Filed under: Apple Corporate, iTS, iTunes
New NBC shows are in iTunes Store (sort of)
Update: As our commenters have pointed out, the two premieres now appearing in the iTunes store -- although broadcast by NBC in the US -- are actually produced by other studios such as Fox and Warner Brothers. Since the online distribution rights are separate from the broadcast rights, it would seem that the content owners are more than happy to have their shows sold in iTunes. Unfortunately for fans of Heroes, Law & Order, The Office and 30 Rock, all those shows are produced by NBC/Universal and they are, as expected, not updating with the current season's content.Original post: When NBC announced their intention to pull their content from the US iTunes Store by December, Apple promised to make that happen much sooner:
"Apple has decided to not offer NBC TV shows for the upcoming television season beginning in September."
A few hours later, NBC stated that their new shows will be available in the US iTunes Store. Today, I found Journeyman [iTunes link] and Chuck [iTunes link], two brand new shows, ready to go. I bet other hits like My Name is Earl and The Office, which premiere on Thursday night, will also be posted.
Why? I imagine a boardroom conversation that sounded something like this:
- NBC Exec. A: Heh. We showed them. We'll make a bundle on the new stuff and then, bam! We slam the door in December. Cha-ching!
- NBC Exec. B: Um, sir? They're going to pull all of our stuff immediately. No new shows.
- NBC Exec. A: *Wilhelm scream* B-But, they can't do that.
- NBC Exec. B: It's done, sir.
- NBC Exec. A: Damn. Get Jobs on the phone.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Able-X said 2:37PM on 9-26-2007
Too little too late? All the kvetching between the two already sent me away with the Jolly Roger in hand...
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Chris said 2:43PM on 9-26-2007
Anyone else notice that most of the new seasons all have higher prices on the season passes compared to last season.
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felix said 2:49PM on 9-26-2007
I dunno - I agree that NBC is freaking out, we don't need iTunes, we've got Hulu, err... Amazon, err... NBC Direct... But with the lackluster ratings for monday night, which they must have been suspecting, I think they gotta go back to the well. Of course, Apple's backed down on this as well, Nope, no more NBC. Well... ok... just these shows. They need each other. Isn't it sweet?
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Tony said 2:47PM on 9-26-2007
But alas, Heroes is not in iTunes. And it started on Monday night as well. (walks away sobbing)
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Blu-Sam said 2:49PM on 9-26-2007
There is no 2nd season HEROES on iTunes. What's up with it?
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Rubbinz said 2:48PM on 9-26-2007
Over the summer after I saw the pilots, I planned to do some season passes with Journeyman and Chuck. But after NBC inserted their heads into a deep dark place, I'm not going that route. Even with the shows being on iTunes now, they still might get cut-off mid-season. TPB+BT Client+a transcoder like iSquint if you want to put it on the iPod is all you need.
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Harbinger said 2:52PM on 9-26-2007
Or, legally:
USB or Firewire TV tuner, EyeTV Software, Turbo.264 Hardware = AppleTV/iPhone/iPod content delivered efficiently, quickly, and without the possible bittorrent-related lawsuit. The Turbo stick is optional, if you like to make your processor next to unusable.
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Will said 2:56PM on 9-26-2007
Those aren't NBC shows, they are only licensed by NBC, Chuck is a Warner Brothers show while Journeyman is a Fox show. The only other shows on NBC that are licensed shows are Scrubs (Disney) and My Name Is Earl (I don't know who does this one it isn't NBC though). So while its great that these shows are on iTunes (I already bought a season pass to Chuck), This still means NBC is off iTunes, so no Office, Heroes, or 30 Rock on iTunes.
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punkassjim said 3:06PM on 9-26-2007
ah, the wilhem...major props, dave
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punkassjim said 3:07PM on 9-26-2007
oops, er...wilhelm
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Jonathan said 3:09PM on 9-26-2007
"Give peace a chance" worked !
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Rob said 3:26PM on 9-26-2007
Ahh yes, NBC is adding new TV shows, but NBC/Universal yanked Sci Fi Channel's "Flash Gordon" from iTunes this morning.
I just got an email that I'm getting a full refund for my season pass.
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Tim H said 3:34PM on 9-26-2007
Rob: You should demand they help pay for therapy as well. I tried watching the premier episode because it was free from iTunes. It made me want to wretch.
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Macroy said 3:42PM on 9-26-2007
Re: #8, can anybody explain to me why networks do this? Maybe with a source link, too?
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DrWho said 3:57PM on 9-26-2007
Ok NBC - no Heroes on iTunes and you don't get my $40...
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Libb said 3:50PM on 9-26-2007
What's more important is How I Met Your Mother is FINALLY in the store! Time to buy Season 3 so I no longer have to "acquire" any episodes I miss from any shady sources...
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Thayne Miller said 3:52PM on 9-26-2007
*cough* http://tvshows.sourceforge.net *cough*
;)
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MacSlut said 4:08PM on 9-26-2007
I agree with Harbinger, I posted a review for the Turbo.264 from El Gato titled: Quick and easy video for your iPod, Apple TV and iPhone on applevoicesshow.com.
Bottom line is that it's fast, easy and not too expensive (under $100). So far, it works with most of the formats I've downloaded, but VisualHub is able to convert some files that the Turbo.264 can't.
If you have an older Mac, it may be worth using the Turbo2.64 and putting a large drive in it for use as a media server.
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Aron Trimble said 4:11PM on 9-26-2007
@16
Greatest. Program. Ever.
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Ara Bruno said 4:52PM on 9-26-2007
...No heroes................. That is all I have to say.
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