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NBC Television Shows Now Available on Amazon
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Not necessarily. We don't know what kind of hard tactic they were trying with Apple. They may have already wanted to pull out (like they did with Universal music). For all we know Amazon pulled them over with a bigger cut than Apple was giving or even a bribe (like HD-DVD). I can't imagine Apple lying about it if it would come out eventually. It just makes them look bad.
If it is about packaging though- you're right. Apple needs to reduce their cost of a "Season Pass" to less than 1.99 x # episodes. And so does Microsoft 360.
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Most people won't even know about the DRM restrictions until they try to move the tv show to a 3rd computer.
Who knows about the price structure.It may well be , even at double the price Apple was talking about NBC's share of the gross is still higher with Amazon than it would have been with Apple.
Most people won't even know about the DRM restrictions until they try to move the tv show to a 3rd computer.
Who knows about the price structure.It may well be , even at double the price Apple was talking about NBC's share of the gross is still higher with Amazon than it would have been with Apple.
What is even stupidier is that they would leave a market that they have, what, 30-40% of iTunes TV download market share and is supported on mp3 players that is 75%+ of world wide market share.
Will Hulu.com and Amazon.com support iTunes without a complicated conversion process? (iTunes being the entry point into iPods and iPhone).
And, in the end, they will be forced to sell the shows for $1.99 or less because the precedence has been set. This is the price consumers have come to expect and wont pay more for. (less, you bet).
You can blame Beth Comstock, President, Integrated Media, NBC. See her interview at the link - very hypocritical.
The reasoning is simple, NBC is the equivalent of Paramount going exclusive with the soon-to-be-extinct HD-DVD format. Why? Because they'll make more money in the short term. Who are the short term losers? Apple, yes, but mainly the customers who don't get to view content the way they want to.
What about the long term? You can expect a different executive running the show by then when they start losing loyal customers.
As long as Apple focuses on the customer above all else without getting financially desperate, they'll win in the long run.
I've been a loyal fan of NBC's for 30 years, but Beth's decision has me deciding to cut ties. I guess it's just as well, just about time, and a sign of the times, as TV networks are no longer the kings of content anymore anyway. Nice knowing you NBC, good luck in your next job Beth - it's obvious customers don't come first.
The reasoning is simple, NBC is the equivalent of Paramount going exclusive with the soon-to-be-extinct HD-DVD format. Why? Because they'll make more money in the short term. Who are the short term losers? Apple, yes, but mainly the customers who don't get to view content the way they want to.
What about the long term? You can expect a different executive running the show by then when they start losing loyal customers.
As long as Apple focuses on the customer above all else without getting financially desperate, they'll win in the long run.
I've been a loyal fan of NBC's for 30 years, but Beth's decision has me deciding to cut ties. I guess it's just as well, just about time, and a sign of the times, as TV networks are no longer the kings of content anymore anyway. Nice knowing you NBC, good luck in your next job Beth - it's obvious customers don't come first.
Interstingly enough, NBC's parent company, GE, also owns a minority stake in TiVO. NBC and Universal also have other special deals with Microsoft regarding media (a percentage of the Zune's profit is passed onto Universal, and of course MSNBC; I'm sure there are other deals, but we just don't know about them). I'm beginning to think that this was in the works far a long time. I think Gates and Balmer can't stand to see someone else with a good idea succeed.
I disagree. I think NBC Universal has been trying to look for a way to break from Apple for a long time. This smoke screen is just another way to do it. I think that by the time Christmas rolls around, NBC Universal will be dying to come back to Apple. Many have tried to compete with iTunes, but none have succeeded. It's the only online store with enough fame and easy of use to be competitive. Sooner or later, people and companies will realize this, and we won't have to deal with stupid moves like this from NBC Universal.
For all we know Amazon may actually be losing money on each transaction as a way of building their (pitiful) market share to date.
FairPlay DRM is for the most part a non-issue and is thus transparent to the user. This kind of restrictive DRM is sad. Quite sad.
B
NBC hasn't had a lot of good news the past few TV seasons and won't want to finish last again this season AND get bad press for jilting Apple while ABC, NBC and CBS all get high-fives from Steve Jobs.
NBC will snap out of it and get back in line before the end of the year. I'll be interested to see how seasons are priced for returning shows.
