Apple Brings TV to iCloud With Downloads of Previously-Purchased Episodes

[The Beatles]

cool but sucks because

"Despite the new feature, Apple does still point out that users are responsible for backing up their own content, noting that all previously-purchased content may not be available for re-download at all times."

 

[brian82788]

He probably lives outside of US. In which case, piracy has nothing to do with it. How about US TV makers release their shows at the same time as in America or within a few days, not the months or even years some Europeans wait. And when they do arrive, how about fair pricing relative to the US? Not 20-30% more, or double in some places.

I'm sure the people which "illegally" download television in Europe would love to pay and give these TV broadcasters their money; unfortunately, due to these horrible delays which have persisted for years, it doesn't seem like they want our money. If they're not going to do anything about the horrendous licensing agreement delays or bad pricing then how about they hush up, since it's them causing the television-related piracy.

I certainly agree that iTunes service should not vary by country and content should be delivered to the world within a reasonable time and at a reasonable price. However price increases are often due to tarrifs and other taxes that are not applicable in the USA. Also, in most (I think all, but I can't definitively say this) European countries the price you see is the price you pay as taxes and all other fees are included. This can sometimes deceive people into thinking prices are much cheaper in the USA, when they are sometimes less, the same or close to the same. This is not to condone wait times nor potential higher prices (neither of which I am denying).

It seems as though the poster in question pirates to avoid paying as he said "anyone with a brain..." and not "anyone outside of the US." Also very few people can afford 10TB of media, he most likely downloaded much more than for what he could actually pay if required to do so. I'm not saying it's impossible, but highly unlikely.

I want to emphasize that I do not like DRM, localization of digital content or excessive control over content for which we pay. But when asked to choose between content producers that make rules, change prices and control the content THEY created and a guy that buys a computer and starts downloading content, that someone else made with the expectation of the consumer paying, without permission and no intent to ever compensate the creators of this content, which would one would any man with the ability to perceive right and wrong choose?

 

[stukdog]

iTunes DESPERATELY needs a way to permanently delete unwanted apps from the "Purchased" section, or at least a way to hide unwanted apps.

While they're at it, let's have a way to delete TV Shows. My sons have downloaded every free kids show ever offered and few are watched anymore. I'd like to hide those in the iCloud so we can see the series that we still watch without a ton of searching.

 

[TsunamiTheClown]

[...floating TV cloud...birds...]

the cLouD and tV...really, don't we have enough TV already?

BTW i want my own computer, i don't want to have a fluffing cloud.

 

[sirozha]

He probably lives outside of US. In which case, piracy has nothing to do with it. How about US TV makers release their shows at the same time as in America or within a few days, not the months or even years some Europeans wait. And when they do arrive, how about fair pricing relative to the US? Not 20-30% more, or double in some places.

I'm sure the people which "illegally" download television in Europe would love to pay and give these TV broadcasters their money; unfortunately, due to these horrible delays which have persisted for years, it doesn't seem like they want our money. If they're not going to do anything about the horrendous licensing agreement delays or bad pricing then how about they hush up, since it's them causing the television-related piracy.

How about we stop whining about paying more for the content made in the US. You don't like paying more, move to the US and enjoy a 2-week vacation, outrageous medical costs, unaffordable education, and laugh you arse off watching our two parties tear the country apart while staring down the abyss!

 

[AndrewLGP]

The purchased section of iTunes isn't working for me right now. All I see are the categories and no content.

 

[manu chao]

He probably lives outside of US. In which case, piracy has nothing to do with it. How about US TV makers release their shows at the same time as in America or within a few days, not the months or even years some Europeans wait. And when they do arrive, how about fair pricing relative to the US? Not 20-30% more, or double in some places.

When the TV show is released on DVD, you can order from Amazon shipping to pretty much anywhere in the developed world.
And a lot of things are more expensive outside the US, the US is simply such a large market that there significant economies of scale, plus the consumption taxes in the US are more in the 5-10% range than in the 15-20% range in other countries. If you don't like that, move to US or convince your fellow citizens to create a political consensus to lower the consumption taxes.

 

[zin]

When the TV show is released on DVD, you can order from Amazon shipping to pretty much anywhere in the developed world.
And a lot of things are more expensive outside the US, the US is simply such a large market that there significant economies of scale, plus the consumption taxes in the US are more in the 5-10% range than in the 15-20% range in other countries. If you don't like that, move to US or convince your fellow citizens to create a political consensus to lower the consumption taxes.

