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Apple Removes 99-Cent TV Show Rentals from iTunes Store and Apple TV [Updated]

I don't mind, really, and prefer the increased selection to the old (limited selection) rentals.

I only wish iTunes could download the TV shows I purchased through Apple TV. I was lead to believe it could, but maybe that capability is not ready until iCloud debuts.
 
hexonxonx said:
Open that in iTunes and the only option is to purchase.
Click to expand...

Yea, I was in iTunes and reloaded the page after this article was posted and the 99 cents rental links were there....but seconds later, they were taken down after I reloaded again.

Seemed the refreshes didn't get to me in time.
 
This is not good. I never had this in Canada and looks like it would likely never come. But wait, doesn't amazon have 99 cent tv show purchases.
 
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_3 like Mac OS X; de-de) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8J2 Safari/6533.18.5)

Oh, one more. The iTunes Store interface for videos is just f***ed up. If you like a movie it will give too many different buttons, buy in HD, buy in SD, rent in HD, rent in SD. If it's a TV show it's quite hard to navigate from season to the next. iTunes still looks like it was made for music. I'm sure that this is costing Apple a lot of business. Steve really should get this fixed now that he spends more time at home on the couch.
 
When they finally added the ability to buy TV shows on the Apple TV instead of just renting them, I had a feeling the renting feature would be going away.

Especially since with iCloud on the Apple TV you can now stream any TV show you have purchased at any time. Since you no longer have to worry about storing purchased shows anymore yourself, it starts to make more sense to buy than to rent.

I am really liking what iCloud means for the Apple TV and media purchases on iTunes. A subscription model would be even better.
 
I liked it for when I'd miss an episode of a show due to DVR conflict or weather blocking my dish. Now I'll just rely on free Hulu. Sorry networks, your greed just cost you my business.
 
New?

The really funny thing is the orange "NEW" sticker on it: "NEW" since almost a year or "NEW" reduced service?

Regardless, I like the wholesale way, I use netflix, got rid of my cable bundle with phone and internet for $125/month + Netflix and use AT&T Phone and Internet for $50 a month. My XBOX360 has NBC News for free, Netflix has the movies and the internet has local news. Cable companies are a parricide in this country. I do not pay for 4 good channels and 20 church channels $50 extra. Imagine how many movies you can buy or rent for that. As soon as the next generation Apple TV comes out, it will be next to my TV. Considering that I possess iTunes music, I don't need a second cloud service like Zune. Wish there would be an XBOX app for iTunes though.
 
VOD and streaming need to get their act together. "The pricing wasn't to their liking?". Has anyone stopped and told ABC, CBS, Fox etc... That being a millionaire is good enough? Do they need billionaire status?

There are private ways to download from the internet and not be caught. If prices never become reasonable, these services will grow in popularity.
 
...

lol I would say 99 cents is too much for a single TV show rental. I would just PVR or download for free online. If they want to charge for TV it should be 99 cents to buy an episode
 
I really wouldn't mind buying TV series that I liked and subscribing to seasons passes.

But my needs haven't changed since: Give me 1080p, Dolby Digital 5.1, and closed captions.

On a side note, what would people think about an option to purchase a TV series for a partial fee after having paid a subscription seasonal pass? Much like the "Complete My Album" or the "iTunes Plus" upgrade programs for their music?

Because what if I enjoyed watching a certain TV series and decided I wanted to buy it after? I don't feel like purchasing an entire season at full price and paying a partial fee would be a nice incentive I think.
 
Capt Underpants said:
Subscription models make more sense for television shows.
Click to expand...

The smartest comment so far was made by this guy.
6a0120a77fa7b6970b01287690a54e970c-800wi

I don't know if i should be Surprised or Amazed :p
 
s1nt4x said:
tv shows where not really rental material , the occasion when i wold actually watch a tv show 2 or more times is very very rare
Click to expand...

:confused:

So... because you won't watch them multiple times, it makes more sense to you to buy them at three times the price (and keep them on your drive for all those future non-viewings) than to rent them?
 
Class Action Lawsuit?

I'm sure some people bought their Apple TVs after hearing that they could rent TV shows. Isn't this an example of a bait and switch? I would think someone would file a lawsuit. It isn't cool to advertise features, sell units, and then turn those features off...
 
pwb503 said:
I'm sure some people bought their Apple TVs after hearing that they could rent TV shows. Isn't this an example of a bait and switch? I would think someone would file a lawsuit. It isn't cool to advertise features, sell units, and then turn those features off...
Click to expand...

That is like selling an iPad stating "There is an unlimited data plan!" and then cut it off... Who in the world would do that? ...luckily I subscribed 1 week before it happened and use it still on my iPad2.

----------
doctorossi said:
:confused:

So... because you won't watch them multiple times, it makes more sense to you to buy them at three times the price (and keep them on your drive for all those future non-viewings) than to rent them?
Click to expand...


Actually, you are supposed to be able to leave it above you - in the cloud - and stream it when you need it. And yes, some shows are worth watching multiple times e.g. with friends, kids etc - everything else I wouldn't even consider paying extra for, meaning besides a Netflix subscription. Someone will have it on youtube or it will come to Netflix sooner or later.
 
What?! Aw man, I was just getting into renting TV shows. Paying 99 cents to catch an episode wasn't outrageous if it wasn't available on Netflix. This blows.
 
hexonxonx said:
Two days after the Sopranos was released in HD, it was ripped and available for download on many sites.

All iTunes content is available anywhere already ripped.
Click to expand...

Hmmm... 2 days after? Every single TV show is available the second they're aired, in full HD. People still supporting these silly Cable / Rental services need to wake up.

Don't get me wrong, if a TV show is good, then I'll buy the Blu-ray when it comes out. We need to support the creators of TV shows, not the companies airing them to us. It is possible to cut out the middle men in this day and age.

Also, in Canada it's not illegal to download TV shows...
 
xyster said:
So this makes the Apple TV an expensive Roku...
Click to expand...

Sorry but Apple TV2 has far more to offer than Roku. Youtube, Vimeo, Airplay, Home Sharing, superior Netflix UI, and iCloud integration just to name a few.

And they recently added the ability to buy tv shows and stream any of your iTunes tv show purchases from the iCloud. So now that you can buy, that's probably why they got rid of renting. You couldn't do either on Roku so I don't get your point.
 
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