Also, the whole NBC thing makes me dump my guess of a few weeks ago that Apple would bring out a TV subscription that would allow users more universal access to TV shows.
NBC will snap out of it and get back in line before the end of the year. I'll be interested to see how seasons are priced for returning shows.
Also, the whole NBC thing makes me dump my guess of a few weeks ago that Apple would bring out a TV subscription that would allow users more universal access to TV shows.
I won't be buying any of the shows on Amazon. It just isn't where I shop so I will be waiting for NBC shows on DVD. As far as the pricing goes, NBC had no choice but to charge the same as iTunes. After defending their position against Apple, they couldn't really go and charge more on Amazon.
Your logic implies that Apple needs NBC, not the other way around. Apple has, correct me if I'm wrong, leverage the iTunes store as a way to sell iPods, computers, etc. It isn't a profit center for them. So, as long as the content that is available is a compelling part of the whole apple platform, Apple doesn't need to concern itself with any one company choosing to go elsewhere.
Fine, people who are on macs and using ipods won't be able to watch NBC shows. No big deal. They'll still buy iPods and macs. They'll still download shows from other networks. In the end I think this is more of a loss for NBC than it is for Apple.
Sorry, but I have to laugh at NBC's actions.
Announcing the Amazon the day before Steve J gets on stage and shows off new iPods? Probably all with improved screens for watching your favorite TV shows while commuting on a train or bus? That's gotta be a smart move.
As for keeping the $1.99 price on Amazon - is that with or without the commercials?
I just upgraded one of our cable boxes today - it will record shows, just like TiVo, and hold up to 30 hours. Gonna cost me an extra $5 per month. Since I drive when commuting I doubt if NBC/Amazon will be of any interest to me at all.
What would be fun to watch, however, is the NBC collective reaction to the new iPods tomorrow. Talk about bad timing on their part!
Announcing the Amazon the day before Steve J gets on stage and shows off new iPods? Probably all with improved screens for watching your favorite TV shows while commuting on a train or bus? That's gotta be a smart move.
As for keeping the $1.99 price on Amazon - is that with or without the commercials?
I just upgraded one of our cable boxes today - it will record shows, just like TiVo, and hold up to 30 hours. Gonna cost me an extra $5 per month. Since I drive when commuting I doubt if NBC/Amazon will be of any interest to me at all.
What would be fun to watch, however, is the NBC collective reaction to the new iPods tomorrow. Talk about bad timing on their part!
So What
Hey, we can get all of the NBC Content elsewhere and for free.
I don't think Hulu.com will offer the Mac Format either.
NBC perceives the Mac market as being too small to bother with.
Microsoft, NBC and Universal are out to do iTunes in. It's as simple as that.
They feel Apple needs to be put back into it's place. You know... that dusty spot in the back of the store.
Hopefully new iPods will blow people away!
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MBP 2.0Ghz / iPhone /
TV / eyeTV 250+
Hey, we can get all of the NBC Content elsewhere and for free.
I don't think Hulu.com will offer the Mac Format either.
NBC perceives the Mac market as being too small to bother with.
Microsoft, NBC and Universal are out to do iTunes in. It's as simple as that.
They feel Apple needs to be put back into it's place. You know... that dusty spot in the back of the store.
Hopefully new iPods will blow people away!
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MBP 2.0Ghz / iPhone /
TV / eyeTV 250+Well as some have already stated here - when NBC said "flexible pricing" how many actually believe they meant less. I think the reality here is a power play that may even include Microsoft. I think that NBC really was trying to be as a-holish as possible with Apple expecting Apple to pull the plug.
Just because NBC announces this deal with Amazon, doesn't mean that NBC wasn't being ridiculous in their negotiations with Apple. They're just trying to save face.
Apple deserves this
I love my macs, but come on. Apple deserves this. They're trying to act like an 800 pound gorilla and almost getting away with it. If anything, I'll bet Amazon's service will work on the mac soon - that way they won't shut out this part of the market.
If Apple wants to be a team player, maybe they should:
- allow for open DRM on iTunes
- support 64 bit Vista with iTunes (especially for the iPhone)
Until Apple plays like a better corporate citizen, I say let the competition take them down.
While these turf might make it more difficult for consumers in the short run, hopefully, there will be a light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe this will help usher in the era of OS independent and better interop of music and video services.
