Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iTS
More T.V. shows with quicker release, please
Yeah, great. Wonderful. I can download Lost on the iTMS. Been there. Done that. Where are the new shows Apple? I mean, the only show on the list that I'm willing to spring $1.99 for is Lost and that's really only because I blog about it regularly. We need more options and more shows up there ASAP.Also, I know a lot of you may think I am beating a dead horse here, but yesterday one of my not so tech savvy co-workers came up to me and asked when the iTMS released Lost episodes. When I told her, "Usually around 4p.m. EST the day after broadcast," her shoulders drooped in dismay. It was if she had deflated slightly. She said, "Aw, I was going to be home late tonight and wanted to watch it when I got in."
Newsflash, Apple and ABC: you're losing potential customers due to your time delayed releases. If you release it earlier, you will make more money.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
DoubleWah said 7:55AM on 12-01-2005
I'd also like to know when we might be getting TV shows in iTMS on this side of the Atlantic (i.e. the UK), or indeed whether it's ever going to happen... And while I'm on the subject, did you know that the Pixar shorts and music videos cost 1.89 pounds here... that's $3.27. Quite a markup. :-/
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Mark said 8:28AM on 12-01-2005
tell your co-worker to get a VCR. You can pick one up at walmart for less than $30.
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Pete Barr-Watson said 8:11AM on 12-01-2005
you want more shows eh? What about the people outside the US ONCE AGAIN who have NO shows to watch...
Apple has really got to sort out the whole international thing. From .mac through to iTunes Music Store they ALWAYS leave out the non-US customers.
Sometimes it feels like Apple should just sell stuff to the US because outside of it, well, we're just subsidising Apple's profits whilst unable to take full advantage of their product's features.
There's a big world outside the US you know...
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Cyberwhore said 8:34AM on 12-01-2005
Pete,
Unfortunately most Americans don't realize that.
Also unfortunate is the fact that TV shows available for download on the iTunes in the US will never be available for download anywhere else until they have been screened everywhere. Advertising is still the major money spinner for TV networks so why should they let Apple jump the gun and make TV shows available for download before they have screened with ads in your particular country?
On the subject of releasing shows for download earlier. How are they losing out on making more money with your example of your co-worker? I am sure she would have just downloaded it when it became available.
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Robert said 8:41AM on 12-01-2005
Mr. Cyberwhore,
Timeliness of availability IS important. A lot of people "need" to download it before work the next day so they can chat about it with their co-workers. If you can't do that then you might as well not bother, everyone is going to spoil it for you anyway...
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Cyberwhore said 8:51AM on 12-01-2005
Robert,
Good point but if it's that "life or death" then why not set the VCR before you leave for work? Nothing like being prepared for the inevitable.
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HS said 9:31AM on 12-01-2005
They'd make more money? The advertisers would probably pay them a little less though, since more people would be inclined to download instead of watching on TV, so you'd have to have a little more advanced calculation than: More people download = More money. Just saying..
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fishpatrol said 9:42AM on 12-01-2005
Maybe consistency is also a factor. Sure, having it available right away would be handy, but maybe people would be appeased a bit if they knew that the show would come out by noon the next day. It's plenty irritating to go to a site, expecting to be able to download something, and not find it there. Nothing like clicking the reload button to frustrate your potential customers.
Didn't Engadget pronounce the VCR dead? Pretty sure that means we can't use it any more.
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Joshua said 2:07PM on 12-01-2005
I would love to see Fox's Prison Break released next on the iTMS.
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Porchland said 10:03AM on 12-01-2005
I think this was, at least in some part, a controlled experiment to see whether downloads would adversely affect TV ratings. If the answer is "no," Apple has a much easier time selling to ABC for a broader lineup of shows and to the other networks. The next-day window makes it less likely that people will skip the show altogether and go straight for the download, i.e., it's not time-shifting the show; it's a new viewing window, a la theatrical/DVD/pay-per-view for movies.
From what I've read, the downloads of "Lost" and "Housewives" have not adversely affected the ratings. The downloads have probably brought some people to the shows that may not have seen them before by allowing them to catch up to current.
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Jacob Varghese said 10:12AM on 12-01-2005
Don't you people use DVRs?
I DLed from iTunes a little over a season of Lost and loved it, but now that I'm caught up, I'd rather watch the episodes on my TV.
