exciting if the clueless networks go for it, say goodbye to Cable forever

http://mediamemo.allthingsd.com/20091102/apples-itunes-pitch-tv-for-30-a-month/?mod=googlenews

I think I will wait for the “net neutrality” situation to stabilize. I wonder what I would get for $30.00/ month.

Sounds a little like Zune tv!

more details from Appleinsider

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/11/02/apple_pitches_30_a_month_itunes_tv_subscriptions_report.html

Apple is busy figuring out how to destroy broadcast TV as we know it.  They are a no growth business now, and are going the way of US newspapers.  They deliver customer hostile crap and are dying.

They will probably resist as long as possible, viewing Apple as the company that will finally bury their losing business model in the same unmarked grave as the music labels, MP3 player makers, game hardware developers, smart phone makers who have been delivering crap, the movie industry’s distribution model ... more to add to the list soon - publishers are you leaning anything yet?

Glad it is all coming.

Mike in Helsinki - 02 November 2009 03:35 PM

Apple is busy figuring out how to destroy broadcast TV as we know it.  They are a no growth business now, and are going the way of US newspapers.  They deliver customer hostile crap and are dying.

They will probably resist as long as possible, viewing Apple as the company that will finally bury their losing business model in the same unmarked grave as the music labels, MP3 player makers, game hardware developers, smart phone makers who have been delivering crap, the movie industry’s distribution model ... more to add to the list soon - publishers are you leaning anything yet?

Glad it is all coming.

This process is already speeding up thanks to the FCC. First they sold the analog airwaves and forced digital converter boxes or new TVs on everyone—with poor reception in most parts of the country. Now they want to sell the Digital broadcast bands entirely to the cell providers and ISPs, forcing the already irate viewers to subscribe to cable or dish, or start listening to the radio.

The problem with Apple’s solution is the time delay. Some shows, like Mad Men or The Daily Show, are delivered the following morning after broadcast. Other shows, like Dexter or Weeds, or anything HBO, don’t show up in iTunes till the official season is over.

I see a different macro picture. The networks are obsolete to begin with. They pander to a common denominator in continually fragmenting audience. Independent Producers have no other outlet but the networks (CBS, NBC and ABC) But we are getting close where they can produce and put their creations on the internet (hopefully via iTunes)  and avoid network middlemen. They will not only make more money as the model matures but will have ALL THE FREEDOM TO DO EXACTLY AS THEY WISH. The networks have been hamstringing producers for 60 years with their nitpicking, censorship, paying the producers pennies till syndication etc. Furthermore it should cost the consumer less and maybe totally avoid bundling. Producing for a network means the creative writers have to steer around commercials every 10 minutes. Try writing a story that sets a mood and keeps the audience involved when the story stops 6 and 7 times within an hour as the advertiser trys to create a totally different mood to get you to buy. Pathetic.  Not surprising HBO picks up more awards than all the networks put together. A La Carte for the consumer and a choice of no commercials for a fee. Producer gets paid right away. It has to go this way IMO and everyone is better off except for those suits that are called ‘‘network executives’’

Well said Snipus! The App store shows what’s possible.  Let’s have that now for all content: trusted secure delivery of content one way; cash the other way. (Note to SJ: maybe cut down your Disney holdings before the launch!). In-content purchase too (don’t pay for the movie until you’ve seen the first 10 minutes / read the first page)!

If Apple doesn’t do this, Google will - the rest of advertising would fall into their laps.

In Japan the Audience for international TV programs is pretty big, I would say a good 30% of any video rental shops shelf space is given over to TV shows. and I don’t mean just American shows. Korean shows get a big audience and Chinese shows are coming up the list slowly.

Each DVD rental contains just two episodes and costs at least 1-2 dollars per rental.

If Apple could slowly start to address this situation they would have everyone immediately buying into an AppleTV/ iTunes subscription even at three times the price. After all, to get all four seasons of Battlestar would be anywhere between 30 -50 dollars total.

The big problem of course is getting the studios to see their revenue stream coming out of something that scares the hell out of them.

So I say, after Disney signs the first contract, go after the Korean studios, and German studios et al and start sending that over the airwaves as soon as possible. I’m sure they would be happy to start addressing new international audiences more easily.

I find this to be an interesting topic for discussion.

In the past four years I may have watched one episode (and I mean one, once!) of a TV sitcom or drama show from beginning to end at that was at the request of the family. Virtually all of news content I view comes from the ‘Net and through my iPhone apps. I haven’t watched even a full 30 minutes of a national or local news broadcast in that same four year period. My TV viewing is limited to college football games on Saturdays.

I do rent movies (and occasionally buy them) via of iTunes and Apple TV.

Granted, I’m certainly not the entertainment industry’s model market. But that market in my view has been broken for years. I like Apple’s sales paradigm and I’d be much more interested in buying or viewing for nominal sums (a couple/few bucks) content I find appealing with the ability to view that content at my leisure on the device(s) in prefer without advertising interference. But that’s just me.

DawnTreader - 02 November 2009 11:44 PM

Granted, I’m certainly not the entertainment industry’s model market. But that market in my view has been broken for years. I like Apple’s sales paradigm and I’d be much more interested in buying or viewing for nominal sums (a couple/few bucks) content I find appealing with the ability to view that content at my leisure on the device(s) in prefer without advertising interference. But that’s just me.

Not just you DT. Lets do some math. A one hour network TV show has on average 44 minutes of program content. 15-16 minutes of commercials and promos.
4 “one hour"shows on ad free itunes cost $8. and takes 3 hours to watch. So if your time is worth less than $8 dollars an hour then stay with the networks. They love you ... Yeah I know you can shell out hundreds of dollars to zip past the commercials via TIVO or a PVR but now you are working and you are supposed to be relaxing.

I’m a Comcaster, the only game in town. $62 a month for a (very) limited TV package and the Net. If I drop the TV package, Comcast will still cost me $62 a month…must be their secret sauce!

$30 a month to Apple on top of the pipe cost won’t happen here; for that I could upgrade to Comcast’s mid-level ultra, or super, or whatever TV package…likely with DVR thrown in.

Until Apple owns the last mile (or gets it for cheap rent), I don’t find this a killer deal.