It's nice that I have to invoke a political consensus or consider moving continent just to get considerably lower pricing. I'd be fine if the pricing was slightly more expensive, but we're talking considerable. Taxation doesn't cover all of the “international mark-up”.

How about we stop whining about paying more for the content made in the US. You don't like paying more, move to the US and enjoy a 2-week vacation, outrageous medical costs, unaffordable education, and laugh you arse off watching our two parties tear the country apart while staring down the abyss!

This doesn't really have anything to do with higher pricing of digital media. There's a difference between moaning and complaining.

 

[iBug2]

Still way way behind Amazon. Amazon's prices alone crush iTunes.

What are you talking about? Prices are exactly the same for TV shows. 1.99 for SD 2.99 for HD. This has been so for every show I purchased so far. There may be some promo deals on amazon I don't know about, but among 30-35 shows I purchased, their prices were the same on amazon.

 

[macduke]

Just another example of Apple being greedy! They obviously don't care about their customers and probably never will. What a bunch of ******s!

/sarcasm for the next time people complain about something

 

[writingdevil]

He probably lives outside of US. In which case, piracy has nothing to do with it. How about US TV makers release their shows at the same time as in America or within a few days, not the months or even years some Europeans wait. And when they do arrive, how about fair pricing relative to the US? Not 20-30% more, or double in some places.

I'm sure the people which "illegally" download television in Europe would love to pay and give these TV broadcasters their money; unfortunately, due to these horrible delays which have persisted for years, it doesn't seem like they want our money. If they're not going to do anything about the horrendous licensing agreement delays or bad pricing then how about they hush up, since it's them causing the television-related piracy.

"gimme what i want, when i want it, or else i'll steal it!" that's great logic. make sure you open your own business some day.

I'd never, in a thousand years, defend practices of some of the distributors of media. but stealing their product, all in the name of "well it's your fault I'm stealing your product" is lame. if you don't like the price, don't use the product.

 

[charlituna]

Hopefully we get movies, but doubt it.

I suspect that it will happen one day. Just as one day we will have all broadcast nets, all cable and even all pay cable (at the time of broadcast).

This is the trial, the beta if you will. The Nets are loathe to do anything that might interfere with their precious ratings so they need to see that this won't really have an effect. Frankly how could it when only 25k people are counted for OTA or DVR use. We are well overdue for an outhaul of that system as well as the crediting of hulu, iTunes etc to the budget make good. But that is an issue for another time and day.

And it's pretty much worthless until Apple actually gives us all that we purchased.

There is a major fallacy in your statement. The assumption that Apple has any control over this issue. They do not. They can only give what the studios and networks allow.

I bought all 6 seasons of "it's always sunny in Philadelphia" on iTunes and they're not showing up in my purchases section of my iTunes app on my iPhone. Anyone else have this issue or explanation? Will they be added later? I needs my sunny!!!

Not brought up in this article (but is on other sites) is the detail that Apple only has deals with some of the nets. The rest are still, one assumes, being worked on. So any shows that are lacking could be due to this issue

 

[RalfTheDog]

"gimme what i want, when i want it, or else i'll steal it!" that's great logic. make sure you open your own business some day.

I'd never, in a thousand years, defend practices of some of the distributors of media. but stealing their product, all in the name of "well it's your fault I'm stealing your product" is lame. if you don't like the price, don't use the product.

While I will not steal content, I believe restricting my Fair Use rights on those things I have paid for is also theft. I will not download content, but I will crack it for my own use. If the RIAA, MPAA or any of the other AAs out there don't like it they can [action that is not anatomically possible deleted by user] with an [expletive deleted] chainsaw (sideways).

 

[dolph0291]

What about this?

You sir are the reason for the thing you seem to dislike: DRM! If it weren't for you and every other media pirate that STEALS their content there would be no DRM. We constantly say that we want film and television content producers to embrace the modern era and give us digital control of our content, and the reason why they are very reluctant to do so...is you. You and all the other thieving pirates!

I understand what you're saying but I have a question. I pay monthly for premium cable and two DVR rentals. I think the quality on the recording sucks. I download shows I like by bit torrent and watch them using my AppleTV. I have already paid for the right to watch and record these shows IMO. Are my downloads illegal? Am I stealing? This is a real question, not bait. (I also have bought a "season pass" to many shows on iTunes BTW.)