Using DVRs are a breeze and make a lot more sense than paying $1.99 per episode.
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AH said 10:53AM on 12-01-2005
Good point Jacob.
I can't be a tech based blog has some many readers suggesting not only using a VCR, but buying one as well!
Under $30? I wouldn't take one for free. That's like me buying a tape deck because Walmart is selling them for a dollar? Why bother?
Get a DVR.
But, typical of most tech based websites, commenters are more interested in offering alternatives than addressing the crux of C.K.'s assertion.
For Apple's video store to become very succesful there are changes that need to be made, both in terms of available programming and a firm SLA as to when shows will be made available for DL.
Dependable and available makes for better business.
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Rob said 11:41AM on 12-01-2005
Isn't it is sad pathetic world when you have to cater to coporation by telling them that they'll make more money when what really is the issue is better service?
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Sid said 11:22AM on 12-01-2005
on some torrent sites they have the shows seeded an hour after the show finishes airing on tv. i wouldn't mind paying these guys for a high quality, high def, wide screen, drm free product.... none of which your get from apple
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Mark said 11:31AM on 12-01-2005
AH:
But doesn't having a VCR just a little bit nostalgic?
I watched something on a VCR at my parents' house on their 50" HIDEF TV and it looked SO CRAPPY!
Still... they're good for recording stuff if you don't want to keep the program. Watch it and record over it. Plus, I don't have a DVR... I don't want ANOTHER monthly subscription fee and can't afford to build a free one like MythTV.
Simply: a VCR is still a viable option for those with a limited budget that can't catch some of their favorite shows.
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Chris Tarantino said 12:43PM on 12-01-2005
Oh come on. Are you really going to blame Apple for this?? Do you blame a car dealership because the factory hasn't finished building a car?
Apple can only distribute when ABC releases it. And they can only distribute what ABC want distributed.
Do you really think that Apple started this venture to only show the few shows that they currently have? Some things take time, especially when you are fighting with huge companies who don't want to give up control of their content or potential profit.
Cut Apple some slack. They are probably feeling the same frustrations you are about all of this.
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R.Padilla said 11:47AM on 12-01-2005
I watched "Collision" last night after buying every episode of Lost on iTMS. I was hoping after I was done with "Collision" (11:30 p.m. today) that last night's broadcast episode would be ready to watch on iTMS... but no.
I'm not sure I want to invest money in a DVR if it's just to watch Lost. I don't watch a lot of other TV. I would like to be able to watch it before coming into work, then I can read blogs, etc, about the latest episode.
So I agree. Once the episode has aired, please make it downloadable. If I watch it via DVR, I'll skip the commercials anyway. At least this way ABC gets a little cash from my download. :)
P.S. I'll never just watch it when it airs. My life is too busy to make an appointment every week for one TV show.
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iomatic said 12:38PM on 12-01-2005
I agree... I would've bought today, but having said that, I'll still buy it at 2PM PST.
[big rant about having better things to do snipped]
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Targ8ter said 1:48PM on 12-01-2005
Please note that Apple cannot legally offer the shows for download any earlier. Their contracts with the networks prevent them making the show available until after all the shows and, this is the important part, their ad breaks, have been played. A 24-hour window has been specified to ensure that the network's contracts with their advertisers is not infringed. This will be renegotiated only when Apple begins making them more money than all their advertising outlets. As soon as all Americans trade in their TVs for viPods, this might happen.
And everybody who's complaining about the evil Americans who are depriving the rest of the world of their TV, this is also due to a contractual obligation. Shows like Lost and Housewives have already sold international broadcast rights of varying exclusivity to the major non-American networks. Go yell at them for not giving Apple all the download rights for their respective countries.
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Matthew said 1:21PM on 12-01-2005
I agree C.K., immediacy is absolutely key here. Apple really screwed up by not negotiating harder over the time lag.
Last night I missed the ending of lost because my damn Tivo went over to another show. I was crest fallen. I would have easily paid that two bucks (shoot even 5 bucks) to see the ending right then, but I was denied. So, you might ask, am I going to pick it up today at Apple? Nope. Unlike Apple, bittorrent already has it available to download and its FREE. I think I'll take bittorrent. With this near 24 hour time shift Apple (more ABC though probably) has basically given Bittorrent a leg up. Not such a good thing really. I doubt apple realy cares though. They don't make jack off of the itunes store anyway.
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