Boxcutters - An Australian TV Podcast - Latest Comments in NBC will offer episodes to download for free (sweetie)

Re: NBC will offer episodes to download for free (sweetie)

catbrain — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 20:08:50 -0000

I received notification the other day about NBC shows being available to download through Amazon - it would seem as the alternative to iTunes. I haven't investigated it very much, as it's US residents (not Canada) only - I don't have a Special Fancy - but it didn't seem very obvious where to download the free eps, only how to subscribe to the whole season ("only US$1.89 per episode!").

Re: NBC will offer episodes to download for free (sweetie)

Marc Edwards — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 19:36:25 -0000

"But, Mr. Gaspin said, “piracy was and is our No. 1 priority.” He said that the music industry had been devastated by the free exchange of music, much of it facilitated by iTunes."

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/20/business/medi...

Shouldn't their #1 priority be making and funding good shows? Or thinking of creative ways to make money from those shows?

I can think of a million things more important to their business than piracy for NBC universal.

Re: NBC will offer episodes to download for free (sweetie)

Adam D — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 04:23:35 -0000

Yep. Everything with DRM fails. Everything that locks the user into one format fails.

Re: NBC will offer episodes to download for free (sweetie)

Marc Edwards — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 02:03:29 -0000

No Mac support. Forced to watch ads. Exploding, time limited media. No space-shifting support. DRM, DRM, DRM and more DRM.

It will bomb.

They'll be back on iTunes in less than 6 months.

Re: NBC will offer episodes to download for free (sweetie)

fourthof5 — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 23:46:56 -0000

If I am to think of a workable business model then having a timed play time of a week I think is fair. Having said that... its not that hard to do an on the fly capture. So thats all good. NOW the important part. Does this mean that its a US only thing (Brett's special fancy needed) or a world release (I assume the former). Still I see it as a step in the right direction, whether that makes it to the Neanderthal and recalcitrant networks we have in Australia is another thing altogether (we still don't have TV delivered through iTunes)

Re: NBC will offer episodes to download for free (sweetie)

wilbert — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 21:47:17 -0000

The files will only play Windows based PCs, they still don't get it.

NBC have ruled out DivX enabled DVD-Players, Macs and iPods, among others.

I think the networks have got along way to go before Channel Bittorrent starts losing viewers.