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NBC's iTunes Alternative Launches Private Beta
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Looks the videos aren't available here in Australia or Canada,UK,etc-as other channels have the rights to air NBC content.
"You can't vie video from your country/region."
This is quite primitive. Too bad for them, torrent downloads are available in any country in the world.
This is quite primitive. Too bad for them, torrent downloads are available in any country in the world.
It's times like this that I really appreciate my Miglia TVMax... If I have to miss a show for whatever reason (or want to keep whole seasons, like Lost), it's right there on my hard drive. I can either fast forward through the commercials (single viewing) or spend a minute or two editing them out (stored shows), then format for the iPod or 
TV and send to iTunes.
If iTunes had more of the shows that I watch, I'd probably just cancel my cable service and spend the $2/each for the 20-30 shows the family watches each month (mostly kids stuff, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, etc.). I don't think there's anything on NBC I would normally watch, so no loss there. Are Food Network and HGTV shows on iTunes yet?...
TV and send to iTunes.If iTunes had more of the shows that I watch, I'd probably just cancel my cable service and spend the $2/each for the 20-30 shows the family watches each month (mostly kids stuff, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, etc.). I don't think there's anything on NBC I would normally watch, so no loss there. Are Food Network and HGTV shows on iTunes yet?...
Anyone secretly hoping Apple loses more companies from iTunes store so that they'd be forced to start putting DVR's into their products like Microsoft products have had for so long? I certainly am. Plus Apple TV too.
Zucker's comments have been so successful, imagine how many people have gone onto HULA whatever the hell it is dot com since he did the interview. Now thats what I call free advertising.
Zucker's comments have been so successful, imagine how many people have gone onto HULA whatever the hell it is dot com since he did the interview. Now thats what I call free advertising.
thanks for the link.
At least there's one nice thing about Jeff, his last name is spelled with Z....
In August, NBC pulled their television content from the iTunes store due to disagreements in pricing structure.
Uh... Last time I checked it was all still up on iTunes. They haven't pulled it yet. Or were you referring to new seasons and shows?
Everyone needs to hold their horses. This service just came out, and only those with access to the beta have glimpsed it. I have an invite and let me say I was impressed. The interface feels very apple-ish. Let me clear up some of the mis-conceptions:
1. It's not just NBC. Fox has a TON of shows on it, as well as shows from FX, SciFi, Speed, E, etc. off the top of my head.
2. It's not just TV. They've got movies and youtube-ish videos including all the SNL.
3. I've been playing with it for less than 24 hours and I haven't seen a single ad in any of the TV content. The only ad that I did see was before 'The Breakfast Club' movie and it only was 5 seconds.
4. The little dots do NOT represent Ads. They represent where the Ads took place and there are breaks in the show, however I haven't seen an Ad watching ANY shows. This may change later, b/c as of right now, I honestly don't see how they are planning to make any money.
This site appears to be better than any other online (in a browser) video repository I've seen. I'm a big apple person, and I don't see hulu directly competiting with apple just yet. If it takes off, who knows. My first impressions are good, and it looks like arn agrees.
It's all cool my babies.
1. It's not just NBC. Fox has a TON of shows on it, as well as shows from FX, SciFi, Speed, E, etc. off the top of my head.
2. It's not just TV. They've got movies and youtube-ish videos including all the SNL.
3. I've been playing with it for less than 24 hours and I haven't seen a single ad in any of the TV content. The only ad that I did see was before 'The Breakfast Club' movie and it only was 5 seconds.
4. The little dots do NOT represent Ads. They represent where the Ads took place and there are breaks in the show, however I haven't seen an Ad watching ANY shows. This may change later, b/c as of right now, I honestly don't see how they are planning to make any money.
This site appears to be better than any other online (in a browser) video repository I've seen. I'm a big apple person, and I don't see hulu directly competiting with apple just yet. If it takes off, who knows. My first impressions are good, and it looks like arn agrees.
It's all cool my babies.
And hulu won't be able to compete with the portability. I believe the market they are targeting is, say you want to watch it at home b/c you didn't DVR it. Instead of buying the episode for 99cents, you can watch it streaming (immediately). I've done this more times via abc, nbc, or fox.com than I have gone to iTunes. Like you mentioned, I buy from iTunes when I want to watch on the go.
I'd love to see some integration with the iPhone like youtube's app. Heh, bet Apple would never go for it since NBC is a partner...unless, they kiss and make up.
Meh. NBC wanting a cut in iPod sales is not much different that Apple wanting a cut in monthly cell phone rate plans.
It's very simple reason why NBC is doing all this and many people have missed it. It's all about 'control' NBC wants to keep you right where it wants you. In front of a computer watching embedded adds, in the right countries without choice. It's clear that money is not an object as they are happy to allow you to watch for free if however under their terms.
I really don't like controls like this, it's still got a DRM mentality about it, only the United States just now I doubt that will change anytime soon. The video player market is speeding up with more and more devices every year and just like with music downloads the media industries are dragging their feet screaming and kicking.
For me companies like NBC, Universal and others are like a 12 year old with a crack habit and a rocket launcher.
I really don't like controls like this, it's still got a DRM mentality about it, only the United States just now I doubt that will change anytime soon. The video player market is speeding up with more and more devices every year and just like with music downloads the media industries are dragging their feet screaming and kicking.
