NBC Streams Full Episodes to iPhone and iPod Touch

[MacRumors]

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

Silicon Alley Insider first reported (http://www.alleyinsider.com/2008/5/nbc_free_full_episodes_of_the_office_and_30_rock_for_iphones) that NBC has developed an iPhone-specific version of their website that will stream Quicktime versions of some of their television shows.

iPhone and iPod Touch owners need only to point their mobile browser to NBC.com (http://www.nbc.com) and they will automatically be redirected an optimized version of their site that offers video clips and full episodes.

The quality of the video clips are a bit low, but over the site appears very well designed. It also appears to be accessible to international users.

Article Link (http://www.macrumors.com/iphone/2008/05/09/nbc-streams-full-episodes-to-iphone-and-ipod-touch/)

[DotComCTO]

...and from the looks of the commentary on the Silicon Alley website, no one is appreciating the video quality (3gp instead of specifically coded for the iPhone).

It's a start...

:cool:

--DotComCTO

(Ooh! ... first! :p)

[appleguru1]

Looks like its only the office and 30 rock atm, but the site does look reasonably well done...

[EvanLugh]

It's good my only issue is having to keep clicking/pressing every 10 minutes to go on to the next part.

[yellow]

Didn't NBC just pull all it's shows from iTunes?
Guess they still know where their market is. :)

[forafireescape]

Funny from the company that disagrees with Apple's policies :)

[razorianfly]

I'm sorry but I don't believe this is a well designed site. Where is the web interface that looks like iPhone? - buttons overlapping titles of programming (eh?) - using tables to set-out a site like this only makes it looks shabby ...

or maybe it's just me :), as stated above though, it's a start ..

Didn't NBC just pull all it's shows from iTunes?
Guess they still know where their market is. :)

I'd agree only that Heroes is actually still available on the iTunes Music Store UK, spotted it a couple of days ago.
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewTVSeason?id=264406664&s=143444


R-Fly

[montypython]

Works on PC running safari by changing the identity of your browser in the dev menu.

[EvanLugh]

I'm sorry but I don't believe this is a well designed site. Where is the web interface that looks like iPhone? - buttons overlapping titles of programming - using tables to set-out a site like this only makes it looks shabby ...

or maybe it's just me, as stated though, it's a start ..



I'd agree only that Heroes is actually still available on the iTunes Music Store UK, spotted it a couple of days ago.

R-Fly
That's because Universal programs are on the UK Store. :rolleyes:

[BufferOverflow]

You don't even need to change your user agent. You can view the video straight away clicky (http://video2.starcutusa.com/preview/NBC/9757fba5_150080_8610475_231.3gp)

Looks like a step in the right direction! The video quality is awful though; even on an iPhone screen. Nice that international users can access without proxies (let's see how long that lasts...)

Finally splitting the episodes just mkaes them a pain to watch - still a long way to go until it's up to BBC iPlayer standards.

[gstylez]

Just checked it out and it's pretty good. Can't wait for more shows or other networks to get in on this.

[megagoune]

I am surprised they don't limit the access to US only.

[drb6]

NBC splits the shows like that on their regular site too. Its supposed to automatically switch to the next part but doesn't always work. Its a pain to use. ABC's streaming is much much better, video quality is also very good.

Fox is easier to use but grainy.

[slffl]

The site looks great, but yeah the video quality is pretty bad.

[Rocketman]

Here's what I don't understand. Why not both stream episodes for free from their crippled site AND sell episodes for a FEE through iTunes at the same time? Free money is usually good to large "evil" corporations.

Rocketman

[Rojo]

I'm sorry, but this is kind of awful. Bad quality, takes forever to load, episodes chopped up, and hard to figure out WHAT episode I'm even watching...

...I hate NBC.

I'm STILL so far behind on some of my favorite NBC shows, like 30 Rock -- and I have yet to find a decent way to catch up. Before, I would simply download episodes from iTunes, put them on my iPod (now it would be iPhone), and watch them on my subway commute to work.

But now, I'm screwed. I don't want to watch episodes on my computer -- it's uncomfortable and inconvenient for me -- so going to someplace like Hulu.com just doesn't cut it for me. With NBC now streaming to Touches/iPhones, it's a step in the right direction -- but just not far enough. I STILL CAN'T TAKE EPISODES WITH ME TO WATCH ANYWHERE! I'm even more frustrated than I was before, with this tease of episodes being available for my iPhone...but not quite. I would NEVER bother with this streaming B.S. I don't know how anyone could have the patience for this, especially after being used to the simple ease of iTunes.

I'm just going to have to wait forever for the 30 Rock Season 2 DVD to come out now and buy it. It STILL baffles me that NBC would pull out of iTunes, when there are so many people out there willing to PAY to watch their shows!

[stagi]

will have to check out an episode of the office later to try it out.