There is also the exec from EMI who has come forward with their study that Limewire users were the biggest purchasers on iTunes. Do you have an opinion about that?

 

[manu chao]

It's nice that I have to invoke a political consensus or consider moving continent just to get considerably lower pricing. I'd be fine if the pricing was slightly more expensive, but we're talking considerable. Taxation doesn't cover all of the “international mark-up”.



This doesn't really have anything to do with higher pricing of digital media. There's a difference between moaning and complaining.

The question is whether one tries to tackle the reasons why prices are higher or whether one uses the higher price as a justifying for cheating. Unless you think that not enough illegal downloads is the reason for high prices and the higher the illegal downloads are, the liklier the vendors will lower their prices.

 

[dolph0291]

"gimme what i want, when i want it, or else i'll steal it!" that's great logic. make sure you open your own business some day.

I'd never, in a thousand years, defend practices of some of the distributors of media. but stealing their product, all in the name of "well it's your fault I'm stealing your product" is lame. if you don't like the price, don't use the product.

Like it or not, is is their fault because of their practices (which you are not prepared to defend). Case in point: I live in a third-world country. Music CD's run about $20 US here, far more than they cost in the US. $20 US is the daily wage of most people who live here, so they may as well be charging $200 US for a CD because no one is going to pay that either. No one I personally know buys their music legitimately because they cannot afford to. The music industry is shooting itself in the foot by pricing their product so high. Your conclusion is that the people should then live without music because the music industry wants to overcharge people on the couple of dollars or so it costs to manufacture the CD and pay royalties to the artists and composers. Who really is at fault here? You shouldn't be so fast to leave the music industry blameless.

 

[CapnJackGig]

What are you talking about? Prices are exactly the same for TV shows. 1.99 for SD 2.99 for HD. This has been so for every show I purchased so far. There may be some promo deals on amazon I don't know about, but among 30-35 shows I purchased, their prices were the same on amazon.

You should actually look at the prices of seasons and shows before typing out your posts. Example: Community Season 1 on iTunes = 65 dollars. Community Season 1 on Amazon = 24.99. Supernatural season 1 on sale on iTunes now for 30 dollars, Supernatural season 1 on sale at Amazon for 14.99. iTunes runs a weekly movie special. Amazon runs them daily and often has promos that reward the consumer with 5 dollars to spend in the video store on any content they want. Amazon is infinitely better at this point than iTunes. It's not even close.

 

[iBug2]

You should actually look at the prices of seasons and shows before typing out your posts. Example: Community Season 1 on iTunes = 65 dollars. Community Season 1 on Amazon = 24.99. Supernatural season 1 on sale on iTunes now for 30 dollars, Supernatural season 1 on sale at Amazon for 14.99. iTunes runs a weekly movie special. Amazon runs them daily and often has promos that reward the consumer with 5 dollars to spend in the video store on any content they want. Amazon is infinitely better at this point than iTunes. It's not even close.

Like I said, I don't know about the promo deals, but the standard episode price is exactly the same on iTunes and Amazon. So if you buy episodes, it's the same price.

 

[CapnJackGig]

Like I said, I don't know about the promo deals, but the standard episode price is exactly the same on iTunes and Amazon. So if you buy episodes, it's the same price.

Right, so the better service is the one that has the best promos. And on TV, music, and movies Amazon is light years ahead of iTunes where it matters most - price.

 

[iEvolution]

Heck yeah, I've been waiting for this since I lost some shows because my backup wasn't up-to-date.

 

[Andronicus]

When the TV show is released on DVD, you can order from Amazon shipping to pretty much anywhere in the developed world.
And a lot of things are more expensive outside the US, the US is simply such a large market that there significant economies of scale, plus the consumption taxes in the US are more in the 5-10% range than in the 15-20% range in other countries. If you don't like that, move to US or convince your fellow citizens to create a political consensus to lower the consumption taxes.

Are you THE Manu Chao? Great artist love the music!

 

[frunkis54]

all the episodes/seasons i was missing this morning are there now
this is pretty sweet.

 

[CapnJackGig]

all the episodes/seasons i was missing this morning are there now
this is pretty sweet.

I'm still missing tons of episodes, and 90 percent of the time I choose something in AppleTV2 I get an error.

 

[frunkis54]

i am getting a error if i try to go to purchased on the appletv but if i got to TV shows and search for one i bought i can watch it fine there.

 

[prestomusic]

another step closer to total content domination.

keep up the good work Apple, and bring on iCloud