For me companies like NBC, Universal and others are like a 12 year old with a crack habit and a rocket launcher.
What % of iPod buyers pay for and watch an NBC show on their iPod? What % of iPhone buyers pay AT&T (even if you count those who are breaking their EULA)?
If this is the planned replacement for shows on the iTunes sore, it's a joke. The picture quality is terrible. And I'd LOVE to have to carry my laptop around AND have an internet connection to be able to watch the episodes. Perfect for airplanes too.
Like I said, if this is the planned replacement for content on the iTunes store it shows they couldn't be further from understanding consumers.
Like I said, if this is the planned replacement for content on the iTunes store it shows they couldn't be further from understanding consumers.
This blows. I loved to watch Heroes on my way to work sometimes. I don't like trying to catch up on NBCs website either. They should make up with Apple.
Irrelevant. Both are examples of companies wanting a cut in something they shouldn't get. When NBC is involved in making the iPod, they should get a cut. When Apple is involved in running a cellular network, they should get a cut.
Maybe computer makers should get a cut from high-speed internet providers, since it's their computers being used.
By anyone's account, the iPhone caused a significant number of customers to switch to AT&T. Has NBC TV content caused a significant number of customers to purchase an iPod?
I think the quality of it compared to what iTunes offers sucks. It is somewhat blurry and pixelated at times. I hate it. NBC and the music industry are being very stupid about this. iTunes helped significantly slow the illegal downloading/sharing of songs (I once used limewire, now I only use iTunes-> because of the price) and if they keep raising the prices of songs and shows/videos, they will cause one of two things (or maybe both): 1) People will revert back to the illegal downloading of content (I know I will, I don't care. Only person it hurts is them). OR 2) People will refuse to purchase music, videos, and shows all together over the internet and possibly in stores. 99 cents for a song is great. I usually only buy 1-4 songs per album, the rest are crappy and I don't want them. Why would I pay $15 for CD for 4 songs, when I can get the 4 songs for $4 on iTunes? Same goes for movies and shows. I've personally never purchased/downloaded a movie or show via the web. BUT if I was so rapped up in a show or wanting to badly see a movie, I would at $1.99 and roughly $9.99 respectively. I would not pay a higher price for those, especially if they have ads in them! The damn ads paid for the production and release of the shows, why the hell do I have to watch them if I paid for the episode? It's all about money with these companies anymore. And they will soon find out that we will not tolerate it anymore, but they will realize that after they go under... NBC has been long over due of going under, and hopefully this will push them over the edge.
excuse my ignorance on this issue, but what is wrong with you people.
honestly,
who pays for TV shows that can be seen for free on television?
answer,
people who watch on their iPods or portable media device.
does it suck they took their shows down from iTunes, yes.
does hulu suck b/c they took their shows down from iTunes, yes (albeit transitively).
does hulu as a service suck, no, it's actually pretty decent. it is leaps and bounds better than what is going on at abc, nbc, and fox.com.
perhaps once they get a decent base of people on hulu, they will go back to iTunes. as with any bad marraige, both sides are partially to blame. apple's iTunes model is part of the problem. i think people are forgetting that apple FORCES you to use iTunes and PAY for shows. how is that any different than NBC forcing you to go to their FREE website?
if hulu takes off, I don't see why they wouldn't have downloads in addition to streaming. then you can get your portable media and stop your crying.
honestly,
who pays for TV shows that can be seen for free on television?
answer,
people who watch on their iPods or portable media device.
does it suck they took their shows down from iTunes, yes.
does hulu suck b/c they took their shows down from iTunes, yes (albeit transitively).
does hulu as a service suck, no, it's actually pretty decent. it is leaps and bounds better than what is going on at abc, nbc, and fox.com.
perhaps once they get a decent base of people on hulu, they will go back to iTunes. as with any bad marraige, both sides are partially to blame. apple's iTunes model is part of the problem. i think people are forgetting that apple FORCES you to use iTunes and PAY for shows. how is that any different than NBC forcing you to go to their FREE website?
if hulu takes off, I don't see why they wouldn't have downloads in addition to streaming. then you can get your portable media and stop your crying.
the quality from what I've seen will look just fine on your iPod/iPhone. on your TV, no. although, i think this is true for content from iTunes.
I have to say that it's pretty snazzy for a web player. Nice quality, and a widescreen format (no cramming widescreen into a 4:3 box like on youtube). The killer is the lack of a way to watch it on my TV. Web players are great for 5 minutes videos (10 at the most). Full length TV shows are meant to be watched from the couch, especially the recent office episodes that have been an hour or so.
Maybe they'll come up with a system for downloading shows, but that's full of potential hurdles (including ones that Apple is wrestling with right now). Will it have DRM? What players will support it? What's the price? If it's free, how will they enforce ad viewing?
So far it seems like no one has figured out how to make downloadable TV a smooth experience. Apple has made some progress, but even their imperfect system has come under pressure from multiple angles.
Maybe they'll come up with a system for downloading shows, but that's full of potential hurdles (including ones that Apple is wrestling with right now). Will it have DRM? What players will support it? What's the price? If it's free, how will they enforce ad viewing?
So far it seems like no one has figured out how to make downloadable TV a smooth experience. Apple has made some progress, but even their imperfect system has come under pressure from multiple angles.