? Well I gotta have more cowbell, baby!

Seriously, if they're charging $1.99 per skit that will definitely suck.

[Sunrunner]

Favorite SNL Skits? Well I gotta have more cowbell, baby!

Seriously, if they're charging $1.99 per skit that will definitely suck.

They wourld definitely need to make it more like 1.99 an episode for SNL.

[iMeowbot]

Thanks iMeowbot. Do you know if that's the value to the producers selling the program to a channel, or to the channel itself (ie. does 50c/viewer/hr pay for their transmission costs)?
That's the top line (ad revenue), and prices generally follow ratings. The costs vary wildly.

[GregA]

That's the top line (ad revenue), and prices generally follow ratings. The costs vary wildly.That's good to know. It means that the TV channels still take a large chunk of that 30-50c for their own costs, before paying the show producers.

[hyperpasta]

Apple MUST up the resolution on their video downloads. $1.99 is an okay price, but not at low resolution. I will NOT buy a TV show until they fix that.

[artifex]

I have a confession to make:
I bought all of last season of Lost from iTunes, and I've been buying each new episode since--except the last one. I must've spent almost $60 so far (the 1st season as a package cost something less than $1.99 per episode). My wife and I had (somehow) missed the show last year until the season finale, which got us totally hooked. This year she works late on Wednesdays, so iTunes has been really conveinent. But...


Please explain your decision not to rent or buy the DVD set, instead? $60 is almost 3 months of Netflix...
for that matter, dig up your VCR and a couple blank tapes?

[EricNau]

Apple MUST up the resolution on their video downloads. $1.99 is an okay price, but not at low resolution. I will NOT buy a TV show until they fix that.
If you watch them on your iPod, it is a very good resolution. (Which is really what the videos are meant for)

[beatle888]

If you watch them on your iPod, it is a very good resolution. (Which is really what the videos are meant for)


than that makes the price WORSE. if we are expected to pay $2 for watching these on the iPod and not be expected to view them on the computer then that makes the product even less valuable but still paying a premium.


still, ive bought about thirty dollars worth :)

[rtdunham]

NO, iTunes is the name and iTunes is what it should stay. That's the brand. Don't be messing with a succesful brand.

You're right. I'd write more, but i have to run down to the Ford dealer, see if i can get one of those Model Ts.



terry:rolleyes:

[Peace]

If you watch them on your iPod, it is a very good resolution. (Which is really what the videos are meant for)

If the iPod is what the videos are made for Apple would not have put Front Row in a iMac G5..

[savar]

You know, they really need to rename this app - something like iMedia or something. They were smart with iPod - that can stand for anything. But "iTunes" isn't cutting it anymore - the app is so much more than just "tunes."

I wish they'd move the movie functionality into a new app, iFlicks or something like that. iTunes really stinks for playing movies, its clearly been shoehorned into a place it doesn't belong. With the increasing amount of video content, it really needs to be in its own place, just like photos, contacts, and calendars have their own apps too.

[GregA]

I wish they'd move the movie functionality into a new app, iFlicks or something like that. iTunes really stinks for playing movies, its clearly been shoehorned into a place it doesn't belong. With the increasing amount of video content, it really needs to be in its own place, just like photos, contacts, and calendars have their own apps too.
I think this may be one of the minor tweaks we see in January - splitting iTunes and saying iLife has an extra app. And some people will say "that's not an extra application in iLife! iTunes already did that! What a ripoff!" (of course, FrontRow etc are other rumors)

[speleoterra]

who the hell is posting negatives on this news?
this is good news...

[hyperpasta]

who the hell is posting negatives on this news?
this is good news...

The ad is so ugly its worth a negative vote! :p

[themacmaestro]

Bring on some more TV for me. I have a few other shows I would like to see. Maybe some NASCAR to download the next day...

[maestro55]

Agreed, the market they seem to be after is the group of people that don't have/want a TiVO (PVR), but still hate it when they miss an episode here or there of their favorite show. I don't really know how big that market is, but their pricing structure does seem to indicate that is their target. .

Perhaps this is part of their target group, but I would have assumed they were targeting people who wanted to download shows for travel purposes. Mini-DVD players are nice, and have bigger screens then the iPod, but they are bigger then the iPod, and then there is carrying around the DVDs. Those little TVs are so outdated, and they won't pick up the content *You* want at anytime you want it. On the other hand the little iPod screen is plenty big for a personal viewer looking for some quick entertainment. I would love to have a video iPod (still on the 4th gen iPod, and won't be upgrading for awhile) for those waiting periods. It would be nice to put on a television show that is of interest to me.

I don't think cable networks will be very willing to join in this, because how many people would cancel subscriptions to their cable if they got there favorite cable shows on the iPod? They want to be charging you, even for the stuff you don't watch. However, it would be nice.

If Seinfeld (owned by Sony Pictures?) and Related (Fox) was out for download, it would give me that much more reason to purchase a video iPod.... however funding won't allow it right now, or anytime soon.

[demallien]

Agreed, the market they seem to be after is the group of people that don't have/want a TiVO (PVR), but still hate it when they miss an episode here or there of their favorite show. I don't really know how big that market is, but their pricing structure does seem to indicate that is their target.