[macduke]

I'm sorry, but this is kind of awful. Bad quality, takes forever to load, episodes chopped up, and hard to figure out WHAT episode I'm even watching...

...I hate NBC.

I'm STILL so far behind on some of my favorite NBC shows, like 30 Rock -- and I have yet to find a decent way to catch up. Before, I would simply download episodes from iTunes, put them on my iPod (now it would be iPhone), and watch them on my subway commute to work.

But now, I'm screwed. I don't want to watch episodes on my computer -- it's uncomfortable and inconvenient for me -- so going to someplace like Hulu.com just doesn't cut it for me. With NBC now streaming to Touches/iPhones, it's a step in the right direction -- but just not far enough. I STILL CAN'T TAKE EPISODES WITH ME TO WATCH ANYWHERE! I'm even more frustrated than I was before, with this tease of episodes being available for my iPhone...but not quite. I would NEVER bother with this streaming B.S. I don't know how anyone could have the patience for this, especially after being used to the simple ease of iTunes.

I'm just going to have to wait forever for the 30 Rock Season 2 DVD to come out now and buy it. It STILL baffles me that NBC would pull out of iTunes, when there are so many people out there willing to PAY to watch their shows!

Hmmm. You are still going to buy the DVD, which probably makes them more money. This is probably what they were betting on in the first place. As a side benefit, you are advertising their shows in forums and how much you love them. It seems like a win-win for them, and a lose-kinda-win-but-still-lose for you. Sad day. I just don't watch tv anymore. Not regularly anyway. All I know is that I went to highschool with David Cook on American Idol. They are having a parade in my home town today, with a concert at my old high school. My mom said the street sweepers washed our road 5 times yesterday, and now everything is blocked off. Kinda sad that he is only now people recognize how good he was. His band Axiom was pretty good. I made some suggestions when they were designing the sun looking logo they used to have. He was kinda dorky though, and I didn't know him too well since he was a few years older than me. I wish I was famous.

[Yvan256]

So.... I can watch NBC shows on my iPod, as long as I'm within range of a Wi-Fi network? :confused:

The iPod is for portable media, NBC. Streaming isn't good enough, let us buy/download the shows. If you want to offer them for free, then... I don't know, insert the ads directly into the file or something, like it's done on regular TV?

[cheekybobcat]

Looks like its only the office and 30 rock atm, but the site does look reasonably well done...

I hope they add Scrubs. That would make my Thursday trio dreams come true. Three of my favorite shows...

I wish NBC would sign with iTunes again though. That would make me a happy camper.

[severe]

None of the videos are opening for me. Are you guys at Full Episodes?

[Rojo]

Hmmm. You are still going to buy the DVD, which probably makes them more money. This is probably what they were betting on in the first place. As a side benefit, you are advertising their shows in forums and how much you love them. It seems like a win-win for them, and a lose-kinda-win-but-still-lose for you.

Well by that point, I probably won't even buy it, and just rent it through NetFlix. But most people in my situation will just be fed up with waiting and acquire the episodes illegally, I'm sure. How does that benefit NBC exactly?

As for showing how much I love their shows, trust me -- that's not going to last long. While I'm pretty sure my love for 30 Rock isn't going to burn out any time soon (though it's definitely waned), I've already reached an "I just don't care" attitude for most of their other shows, because the excessively long wait to be able to watch them the way I WANT to watch them has killed ANY enthusiasm I had for seeing them. Again...how does this benefit NBC?

Seems like a lose-lose all around, when a win-win could happen soooooo easily. Some ego and greed needs to be put aside first...

[gcmexico]

None of the videos are opening for me. Are you guys at Full Episodes?

*
doesn't seem to work on Edge...but it just came up with wifi.....the quality is absolute garbage!! but this is pretty cool...I will definitely watch shows on it...the connect is so slow:mad:

[jons]

I think it's hilarious that just a few days ago we were reading on the fallout of Apple and NBC based on the fact that Apple wouldn't bend to the whim of NBC. NBC wants to charge more for their content, and they want Apple to police it's users iPod's for pirated content.

So what does NBC do? They create a site where iPhone users can watch stuff for free...

- js

[megfilmworks]

Looks like the iPhone is driving the market. Have you ever seen a phone make more large corporations bend over to get iPhone owners as customers?

[JMax1]

I like how they have the little peacock for the loading symbol instead of the normal apple gray spinning wheel. Clever!

[severe]

I like how they have the little peacock for the loading symbol instead of the normal apple gray spinning wheel. Clever!

Largely due to the fact that it takes so long to load something. May as well get some ad time in.

Anyone find it funny that you could cook a turkey in the length of time you view the loading peacock?

