Comparing Video Podcasts with the iTunes Store TV episodes

In my recent iTunes freebie update, I posted about HBO's Extras podcast, the video podcast that presented the first of Season 2's episodes. I asked readers what they thought about this possible new trend. International readers in particular responded enthusiastically. They loved getting access to quality video especially since iTunes does not yet offer video stores outside the US. Here is a rundown of some of the other Store-versus-Podcast-for-Free-Episodes issues brought up both by reader feedback and via brainstorming.

Issue	iTunes Store	Video Podcast
Hosting	Data at the iTunes Store, using their bandwidth.	Data on the home server, presumably using provider's bandwidth.
Maximum downloads	Set (presumably) by the iTunes store contract, a la the recent 100 million ABC download promotion.	No download limits except from provider bandwidth
Encryption	Standard iTunes video DRM	No DRM. Podcasts can be freely copied and distributed.
Advertising	At the highly trafficked "Free on iTunes" section, via the yellow-tagged advertising slugs, and in the TV store, traffic will be driven strongly to the free material.	The podcast section does have advertising but iTunes users are not used to hunting around for full TV episodes in the Podcast section, it's kind of redundant to put "free" tags on podcast material, there's no built-in way to drive traffic to your material (a la "Free on iTunes") nor is there a compilation of episode material (e.g. "TV Episode Podcasts")
Availability	US only, and only to those with iTunes accounts (usually requiring a credit card on record)	International, no iTunes US account needed
Comarketing Materials	None at the TV store listings	Can easily package commentary tracks, behind the scenes audio and video along with the episodes into the same main podcast screen so all related comarketing materials are presented at once
Updates	Must go through the iTunes store to update materials	Can update materials on your own site, since the data is locally hosted
iPod Playback	TV shows appear in their own Video submenu on the iPod. You choose whether to sync all episodes, most recent N episodes, or unwatched episodes.	Video podcasts appear in their own menu, and your podcast settings limit whether those episodes get synched. At this time, you cannot set separate rules for video podcasts versus audio ones.

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Source: http://www.apple.com/itunes

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In my recent iTunes freebie update, I posted about HBO's Extras podcast, the video podcast that presented the first of Season 2's...

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John

You can download Meet The Press in it's entirety if you're into that kinda thing

January 12 2007 at 3:33 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

rdas7

Look out, my money is on the iTunes Store getting a UI revamp in the not-too-distant-future. The chart above basically outlines all the reasons why this is necessary.

The original (and current) layout of the Store was great when it first opened up, and had the ability to pick out highlights of its' content. But now that it's selection has grown so vast, I think we need a better way to interface with that content and find our way around.

January 12 2007 at 7:05 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

pentumforever

a big draw back is in my opionen that those Podcast are only 320x240, not the 640x480 of the iTS.

January 12 2007 at 3:29 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Canestrini

Besides Extras, can somone please give examples of podacasts(not free episodes from the tv-show section, I'm in Sweden)which does the same stunt as Extras?

If this is a trend I couldn't be more happier.

January 12 2007 at 3:03 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply