Advertisments on iTunes to Discount Prices?

[MacRumors]

TechDigest.tv reports on hints that Apple is exploring advertising options on its iTunes store. During a recent UK Copyright Tribunal, iTunes CP Eddie Cue is quoted as describing the possibility of advertising in the iTunes store. A footnote in the discussion reveals:

In fact, the iTunes service is funded through retail sales revenue and not at present as a result of advertising. But, said Mr. Cue, Global Vice-President of iTunes, iTunes may well carry advertising in the future -- hence their interest in these Applications.

One system described is in-line advertising as described by "the placement of third party advertising at the start, end or during actual delivery of a Repertoire Work to a customer by way of a permanent download".

The discussion appears to be hypothetical and the original report "stresses" that these discussions were on the "potential of ad-funded downloads" rather than any specific plan. And notes that ads may be delivered on content whose price has "been artificially depressed to reflect such revenue." (ie. discounted).

There had been rumors that Apple was exploring advertising options for iTunes with older claims that Apple was looking at a way to incorporate ads into Podcasts.

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[Wayfarer]

Ads in iTunes? Pfftt... NOT gonna happen!

[slidingjon]

If ads get stuck in the middle of TV shows, I will stop buying! It's one of the things that makes buying from iTunes worth it for me.

[coolfactor]

If iTunes starts cluttering up their service with advertising, I will be quite upset and take steps to let them know that. They are already getting hundreds of my dollars (I know they only keep a small percentage), but I feel ads would just drive people away from the service.

Keep it simple and friendly, please.

[OutThere]

If I'm on the iTunes store, I'm already about to buy music from Apple...is it really necessary to pester me with ads to buy stuff from other people?

[rendezvouscp]

As in the post, the only reasonable application of this is in podcasts; the entire store is an advertisement in and of itself, so it wouldn't make sense to put advertising on the pages of the store.
-Chasen

[arn]

and only where the Licensed Service is offered to the User at a price which has been artificially depressed to reflect such revenue.

sorry... didn't stress this quote enough, edited article.

Basically, ads would discount the content otherwise based on that comment.

So for example, $9.99 movie without ads vs (less than $9.99) movie with ads (as an made-up example)

arn

[gphoto]

Originally Posted by arn

sorry... didn't stress this quote enough, edited article.

Basically, ads would discount the content otherwise based on that comment.

So for example, $9.99 movie without ads vs (less than $9.99) movie with ads.

arn

That's cool. It would let every have what they want.

[OhEsTen]

Originally Posted by Wayfarer

Ads in iTunes? Pfftt... NOT gonna happen!

True Dat. Apple would never eff up the end user experience like this. I can see them perhaps selling some ad "space" on iTunes main pages - but if Apple did this I would imagine that the advertisers would need to adhere to a very strict set of guidelines

[DsurioN]

Hmm... Advertising seems so un-appleish. Perhaps if they only had ads while you're downloading or something, so people have something to look at while they're staring at their progress bar

[Cassie]

Originally Posted by OhEsTen

True Dat. Apple would never eff up the end user experience like this. I can see them perhaps selling some ad "space" on iTunes main pages - but if Apple did this I would imagine that the advertisers would need to adhere to a very strict set of guidelines

"Free pr0n!!!!!!!!!!1111OMFG!!!!!1111"

[matticus008]

Sounds like a perfectly reasonable plan. People who complain about the "high" cost of iTunes Store products would have an alternative. Everyone else would continue as normal, just like they do today, without being bothered by ads.

[Zwhaler]

Wirelessly posted (LGE-VX9900/1.0 UP.Browser/6.2.3.2 (GUI) MMP/2.0)

i dont see why apple needs ads... Theyve made 3 billion dollars from song sales already! And no ads in podcasts please!

[illicium]

Worst. Idea. Ever.

[arn]

Originally Posted by Zwhaler

And no ads in podcasts please!

I think some podcasters would disagree with you on that.

arn

[I WAS the one]

Apple need to let go this once and for all... I mean... the only people that benefit from ads it's the podcasts producers, if Apple want to charge for ads on them, that means that we the people that make podcasts are gonna be broke !

[ajhill]

Okay, well maybe it was stars or something like that. But Apple is getting more and more closely tied to Google and those people just love ads. They'd be nothing without ads.

Just one question for everyone out there: Has anyone every bought anything that they saw in an online ad? Or clicked on an online ad? I never have. For me online ads are just annoying. I don't pay them any attention.

I would imagine people would tire of the iTunes music store if ads were flashing at them or things were flying by, or popping up constantly. Most ad supported websites end up looking like some sleezy downtown district ala the old 42nd street. Don't need them. Don't want them...

[LillieDesigns]

when I think of ads I think of getting ready to buy Prison Break and then an add popping up saying something like "Be sure to check out 'Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader on Tuesdays ay 8PM only on FOX!"

I made that add up and I don;t watch either show, but for examples sake that seems more reasonable. Unless they say "Buy Pepsi" at the beginning of a song and charge me $0.10 for it.

[SMM]

Originally Posted by illicium

Worst. Idea. Ever.

The 'worst' ever? You have lived a charmed life.

I have not been to a pro sport event since they started selling the names of stadiums and event centers.

[kwood]

Originally Posted by arn

sorry... didn't stress this quote enough, edited article.

Basically, ads would discount the content otherwise based on that comment.

So for example, $9.99 movie without ads vs (less than $9.99) movie with ads (as an made-up example)

arn

So if it were done this way, what is stopping a person from simply removing the commercials with a video editing program?

[BWhaler]

Worst. Idea. Ever.

[iJawn108]

"Get your free sample of herbal viagra"


*switches to ubuntu*

[DaBrain]

Originally Posted by arn

I think some podcasters would disagree with you on that.

arn

Well whipty freaking do for them! Too bad! They can then keep their CRAP! IM sick of advertising spewing their crap!

Were constantly bombarded by this trash. They do this, then they will never get a dime from me.

I know what I want and am quite capable of shopping for it when needed.

I can just here some jerk speaking on an iPod ad at 2,000 miles an hour, like yeah we need that!

Gimme a break!

[MacFly123]

Originally Posted by arn

I think some podcasters would disagree with you on that.

arn

Several of the video Podcasts I watch already have ads in them

[Peace]

If Apple were to initiate click thru ads in iTunes it would only be because the revenue model has changed.
Meaning Jobs gave in to the big 3 on a price increase per song and a bigger slice of the pie for the recording industry.