[pkoch1]

Hmmm. You are still going to buy the DVD, which probably makes them more money. This is probably what they were betting on in the first place. As a side benefit, you are advertising their shows in forums and how much you love them. It seems like a win-win for them, and a lose-kinda-win-but-still-lose for you. Sad day. I just don't watch tv anymore. Not regularly anyway. All I know is that I went to highschool with David Cook on American Idol. They are having a parade in my home town today, with a concert at my old high school. My mom said the street sweepers washed our road 5 times yesterday, and now everything is blocked off. Kinda sad that he is only now people recognize how good he was. His band Axiom was pretty good. I made some suggestions when they were designing the sun looking logo they used to have. He was kinda dorky though, and I didn't know him too well since he was a few years older than me. I wish I was famous.

I don't get it. You helped a guy on american idol make his logo for his defunct band and your street is clean? What does that have to do with nbc shows on an iphone?

[Michael CM1]

I hope they add Scrubs. That would make my Thursday trio dreams come true. Three of my favorite shows...

I wish NBC would sign with iTunes again though. That would make me a happy camper.

I'm watching the latest episode of The Office on WiFi. Loading pretty quickly, but the quality is poo. For coming through WiFi, this could be loads better. But again, it's a start.

As far as Scrubs, you might have more luck with ABC. NBC is canceling the show and ABC is picking it up next season. I don't know what that'll do for streaming and such, but they might do something about it.

[Dagless]

Is it like the BBC iPlayer?

[macerroneous]

I would bet that the lower quality will allow streaming over 3g. Now, will ATT allow us to watch free TV over their 3g network? compare that to competing phones which let you watch tv but pay for minutes. If this works, this will drive iphone/touch sales like nothing else.

[EvanLugh]

Is it like the BBC iPlayer?

Yes because it streams TV shows. No because it sucks.

[megfilmworks]

Until they bring the quality up to iPhone standards; count me out.
Can't deal with macro blocking and poor resolution. Nice try NBC.
Maybe you should take a hint from SJ and deliver quality.

[LizKat]

Here's what I don't understand. Why not both stream episodes for free from their crippled site AND sell episodes for a FEE through iTunes at the same time? Free money is usually good to large "evil" corporations.

Rocketman

yeah but the problem is Apple & NBC butted heads over the price at iTunes (or the slicing of the pie) so getting two sets of big fat egos to get over it and try again is the problem.

That these guys were willing to get so invested in winning a spat over chump-change for TV show reruns really boggles my mind. All it does it tick off people who were actually buying the shows at the iTunes Store in the first place.

I mean it's not like these shows are baby formula or cat litter or beer or some other one of life's little necessities ;) so most of us probably just bailed on the idea of NBC reruns once the plug was pulled. I regarded them as impulse purchases. Now the money probably goes to iTunes movie rentals.

[kornyboy]

Wirelessly posted (iPhone: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/4A102 Safari/419.3)

The site does look very well done. This will be nice when traveling. Just more web content to burn down the battery on my iPhone but it doesn't bother me to charge it almost every night so bring it on. I guess it will mean I will be replaceing the battery sooner than I thought.

[macduke]

I don't get it. You helped a guy on american idol make his logo for his defunct band and your street is clean? What does that have to do with nbc shows on an iphone?

Meh, just saying how I don't watch tv anymore, the only thing I know about on TV is David Cook. Plus my mom called me about it while I was writing the post. Its just kinda neat I guess. Sorry if it was off-topic.

[kingtj]

To me, it just shows how inane television really is. The "masses" get brainwashed into actually caring about things that really don't matter much at all, while we ignore big issues that have massive, global ramifications.

I pretty much quit watching any regular television programming, years ago, because I always felt like it gave back so little "reward" in return for my free time. When I feel like just sitting down and being passively entertained, I opt for movies instead. Sometimes they're garbage too, unfortunately. But at least with a movie, it's designed as a stand-alone story. You generally get your 1 1/2 - 2 hour block of entertainment out of it, and can get on with life. It's not designed, like most TV shows, to keep you addicted to "tuning in next week" - as they leave you wondering what will happen with people X, Y and Z.

Sadly, more Americans probably know who David Cook is than know who to contact about local legislation affecting the district they live in. They probably know more about who didn't make the "cut" as "America's Top Model" than about alternative energy options being researched. Know what I mean?


Meh, just saying how I don't watch tv anymore, the only thing I know about on TV is David Cook. Plus my mom called me about it while I was writing the post. Its just kinda neat I guess. Sorry if it was off-topic.

[SRSound]

-snip-

[TXCraig]

Is it like the BBC iPlayer?

I wish it was... at least the BBC has some content on their site. This site only has 2 different show and tons of "clips". The clip thing has been done before and no one is interested. Why not have all the current shows up on the site along with the news.....

Hulu.... this app... no one want to put up any content..... you can have 3G till the cows come home but if you don't have any good content- its worthless...