Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iTS, Video, iTunes
iTunes video: Where are the sports clips?
Television shows and music videos are great, but where are the sports clips in the iTunes Music Store? I, for one, would love to see this.There are so many professional sports from across the globe that could be included in this discussion, but it's football season here in the US, so I'm going to use football for my example. Every week, sports fans can download highlights from their favorite team's or league's games, plus interviews, pre- and post-game press conferences, etc. Often times I don't get to see a game I'm interested in. For example, I live in Massachusetts, so it's all New England Patriots, all the time. I love the Pats, but I'd rather watch the Redskins. If they aren't the featured game opposite the Pats, I've got to try to catch the 30 seconds worth of Skins highlights that will air on Sports Center at 11:00 PM. ESPN already has an audio podcast [iTunes link], so why not add some video to the mix? Now, I know what you're going to say. "Why would I pay $0.99 or $1.29 for content I can catch on the evening's highlight reel for free?" That's a good point, and to tell you the truth it isn't really in the hours-old footage that I'm interested in. It's the classics. More after the jump.
Imagine being able to watch The Immaculate Reception, Jordan's winning shot from the top of the key, George Brett storming the mound, dripping in pine tar or Ali towering over a bewildered Sonny Liston whenever you wanted? Joe Namath in Superbowl III, Magic vs. Bird throught the years, Bill Buckner in 1986 (wait, forget I said that one). Whatever your favorite sports moment is (I apologize for my exclusive knowledge of American sports), it's ready to go in an instant. I don't know about you, but I could watch the final out of the 2004 World Series over and over, and I'd pay $1.29 for comprehensive, narrated highlights from that game. What's your take?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Leo the 3rd said 8:15PM on 11-14-2005
And what would be cool would be highlights from particular sports - baseball and those amazing catches, home run stealings. Or with football - bone crunching reels of yesteryear. Or watching classics of the Lakers with Kareem, Magic, Worthy! Of course there would be some boxing clips that would be really short - the Mike Tyson reign of terror - 2 secs and they're outta here! But there are plenty of possibilities. And as of yet untapped area.
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kmok1 said 8:21PM on 11-14-2005
sports bloopers!!! BINGO!
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Michael Collins said 8:23PM on 11-14-2005
I think this would only appeal to a very limited, niche market.
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Adam Jacob Muller said 8:34PM on 11-14-2005
I imagine watching such things and then I fall asleep from sheer boredom.
Sports clips: boring. Sports: more boring.
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Hawthorne said 9:05PM on 11-14-2005
Well, given the photo accompanying this story, I'd pay $1.99 to watch an old Muhammed Ali fight, I was too young to really understand what I was watching when he was in his prime. Or the final game of the 2001 World Series. Or a game from the 1986 NBA Finals. There's warehouses of old sports games that could go online and instantly generate revenue. My God, the sales tax from purchases by Packer Backers would wipe out the national debt! :-)
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Brad said 9:48PM on 11-14-2005
Yes for classics, but I'd like to see a weekly 20 minute highlight film of the best soccer highlights from each of the European leagues.
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atweber said 10:12PM on 11-14-2005
The NBA has a great daily recap video podcast at:
http://broadband.nba.com/cc/podcast.php?type=vodcast
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Everett said 10:36PM on 11-14-2005
If you think sports only appeals to a very small, niche market...
I was going to make some witty joke there, but the reality is that you're just wrong.
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Wheels said 12:34AM on 11-15-2005
Since you brought up Buckner, I must say this to you:
GO COWBOYS!
HA!
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Oliver said 1:28AM on 11-15-2005
I'd pay a buck 99 to watch English premiership games (soccer). But somehow i don't see that happening a-n-y-t-i-m-e soon.
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Ben McMath said 10:00AM on 11-15-2005
ESPN SportCenter on my iPod?!? That would be awesome! Hello, ESPN, are you listening?? Feed us...
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Jeff said 4:06AM on 11-16-2005
I sent a suggestion to Apple over a year ago suggesting that they team up with Major League Baseball and make "classic" radio broadcasts of baseball games available for download on iTMS. Don't see why they couldn't do video as well. I could see the NFL getting in this, but I think baseball won't since they don't have a commissioner who is actually alive.
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