Filed under: iTS
iTunes UK video content debuts
Big UK iTunes news today as UK video content debuts. The new TV Programmes section brings such classic American programming as SpongeBob Squarepants, South Park and Kim Possible and possibly British shows inluding Bam's Unholy Union and Jongleurs Unleashed. It's hard to tell because the only British shows I watch are things like Jekyll, Doctor Who, that Location show with Phil and Kirstie, and X Factor.
Shows cost 1.89 each--that's a steep $3.81 in today's weak US dollar, compared to the $1.99 US episode costs. Studios/Channels include ABC (not the Australian variety, pity), Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, MTV, Paramount Comedy and Playhouse Disney.
Thanks to bumspinach
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mo said 7:24PM on 8-28-2007
Either Apple are having a REALLY hard time persuading content producers to distribute via the iTunes Store (which would be strange, as lack of Mac support is a major bugbear regarding the distribution methods of the major networks here), or they really really want to see the Apple TV fail.
I'm honestly not sure which it is. I guess I'll be sticking to my Handbrake-encoded H.264 for the time being…
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PLDM said 7:30PM on 8-28-2007
I don't think there's anything I can say, except, woooooooop!! Woop woop woop!!!
Not great selection for a two year wait, but at least there's some good stuff there! Pity about the severe lack of BBC and Channel 4 programing, but at least it's a start! Hopefully not too long 'till Torchwood and Peep Show turn up!
p.s. Woop!
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Ryan said 7:35PM on 8-28-2007
Bam's Unholy Union is a terrible show from MTV here in the states.
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mike said 7:36PM on 8-28-2007
Bam's Unholy Union is about the AMERICAN skateboarding pro Bam Margera and his new wife. ...achem...NOT BRITISH!!!
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lightwave said 7:47PM on 8-28-2007
good news this other website says that there will be movies soon
http://www.techztalk.com/techwebsite/node/190
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sam said 7:53PM on 8-28-2007
i hope more shows are added, the UK really isn't much other than the BBC and Channel 4
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John McLaughlin said 7:54PM on 8-28-2007
We should get the british TUAW blogger to comment. Nik?
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aj_robins said 8:26PM on 8-28-2007
Urg. Spongebob? My condolences to the Brits. Is this some weird revenge for inflicting the teletubbies upon unsuspecting American parents? :-)
On the other hand, they get South Park. Woo! I wonder if the "Woodland Critter Christmas" episode will make it past the censors, as it's got to be one of the more offensive episodes. Definitely not for the kids, but it's utterly hilarious (spoiler synopsis available at wikipedia).
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Thomas said 8:33PM on 8-28-2007
It would be cool if Paramount Comedy could get some of their original stuff on, over the years they've been fairly active in commissioning new stuff. It's a start I suppose - an expensive one though. I don't mind it so much for Music Videos because I'm only going to get the odd one and you can't really get them any other way but there's no way I'm paying more than I can get them on dvd for without any extras, lower quality and really old.
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Gareth Burleigh said 8:50PM on 8-28-2007
Can anybody answer are the preview clips the same quality as the paid downloaded shows?
The previews look terrible on my 20" cinema display, I can only imagine how bad the shows would look on my 40" Bravia. I think Apple need to step back and rethink some things in regards to Apple TV and iTunes video. I can get Season 2 of Lost on DVD for 29.99 that my PS3 can upscale very nicely and have something tangible for my money, or I could spend 32.99 on what appears to be a low bit rate rip of the same thing on iTunes and have nothing in my hand for the money.
I know what Id rather have
Gareth
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Reg Muffet said 9:13PM on 8-28-2007
Rather silly that the BBC would waste time making the much unloved UMD format for PSP video playback of Doctor Who, yet not embrace the iPod phenomenon.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dr-Who-UMD-Mini-PSP/dp/B000BI7NHO
With things the iPlayer fiasco, they really are making some boneheaded decisions these days.
http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/08/15/1721229
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Gareth Burleigh said 10:34PM on 8-28-2007
The thing is Reg Muffet. UMD is usually DVD res as is my Mighty Boosh, 2 UMD set. Id like to think Apple knew better than to sell lower than SD rips to HD customers, sadly it appears they do not.
On and on we go
Gareth
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Jeffrey Fourmile said 10:45PM on 8-28-2007
£1.89. Nearly twice as much as in the US. Sod that!
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tyler dewitt said 11:43PM on 8-28-2007
Interesting article :)
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windmills said 11:54PM on 8-28-2007
Great... Still no movies OR TV in Canada!
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Jose said 2:28AM on 8-29-2007
£1.89 are you kidding me?
And we thought the £0.79 song was already expensive compared to EU/US
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Tom said 5:06AM on 8-29-2007
Another case of Apple ripping us off, we wait years for this get no decent content, are asked to pay 2x as much and then wonder why no one is buying their products.
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Stuart said 5:52AM on 8-29-2007
It all looks just like American content - I don't see anything British.
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SuperFly said 6:09AM on 8-29-2007
Exactly, £1.89! You have to be kidding apple. In this day and age when it is so simple to check exchange rates why do companies think that you'll blindly accept their greedy conversion rates. At today's rate the shows should be no more than £0.99 (even with full V.A.T - value added tax that should be £1.16-£1.17) Just who do you think you are fooling Apple?!
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Thomas said 8:49AM on 8-29-2007
@SuperFly: We pay more for everything, so I don't understand the big fuss. Unfortunately that is the market, and it has been like that for ages.
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