iTunes Has Sold Over 200 Million TV Episodes

[MacRumors]

Apple announced today that the iTunes store is now offering High Definition prime time programming from all four of the major networks.

“We’ve got an incredible Fall 2008 TV lineup with over 70 primetime comedies and dramas, including many of the most popular shows on TV in stunning HD,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of Internet Services. “With over 200 million episodes sold, iTunes customers have proven they love watching television on their computer, iPod, iPhone and TV with Apple TV.”

Apple reports that they have sold over 200 million TV episodes with over one million HD episodes purchased since their initial offering just last month.

Apple's iTunes store now has over eight million songs, over 30,000 TV episodes and over 2,500 films (600 in HD).

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[stephengiem]

i bought 3 HD films. it's pretty awesome. except you can't tell sometimes if the movie you're buying is HD or regular. No option, yanno

[scottintosh]

Wow, thats amazing!

[princealfie]

I love this option of buying tv shows better than TIVO. Plus Jon Stewart isn't available on DVD so iTunes has helped me in this regard.

[edesignuk]

And the Apple strong hold on digital media continues.

Not saying they don't deserve it, it's easily the best/easiest, just saying...

[thacube]

how many of those 1 million free HD downloads were free? doesn't really matter though, shows that there is a demand for HD content. but how many are willing to pay a premium is what apple will have to wait and see

[flottenheimer]

All we need now is for all that TV and movie content (HD or not) to appear in the Danish store as well. That would boost sales even further.

I hate all this regional stuff in general. The world has turned global in almost every respect.
Those regional lock-outs in the out-dated commercial distribution model makes piracy all the more attractive.

[Yvan256]

I also wish we had more networks available for TV shows in iTunes Canada. Still no Fox, so that means no Family Guy, American Dad, Simpsons, etc. I also wish TV shows were 0.99$, at 1.99$ is still makes no sense compared to the monthly cost of cable/satellite.

[Tilpots]

Who's buying these shows and why? Do you not have a DVR? Are you trapped in a closet with nothing better to do than watch reruns of your limited library, over and over and over? Are you really gonna watch "Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader" eight times? You people scare me.

[quigleybc]

wish i could say i was a participant...but i would never buy a tv show....


that's like buying a wind powered fan, or a solar powered flashlight.....

[sushi]

I like being able to purchase TV shows. Very convenient. Can watch them anytime anywhere. Glad to see that sales are improving.

Now where is the 1TB HD for laptops?

[pismodude2]

I feel like I paid for all 2mil...

[macaco74]

with services like netflix having most tv shows available - not sure I would buy a show either.

[sterlingindigo]

These figures are astonishing and will no doubt grow as the music has. I always wonder if the weekly freebies are considered a part of the statistics though.

[EricNau]

Considering the prices, I'm rather surprised.

I haven't purchased any episodes this season; I can't justify the exorbitant costs. Nearly all of my favorite TV shows are available for free online in HD. Sure, you have to watch about 2 minutes of ads per episode, but if it saves me $3 it's well worth it (that's the equivalent of $60/hour!).

In my opinion Apple is holding us back in this market. It seems rather clear that the future lies with streaming TV content, not downloads. I wish Apple would move on.

[stagi]

nice, I just need an HD tv now and can check these out still living in the dark ages

[zedsdead]

While apples tv shows section is in pretty good shape, the movie section seems to be getting worse. The Disney movies largely are not available for rent anymore, and many films are not available for rent until later and later periods. Apple needs to offer HD movie purchases, a rental subscription model, and a way to "upgrade to HD" on shows and movies already purchased.

The biggest thing iTunes needs though is manditoty iTunes plus. Apple needs to throw their weight around, enough is enough.

[sushi]

Originally Posted by EricNau

It seems rather clear that the future lies with streaming TV content, not downloads. I wish Apple would move on.

I agree that this is the future.

If I can select any show 24/7 and watch it for a small fee or for free, then yes.

