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Apple Offers Free Downloads Of DNC Speeches On iTMS [UPDATED]
by , 4:30 PM EDT, July 30th, 2004
[Update 3:35 PM: An Apple spokesperson has confirmed for TMO that the iTMS will be carrying speeches from next month's Republican National Convention.]
Our friends at MacMinute noted that Apple is offering free downloads of speeches from the 2004 Democratic National Convention through the iTunes Music Store (iTMS). The iTMS currently has speeches from Days 1 and 2 available, including speeches by the following: former Vice President of the US and current Apple board member Al Gore; former President Jimmy Carter; Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton; former President Bill Clinton; Senator Ted Kennedy; Senate candidate Barack Obama; Ron Reagan; and Teresa Heinz Kerry.
TMO has contacted Apple to see if days 3 and 4 of the convention would likewise be offered, and to find out if the company is planning on offering downloads from the Republican National Convention, which begins on August 30th; this article will be updated when Apple has answered those questions.
You can find the speeches on the iTMS's landing page, or through this direct link: 2004 DNC Speech Downloads. Apple also has a free copy of the Executive Summary of the 9-11 Commission Final Report.
Observer Comments
Fri Jul 30, 2004 3:27 pm Subject: Re: RNC?
Quotegeoduck wrote:
The audiobooks part of ITMS has been rather ignored so far. If this lets people know that it's out there then it's good.
Actually, the head of Audible was quoted in Business Week a couple of weeks back that iTunes has revitalized his company and is their largest sales channel. That doesn't sound like it's been ignored.
Fri Jul 30, 2004 4:23 pm Subject: Downloaded both recordings already.
Fri Jul 30, 2004 6:12 pm Subject: Re: And They're Off!
Sat Jul 31, 2004 2:33 pm Subject: Re: It's not Apple offering them. It's Audible.
QuoteAnonymous wrote:
It's not Apple offering them. It's Audible. It's just iTunes also offers what
If the Republican speeches don't appear, don't talk to Apple; take it up with Audiable. Contacting Apple is pointless.
That's correct. Audible is making an amazing amount of content available for free.
The availability via of iTunes isn't a political statement. It's merely providing access via of iTMS to content Audible has chosen to release as a public service.
Sat Jul 31, 2004 7:42 pm Subject:
QuoteX_Ranger wrote:
Funny, iTMS did not have Al Sharpton's speech, but Audible did.
Because of this, I have an account with Audible now.
P.S. I don't like Al Sharpton but there was so much buzz about his speech at the DNC I could not resist downloading it.
Audible is an amazing company. I think Audible has a very bright future as more and more consumers move to digital delivery of content.
Sat Jul 31, 2004 7:44 pm Subject: Re: It's not Apple offering them. It's Audible.
QuoteDawnTreader wrote:QuoteAnonymous wrote:
It's not Apple offering them. It's Audible. It's just iTunes also offers what
If the Republican speeches don't appear, don't talk to Apple; take it up with Audiable. Contacting Apple is pointless.
That's correct. Audible is making an amazing amount of content available for free.
The availability via of iTunes isn't a political statement. It's merely providing access via of iTMS to content Audible has chosen to release as a public service.
That's just not true. Apple would never, ever have a contract with anyone that would leave it without the power to decide what it was carrying. In addition, Apple is the only entity to decide what goes on the home page of the iTMS.
There was absolutely a decision made to carry this content, and that decision was made by Apple.
That is why when I did contact Apple, as noted in the story, I was told that speeches from the Republican convention would also be available.
Bryan
Editor
TMO
Sat Jul 31, 2004 9:15 pm Subject: Re: It's not Apple offering them. It's Audible.
QuoteBryan wrote:QuoteDawnTreader wrote:QuoteAnonymous wrote:
It's not Apple offering them. It's Audible. It's just iTunes also offers what
If the Republican speeches don't appear, don't talk to Apple; take it up with Audiable. Contacting Apple is pointless.
That's correct. Audible is making an amazing amount of content available for free.
The availability via of iTunes isn't a political statement. It's merely providing access via of iTMS to content Audible has chosen to release as a public service.
That's just not true. Apple would never, ever have a contract with anyone that would leave it without the power to decide what it was carrying. In addition, Apple is the only entity to decide what goes on the home page of the iTMS.
There was absolutely a decision made to carry this content, and that decision was made by Apple.
That is why when I did contact Apple, as noted in the story, I was told that speeches from the Republican convention would also be available.
Bryan
Editor
TMO
I didn't mean to suggest iTMS has become an automatic conduit for any product (free or fee) provided by Audible.com. I did mean to suggest the DNC content made available through iTMS is sourced through Audible. That appears to be the case based on the credit on the content download page for the DNC speeches. The page lists the content provider as C-Span and that the content is presented by Audible.com.
Obviously Apple maintains control what content appears on iTMS. I do agree this is not a partisan move and expect to see RNC content also made available.
Audible is making political content available for distribution in digital form for free as a public service. Not just convention speeches but also important public hearings.
I follow Audible on a daily basis and I continue to be impressed by the company and its products.
Sun Aug 01, 2004 2:21 pm Subject: Re: iTMS - DNC speeches not free
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