CBS and NBC Looking towards Digital Distribution

[shidoshi]

-Buys online copy could save you couple of hours from piracy downloading and converting files by themself.

-you may avoid any sinful feeling committing BT activity for cost just couple of dollars....People shops Dvd may switch to download it online too.

Here's the problem with that - the versions Apple is selling are nowhere near the quality that you can get from BitTorrent. With music, the quality is close enough to make the piracy route not nearly as attractive. That scenario is not in place with video downloads, though. Pay $2 for last night's Lost in 320x240, or for free get it at 624x352.

While the music quality you get from iTunes isn't as good as it could be, it is good enough that even people who aren't planning on putting it on an iPod, but just want the music in general, are a market. With videos via iTunes, however, a LOT of the people outside of the "wanting it for an iPod" crowd aren't going to find the quality to be good enough. Quality matters much more in video than in audio, because the difference is far more noticable.

I certainly think that videos via the iTMS are going to stop the iPod crowd from just downloading the shows they want, because it is so very much easier. However, it is a shame that Apple's reliance on skewing things for the iPod has crippled their video service so much.

I'm also really worried that Apple is going to screw up the online distribution market for video by making companies think that we're all perfectly fine and happy with 320x240 sized video. If that becomes the standard, then online video distribution will be worthless.

 

[steve_hill4]

While iTMS video sounds like a good idea, it's overpriced. Why would anyone pay extra in order to get the content at a lower resolution, no surround sound, and no bonus materials?
That's what VCRs and PVRs are for. I'm never home when my favorite shows are on. But the VCR timer-records them, so I don't care.

While I will be buying the BG DVDs, it will be because I want a permanent copy, anamorphic widescreen, 5.1 audio, and bonus materials. Not because I missed an episode of the broadcast.

That's what it is really aimed at, those who did not set their VCRs to record the latest episode, forgot about it, got called away etc and want to catch up with that one single show. If apple made it a bit easier for us to get our own DVDs and recorded shows onto our 5G iPods, more would be interested. I still think though Steve Jobs was right in the way he promoted it, as a digital music device that can play video. It's not the major feature as of yet, and won't be for the forseeable future. When the 6G iPod is announced, it might have widescreen, higher resolution and surround output capabilities, (through a new dock), but until then, we are stuck with 320x240.

 

[Squonk]

i wont pay 2 bucks for the news with brian williams

The news shows should be free! Who really wants to watch the news from more than a couple of days ago. And who wants to watch the same newscast over and over again? Certainly not the network news. The Daily Show, a different story - it's infotainment!

 

[Doozy]

I think it is important for Apple to get the major broadcast giants and should do what it takes to get that done. As far as the cable channels they should be lining up to get their original shows on iTunes.

 

[Doozy]

The news shows should be free! Who really wants to watch the news from more than a couple of days ago. And who wants to watch the same newscast over and over again? Certainly not the network news. The Daily Show, a different story - it's infotainment!

I totally agree with this. If NBC wants to test the market why do it with old news programs. Now, if the news was available the same day I would consider purchasing.

If I were NBC I would release "Scubs" and "My Name Is Earl"

 

[Scarpad]

Well I can't really Blame Jobs, he's in the same boat as all other manufacturers that produce PMP's if you look at Archos it's the same way. No one will tell you how or include a way to rip commercial DVD's as the legality of said action is Dubious. Yes there are ways that circumvent copy protection but your on your own to find them.