I love my macs, but come on. Apple deserves this. They're trying to act like an 800 pound gorilla and almost getting away with it. If anything, I'll bet Amazon's service will work on the mac soon - that way they won't shut out this part of the market.
If Apple wants to be a team player, maybe they should:
- allow for open DRM on iTunes
- support 64 bit Vista with iTunes (especially for the iPhone)
Until Apple plays like a better corporate citizen, I say let the competition take them down.
While these turf might make it more difficult for consumers in the short run, hopefully, there will be a light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe this will help usher in the era of OS independent and better interop of music and video services.
Yeah, this is very dumb from NBC but hey, Apple's been refusing to be more flexible with the way they sell music, TV shows AND movies, maybe they need to change before going out of that particular business. Cable TV is subscription-based, so could be iTunes, partly. When it comes to mass media, iTunes is still just getting started and it could reach new hights but not with this kind of behavior, this is gonna hurt!
When it comes to mass media, iTunes is still just getting started and it could reach new hights but not with this kind of behavior, this is gonna hurt!
Yeah, it's called television
Seriously though, sometimes the good old VCR is worth unearthing (if only I had one)Truth be told, if Apple is pissing other companies off, then it's probably better for the general consumer. What makes companies unhappy usually makes consumers happy. That's a mighty fine corporate citizen in my book.
umm i think it is NBC wanting to force apple to allow bundle shows, which is stupid and is just going to piss people off, i think the DRM on iTunes works fine, and people say iTunes does not work for things like Rim players, well then buy and iPod, obviously iTunes will only work with an iPod, just like the zune market place only works with a zune. And the Vista thing, i'm sure microsoft has a part to play in making this work,
NBC is just being a little brat because they didn't get exactly what they want, and since they saw that they wouldn't get what they wanted (no matter who they sold on) they went to amazon just to piss apple off.
apple shouldn't be flexible with prices, as long as they are keeping them at a low reasonable price then there is no reason apple should move on their price. The companies are just getting greedy and they should be punished for this and if that means they can not sell on one of the largest most known media sellers because they are unreasonable, then sucks for them hopefully they will learn their lesson.
I think apple did the right thing telling NBC to screw off that they would not allow stupid bundles and 4.99 shows, go apple!
I think this proves that NBC was willing to play games with Apple in order to get out of their agreement with Apple. The contract with Apple runs through December at $1.99 per episode. Lets see what happens with the prices on Amazon and Hulu.com after that agreement ends shall we.
In any case I'm sure Apple will survive without NBC.
Personnaly I could care less as I'm already downoading NBC Shows for free and moving them to my
TV and iPhone. I'm sure most here will do likewise.
The DRM limitations with Unbox are insane, and the lack of iPod and Mac compatibility make it useless to me--and probably to MOST online media purchasers.
However, NBC wanted out of iTunes, and they have achieved that
I don't see Apple's and NBC's statements as particularly contradictory: Apple says NBC wanted to MORE than double the wholesale price. NBC says they wanted "flexibility" to charge different amounts--which of course means an overall increase or NBC wouldn't care. NBC also wanted more money from Apple than they now want from Unbox. This makes sense for many reasons: a) Unbox earns a "favor" due to their draconian DRM, b) Unbox makes no money on iPods, which NBC feels are used heavily for piracy and wants a cut from, and c) Unbox doesn't have Apple's power and success which frighten NBC.
NBC likely didn't WANT to stay on iTunes at any price. The ease-of-use and consumer appeal of iTunes are a BAD thing in NBC's view, because they give Apple power.
It's no surprise that NBC's "replacement" for iTunes costs the same as iTunes, even while NBC demanded more-than-double from Apple.
It may have gone something like this:
NBC: Apple, take insane spyware steps in a futile attempt to block people from putting pirated content on iPods, OR else pay us a share of every iPod, OR else pay us more than double per show. (And let us bundle shows to make people buy stuff they don't want.)
Apple: Buh!
Apple PR: NBC wants to more than double the price that all other networks accept! (A half-truth)
NBC PR: Nuh-uh! We were only concerned about piracy and bundling! (A quarter-truth)
(I would guess that the bundling is a lesser issue, just something NBC can mention as a distraction/excuse, but still one which neither consumers nor Apple would be likely to accept.)
