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Rumor: Comcast, NBC deal to hinder Apple

by Dave Caolo Dec 7th 2009 at 9:00AM

Last week, cable giant Comcast purchased a controlling interest in US television network NBC, resulting in a media behemoth to rival Disney. The results remain to be seen (Must See TV ... it's Comcastic!), but it's been suggested by AppleInsider that the switch could affect Apple's rumored TV subscription model.

Last month we heard a rumor that Apple was working on a deal to offer iTunes customers a subscription for content. For $30 per month, Peter Kafka mused at the Wall Street Journal, customers could stream all the content they want.

You'll also remember that NBC and Apple had a spat a while ago that resulted in the network pulling their content from the iTunes Store. They eventually made up, but Wall Street Journal analysts believe that a Comcast-owned NBC would be less likely to participate in an "all-you-can-eat" subscription model.

If Apple charged me X amount of money per month for unlimited access to the iTunes library of television and movies from any approved device, including Macs, iPhones, iPods and, of course, Apple TVs, I'd be a happy customer. Yes, I want to have my music files physically on my hard disk. But if the shows and movies I wanted to watch all lived on a server farm in Cupertino (or North Carolina), that'd be fine with me.

I'd save a lot of disk space. There'd be nothing to sync, or forget to sync, before a vacation. I wouldn't have to cough up three bucks just to watch The Office, and and Apple would maintain its revenue stream. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

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Last week, cable giant Comcast purchased a controlling interest in US television network NBC, resulting in a media behemoth to rival...
 

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Odineye

So - there's a rumor here that this deal could muck up another rumored event?

Huh!

December 07 2009 at 4:22 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
hedbluntincharge

Comcast is by far the WORST cable company on the planet. I lived in philadelphia for 22 years and their service the ENTIRE time was absolutely atrocious. Cable would go out for no reason, service tech would take about a week to schedule. Everything they touch turns to utter crap, TechTV was good once upon a time, then Comcast bought it and it sucks. They own versus and wanted to jack up the price for other companies to provide the channel (ie DirecTV) some companies refused to pay these ridiculous fees for what ostensibly only shows hockey, and nothing else anyone cares about. So i pay top dollar for NHL Center Ice and miss about 10 games over the course of the year and however many playoff games are on that wretched channel. The more power crapcast gets, the worst things are going to get.

December 07 2009 at 3:31 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jeremy

Right, the problem with this deal is clear: as soon as Apple does the subscription model, cable is dead. So, Comcast has swooped in with a vested interest in the old, outdated business model and purchased NBC, and that possibly sets us back years as they desperately cling to a 20th century business model that doesn't make sense any more.

December 07 2009 at 1:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
MIchael

Wow... we had to mention the Lala acquisition yet again :/

I would love to stream my media, but if there was a way to cashe the media onto your device then you could listen to it on an airplane. That's what I want more then anything. If that were possible then I'd be happy. Just set up a list before the trip and then listen to it on the airplane and then delete the playlist and go back to streaming when you get back :D

I wish Lala could do this....

December 07 2009 at 12:55 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
alansky

Comcast stinks to high heaven. Woe to everybody if Comcast gets more power than they already have.

December 07 2009 at 12:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jake

Yeah, I don't see anything progressive about this Comcast deal. Seems more focused on protecting current technology than moving forward into a more seamless integration between scheduled and on-demand viewing. I imagine the business model will be more like what MLB is doing now with in-market games for Yankees fans where you have to buy into cable in order to get access to the online content. Cable is scared to death of customers who see their computer as an alternative to television rather than an addition. Let's hope the FCC gives the purchase some real forward-looking scrutiny. But don't hold your breath.

December 07 2009 at 10:32 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
3 replies to Jake's comment
greg.schmeer

yeah. subscription video works. Most people already have a subscription (cable). I'd gladly give up my 50 dollar comcast bill for 30 dollar iTunes. The other thing is that streaming from the networks websites is still free, which anyone with an old PC can hook up to a TV for a pretty awesome viewing experience. just have to a use a mouse to watch TV!

December 07 2009 at 10:03 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
3 replies to greg.schmeer's comment
bioadam

Comcast says "all you media belong to us".

December 07 2009 at 9:59 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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