We aren't there yet, and believe that it will be 5-10 years before this is possible worldwide.

When I travel, to relax in my hotel room, I find it nice to watch an episode of one of my favorite TV shows. Watch the show then hit the sack. Saves funds too.

[notjustjay]

Originally Posted by Tilpots

Who's buying these shows and why? Do you not have a DVR? Are you trapped in a closet with nothing better to do than watch reruns of your limited library, over and over and over? Are you really gonna watch "Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader" eight times? You people scare me.

Depends on your situation.

I'll watch a season of a show, say "House" or "24" or the Simpsons or Star Trek, then buy it on DVD later when the season set comes out. How much have I spent on that? $50 a month for satellite TV services, times how many months, plus another $30-40 for the DVD box set when it's released.

Or I could pay a one time $20-30 for the iTunes season pass for each show I'm interested in, download the episodes, and watch at my convenience. And they're also mine to keep. I no longer subscribe to cable/satellite TV services, and don't need to buy the DVD box set.

As long as I can get all the shows I'm interested in over iTunes or over-the-air antenna, I'm happy -- and I'm saving money. It's not necessarily about wanting to watch the show over and over again -- I don't want to do that -- but this is still cheaper than paying a monthly fee to a cable/sat provider for shows that come and go, whether I'm there to watch them or not.

[gmcalpin]

Originally Posted by Tilpots

Who's buying these shows and why? Do you not have a DVR? Are you trapped in a closet with nothing better to do than watch reruns of your limited library, over and over and over? Are you really gonna watch "Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader" eight times? You people scare me.

I watch maybe two or three shows a season: this year, South Park and Mad Men. I'm catching up on the Wire (and at $25–30 per season, it's half as much as buying the DVDs and I don't have to wait for Netflix). I watch The Office and 30 Rock on Hulu now, but used to download those.

Do I watch them over and over? No. But buying season passes for the few shows I watch is a hell of alot cheaper than paying for cable and a DVR subscription.

You shouldn't be scared because some people use technology differently than you do.

[corinhorn]

Originally Posted by Tilpots

Who's buying these shows and why? Do you not have a DVR? Are you trapped in a closet with nothing better to do than watch reruns of your limited library, over and over and over? Are you really gonna watch "Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader" eight times? You people scare me.

Some of us don't have a DVR or, in my case, even a TV. It's true, some people only watch a TV show once and are content with that. Others prefer to have their favorite TV shows on hand to watch whenever they want and as many times as they want. Once a year, I usually watch the entire Arrested Development TV series.

I always like scaring people. Thanks for validating that.

[sushi]

Originally Posted by zedsdead

Apple needs to offer HD movie purchases, a rental subscription model, and a way to "upgrade to HD" on shows and movies already purchased.

I prefer SD over HD content since it saves space on my Hard Drive. Considerable space.

Yes, I do understand that HD content is better than SD, but SD is good enough for me.

[twoodcc]

awesome! glad to see more people buying tv shows on itunes. i'm sure HD shows help out a lot

[whatever]

Originally Posted by Tilpots

Who's buying these shows and why? Do you not have a DVR? Are you trapped in a closet with nothing better to do than watch reruns of your limited library, over and over and over? Are you really gonna watch "Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader" eight times? You people scare me.

I used to love my DVR, but more and more I missing the last ten minutes of shows that I record.

Just last night, my DVR did not record the end of House. I think FOX is doing this on purpose!

How about all of those people who did not see who won American Idol last year when the show ran over just as they said..."and the American Idol is....David...." end of show! And the two finalist were both named David!

[thacube]

Originally Posted by sushi

I like being able to purchase TV shows. Very convenient. Can watch them anytime anywhere. Glad to see that sales are improving.

Now where is the 1TB HD for laptops?

new macbooks (both 13" and 15") use sata optical drives. if you can rig it up, you could potentially swap out the optical drive for a second hard drive. might not get you to that 1TB, but it'll get you much closer...