No, I don't think so. I think they are targetting people that feel that the 45 minutes that they waste in the train could be put to better use watching the latest episode of Desperate Housewives. This market is HUGE, judging by the massive response that the handful of shows originally released have received.:cool:

[WeBleed4Real]

My guess is you'll see Saturday Night Live pretty soon.

Between the iPod commercials and shameless product placement on the show recently and in the past (i.e. 'Steve Jobs' on Weekend Update), there's gotta be some deals going on backstage.

With Saturday Night's Main Event coming back to NBC, I wouldn't mind getting some of those wrestling shows. I doubt it's going to happen though. (Although Vince McMahon was listening to an iPod this past Monday night. Hmmm....)

I love it when I'm right (at least about predicting the Saturday Night Live part).
:cool:

[maestro55]

No, I don't think so. I think they are targetting people that feel that the 45 minutes that they waste in the train could be put to better use watching the latest episode of Desperate Housewives. This market is HUGE, judging by the massive response that the handful of shows originally released have received.:cool:

I agree, I have yet to find any numbers pointing to how many videos have been sold since the videos started being offered. However, I would think that the numbers would be very high, considering the shows just keep coming.

So whoever the target audience is, who you and I predict or whoever else others predict. Apparently that target is biting down on what is being sold. So lets keep that content coming, and continue watching to see how many more people get involved with the Apple world. Thanks to the iPod we are getting more and more switchers.

[iSee]

Please explain your decision not to rent or buy the DVD set, instead? $60 is almost 3 months of Netflix...
for that matter, dig up your VCR and a couple blank tapes?

I looked back at what I really spent, and it's actually about $51. The 1st season was comparable in cost to the DVD set on Amazon at the time, and I bought the other episodes at $1.99 each. Anyway, my point is that it *is* too expensive (I am finally recording the show now--just in time to wait 'til January for new shows! :mad: ). I like the conveinence a lot--no swapping, renting, returning, scratching DVDs and tapes--just open the iBook and start watching. But I think the cost needs to be lower before iTunes TV can *replace* broadcast/cable/satellite viewing.

[Lynxpro]

Good, I hope this means NBC's "Las Vegas" will be coming, that's the show I'm waiting for.

How about *Las Vegas - Uncut Editions*?

[Lynxpro]

How about some BBC stuff now? :) Coupling, The Office (the REAL versions--and yes I'm American), One Foot in the Grave, lots of great crime series...


New Doctor Who. New Doctor Who. New Doctor Who!

Repeat after me, New Doctor Who!

Get the whole past season up on iTunes and have the upcoming episode "The Christmas Invasion" ready on Christmas for download. I know that would keep me from downloading the Torrent that day.


www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho

[Lynxpro]

Yes--here in the US we don't have the new Doctor Who! I'd pay a couple bucks to check out the two new Doctors.


DVD box set in Region1 DVD comes out on Valentine's Day for $99. The box set is already out on Region2 DVD. For Region2, they also had individual discs with 3 episodes per disc, and they are also putting the episodes out on Sony PSP UMD disc format - in Europe, not in the States.

The best episodes of this season were:

*The End of the World
*The Unquiet Dead (with Charles Dickens)
*Dalek
*Father's Day (probably my favorite)

the 2nd 2 parter
*The Empty Child
*The Doctor Dances

and the final 2 parter
*Bad Wolf (funny and sinister...you will never view The Weakest Link or Big Brother the same thereafter)
*The Parting of the Ways (season cliffhanger)


The episode entitled *The Long Game* is not that good, but it does have Simon "Shawn of the Dead* Pegg in it as a villain. *Boomtown* is pretty good once you get past that it basically swiped a giant part of the plot of the 1996 *Doctor Who* telefilm and made it its own. The first two parter *Aliens of London* and *World War III* are pretty weak considering they have the farting Slitheen aliens in them (many fans groan over them) but it did mark the brief return of U.N.I.T. (United Nations Intelligence Task Force). And the premiere *Rose* is a bit weak-sauce. Watch it after you watch the superior second episode *The End of the World*.

[Lynxpro]

Dr. Who would be perfect. I'm renting everything NetFlix has to offer on the old series and I'm loving it!


I just returned *Talons of Weng Chiang* if you have that in your rental queue. :)

Too bad *The Deadly Assassin* isn't available on DVD in the States. More people need to rent that and spread the word on how much *The Matrix* ripped off that episode from 1976.

[~Shard~]

I just returned *Talons of Weng Chiang* if you have that in your rental queue. :)

Too bad *The Deadly Assassin* isn't available on DVD in the States. More people need to rent that and spread the word on how much *The Matrix* ripped off that episode from 1976.

Yes indeed, a definite rip-off.

As I said earlier, I have every single Doctor Who episode since 1963 (apart from the lost ones of course) so if there's any others you can't find on Netflix, or wherever, let me know! I hate to shamelessly plug my collection, but hey, if I can help people out with such a great show, why not? :o :D

And we've been having great Doctor Who discussions here (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=116330). :cool:

[brepublican]

One word: [Scrubs]!!!:D

[iHavenolife]

Could Apple get Donald Trump to watch his show on a Video iPod in a commercial?

[d.perel]

imagine family guy on itunes...