Now... I wonder if Unbox + random PlaysForSure devices will be as easy to use as iTunes
However, NBC wanted out of iTunes, and they have achieved that
I don't see Apple's and NBC's statements as particularly contradictory: Apple says NBC wanted to MORE than double the wholesale price. NBC says they wanted "flexibility" to charge different amounts--which of course means an overall increase or NBC wouldn't care. NBC also wanted more money from Apple than they now want from Unbox. This makes sense for many reasons: a) Unbox earns a "favor" due to their draconian DRM, b) Unbox makes no money on iPods, which NBC feels are used heavily for piracy and wants a cut from, and c) Unbox doesn't have Apple's power and success which frighten NBC.
NBC likely didn't WANT to stay on iTunes at any price. The ease-of-use and consumer appeal of iTunes are a BAD thing in NBC's view, because they give Apple power.
It's no surprise that NBC's "replacement" for iTunes costs the same as iTunes, even while NBC demanded more-than-double from Apple.
It may have gone something like this:
NBC: Apple, take insane spyware steps in a futile attempt to block people from putting pirated content on iPods, OR else pay us a share of every iPod, OR else pay us more than double per show. (And let us bundle shows to make people buy stuff they don't want.)
Apple: Buh!
Apple PR: NBC wants to more than double the price that all other networks accept! (A half-truth)
NBC PR: Nuh-uh! We were only concerned about piracy and bundling! (A quarter-truth)
(I would guess that the bundling is a lesser issue, just something NBC can mention as a distraction/excuse, but still one which neither consumers nor Apple would be likely to accept.)
Now... I wonder if Unbox + random PlaysForSure devices will be as easy to use as iTunes
All I know is that it is stupid; a movie you buy will not play on an iPod, a PSP, a Creative, a Zune, or any portable player. That movie you bought can not be burned to a DVD, and it can't even play on a Macintosh or Linux PC. It is locked to only being able to be used with Windows XP and Vista, PERIOD. No portable devices or anything. None of the streaming capabilities of iTunes.
confused :-(
If someone has a TiVo, why would they buy shows from amazon, that are currently on the air? Wouldn't you just set TiVo to record them? That is one section of sales that NBC will lose.
I use iTunes for current shows because I don't have a DVR/Tivo and instead of paying a monthly fee for these devices, I just use iTunes. Spread a few shows over the whole season and its the same as the subscription fee for the TiVo.
I have my setup (mac-appletv-iphone) working just the way I like it. I guess I'll just use netflix and rip those NBC shows.
If someone has a TiVo, why would they buy shows from amazon, that are currently on the air? Wouldn't you just set TiVo to record them? That is one section of sales that NBC will lose.
I use iTunes for current shows because I don't have a DVR/Tivo and instead of paying a monthly fee for these devices, I just use iTunes. Spread a few shows over the whole season and its the same as the subscription fee for the TiVo.
I have my setup (mac-appletv-iphone) working just the way I like it. I guess I'll just use netflix and rip those NBC shows.
this is ridiculous. ethier apple or NBC is lying, ethier way it doesnt turn out well for the consumer. If NBC is correct, I don't see the problem with discounting seasons in terms of messing up simplicity. All seasons cost different amounts because of the different number of episodes. Hopefully this will be resolved, but it doesn't look likely.
Actually isn't Amazon one of the biggest iPod resellers?
Over half of the top 25 bestsellers in the MP3 player category are iPods, and thus incompatible with Unbox.
It'll be interesting to see what comes of Amazon's music download service/site/portal due this month or next.
The idea behind TiVo/Amazon partnership is that you can essentially get "On Demand" programming from a much larger library than your TiVo's HDD. Say you want to catch up on a new show you found out about mid-season. (As I did with Heroes, though I watched my reruns on NBC.COM). I do wish
TV would offer somethign like this and NOT be tied to my iTunes libraries. Unfortunately DirecTV has neutered my TiVo and I don't get any of the nice features standalone TiVo users do...B
So NBC cites piracy concerns for the move, then switches to Amazon Unbox with PlaysForSure DRM which has been cracked numerous times before. If anything, this makes it easy now for me to create DRM free files out of downloads. At least Apple's DRM is fair and relatively secure for them.