iTunes Video Sales Top 1 Million

[MacRumors]

Apple announced today that the iTunes video sales have exceeded 1 million videos since October 12th.

"Selling 1 million videos in less than 20 days strongly suggests there is a market for legal video downloads," Steve Jobs, chief executive officer, said in a statement. "Our next challenge is to broaden our content offerings, so that customers can enjoy watching more videos on their computers and new iPods."

Apple presently offers over 2000 music videos, 5 Disney/ABC television shows, and 6 Pixar shorts. It's unclear what the breakdown of video sales are.

 

[tangerineyum]

I am responsible for 2 Lost episodes being purchased.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

This is only the beginning...

 

[asif786]

hmm..i'm surprised they didn't announce at least one new show with this news..

still, 1m videos. neat

 

[Sonofhaig]

Simply amazing.

 

[WeBleed4Real]

We'll see how long this lasts, or if it was just people being curious at the next "new thing".

 

[applesticker]

:d

we need an iPod that can decode and auto scale large video content -cos these videos are too small when played back on a big screen they look crummy as you can see compression artefacts also when will the ipod support direct tv recording and furthermore more codecs please like xvid and divx - what a bummer it is a shame to see apple pandering to the video companies instead when they can make a better product.

 

[Mydriasis]

Way to go Apple!!! I didn't think it would go so well, they are a little too expensive for me. Maybe if I had one of those sexy new iPods? Hmmm...

 

[macer1]

this just add's fuel to apples fire. I hope this string of perfect moves is highlighted with the move to intel. Maybe, we can all hope.

 

[Epicurus]

I've personally bought several videos, mostly Lost episodes. Music videos are nice, but there are only a handful I'd actually want to watch repeatedly. TV shows are great, though. The picture quality could be tweaked a little, so viewing on a Mac was a little better (especially with Apple selling so many HD displays and pushing HD content in movie trailers). Once I get done watching Lost, Season 1, I'll probably start buying Season 2.

Lets hope this gets the rest of the networks to the table and we get a bunch of new content before christmas

 

[Steamboatwillie]

Wow, I didn't see that coming. I really thought it would flop. I guess I was wrong and Jobs was right.

 

[Freg3000]

I think at MWSF we'll see some more content added.

 

[liketom]

Wow, I didn't see that coming. I really thought it would flop. I guess I was wrong and Jobs was right.

lol you doubted Jobs?

 

[longofest]

Ratio = 90% TV episodes or Pixar Shorts, 10% music videos. Give or take 5% margin of error, but only if that margin of error is in favor of TV episodes

 

[obeygiant]

this is going to be huge. its another paradigm shift...again!

 

[Savage Henry]

Give it 6 months

It will still rise, particularly after the Festive iPod purchases, but if they start declining in March then the fad will lose it's flavour.

Personally, I can't see why Apple has chosen this path, but at least they are still in the leading pack and not chasing like they did with the phones, and we know how they turned out.

 

[rockthecasbah]

Ratio = 90% TV episodes or Pixar Shorts, 10% music videos. Give or take 5% margin of error, but only if that margin of error is in favor of TV episodes

says who? I'd personally never want to watch a tv show on my computer..Shorts maybe, but i would hardly say 9:1 ratio. I would much rather rock out to my favorite music videos that i don't get to see much of and leave the tv shows to, well tv.

 

[gkarris]

They can!

we need an iPod that can decode and auto scale large video content -cos these videos are too small when played back on a big screen they look crummy as you can see compression artefacts also when will the ipod support direct tv recording and furthermore more codecs please like xvid and divx - what a bummer it is a shame to see apple pandering to the video companies instead when they can make a better product.

Somewhere, I saw an article on the video chips Apple is using, they are more than capable, but it seems that Apple is purposely throttling back on it. (at the Apple Store, I tried loading one of my videos I ripped from Tivo, but iTunes didn't load it on the iPod because my resolution/bit rate was too high - looks like a software lock. Played fine, though, on the computer...)

This makes it attractive for the studios, as it won't cut into profits for cable, satellite, tv network, theater, and DVD.

Heck, if it was possible just to download my shows the day after airing, and on top of that view on TV or burn DVDs at a decent quality, I would cancel Dish Network, Tivo, and stop buying DVDs altogether...

 

[gugy]

wow, it's really amazing that they sold so many videos.
It' great, I hope later the videos will be at least full resolution. it might take few years, but I think this is for sure the future. People will pay money to get their episodes in full res.
now will be interesting to see how that will affect DVD sales 5 years from now. Hopefully by then we can get high quality downloads from Apple.
Steve is really a genius! Thank god he's an Apple guy!

 

[Arcus]

I love this!! I cant wait for them to have more content. If they start selling any home repair / food shows / history channel / classic movies or edutainment type shows Im going to go broke buying these things!!

Rock on Steve!!!!!!!!

 

[bigandy]

price still an issue here in the UK, which is why i stopped using iTMS a year or so ago. £1.89 for a video (we don't even have the damn tv shows yet) - US$3.35? screw that for a laugh. maybe if they were the same price as the songs here are, i'd be tempted.

 

[longofest]

says who? I'd personally never want to watch a tv show on my computer..Shorts maybe, but i would hardly say 9:1 ratio. I would much rather rock out to my favorite music videos that i don't get to see much of and leave the tv shows to, well tv.

Keep watching this thread, and see how many people "just can't wait" for more TV content to arrive. Of course, we are ALL waiting for full-length DVD-quality movies to arrive, but that's not realistic for the time being.

I personally haven't bought any music videos, but have bought every single LOST episode (because I hadn't seen any, thought the price was decent for the whole season. I ended up getting addicted).

 

[yorkslad]

TV Shoes for UK

I think apple could have improved on that figure if they had provided TV shows in the UK iTunes store. Unfortunately were stuck with the very limited music video catalogue. Also why can't we download movie trailers and store them on our ipods? Its not as if were ripping of films, infact while your showing off the video aspects of your ipod your probably promoting said trailers. Come on apple, if your gonna do video, don't give us a half hearted effort.

 

[Epicurus]

says who? I'd personally never want to watch a tv show on my computer..Shorts maybe, but i would hardly say 9:1 ratio. I would much rather rock out to my favorite music videos that i don't get to see much of and leave the tv shows to, well tv.

I got a bunch of Lost episodes to catch up with what I'd missed when it aired. For me, since I can't ever see the shows I want on TV, getting them one by one online is a great option. Once the TV catalog on iTunes spreads, I'll probably buy even more. i've already got a large collection of TV show DVDs, and I see this new iTunes option as a compliment to the DVDs, not as direct competition. Consider it a really excellent alternative to rentals. You trade a little picture quality for a cheaper price and never having to give up the content. Once I pick up a new iPod and can take the videos everywhere, I'll never look back. Full screen video through Front Row works great, even with iTunes videos, by the way.

 

[ariza910]

Is Apple including all the music videos that have been included for free with full album purchase?

1 Million sounds great but I wonder how much was paid for and even more intresting, how much of the 1Million was TV show sales?