NBC sees a million downloads since return to iTunes

[AppleInsider]

Having buried the hatchet with Apple, NBC last week returned to supplying its content to the iTunes Store -- a move that has been met with gangbuster results, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

"Users of Apple's popular digital storefront had no problem relocating NBC Uni's TV shows now that a new deal between the companies on Sept. 9 restored episodes," the publication said. "More than 1 million downloads for NBC Uni TV properties have been tallied since then, according to Apple."

Prior to its bitter breakup with the iPod maker last fall, it was reported that the network's content was accounting for roughly 40 percent of all video downloads on iTunes. As part of its return to the service last week, NBC pledged to offer one free download from each of its top series -- in standard or HD -- during the first two weeks.

As such, MacRumors points out that a significant portion of its 1 million episode tally may have been a result of these complimentary offerings, rather than paid offerings. TUAW had previously compiled a list of the network's free HD offerings, available below:
He That Believeth in Me - Battlestar Galactica, Season 4Fun Runs, Pts. 1 & 2 - The Office, Season 4Lipstick Jungle: Pilot - Lipstick Jungle, Season 1Four Months Later... - Heroes, Season 2Pilot - In Plain Sight, Season 1Mr. Monk Buys a House - Monk, Season 7Ghosts - Psych, Season 3Merit Badge: Pilot - Life, Season 1Bad to the Drone - Eureka, Season 3

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[dr_lha]

NBC lost a lot of cash in its little spat with Apple, eh?

[caliminius]

Originally Posted by dr_lha

NBC lost a lot of cash in its little spat with Apple, eh?

Not if most of those million dowloads were free. And since you get both the SD & HD versions when you purchase an HD show, whose to say there really weren't only 500,000 true purchases (either paid or free)?

[C6Fan]

What's a hatched?

[Shaun, UK]

Why is Monk Series 1-5 in 4:3 format and Series 6-7 in 16:9 format? Can't they convert all the series to 16:9?

All the other TV shows I've previewed on iTunes have been in the 16:9 format - including old programmes.

I was going to buy Series 5 which is the only one currently on offer in the UK iTunes store (go figure?) but it looks ridiculous on my 17" widescreen laptop.

[TenoBell]

Originally Posted by caliminius

Not if most of those million dowloads were free. And since you get both the SD & HD versions when you purchase an HD show, whose to say there really weren't only 500,000 true purchases (either paid or free)?

This originates from a Hollywood Reporter story that says traffic to all of NBC's online content has increased since NBC went back on iTunes. So all of the benefit isn't in how much money NBC makes directly from iTunes itself, but how iTunes helps NBC grow its audience.

The Hollywood Reporter does say that 30% of the top selling shows on iTunes are NBC shows. So NBC did cut out a good source of revenue.

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by Shaun, UK

Why is Monk Series 1-5 in 4:3 format and Series 6-7 in 16:9 format? Can't they convert all the series to 16:9?

I guess you're right, Amazon shows Season 1 being widescreen, so the iTunes version probably should have been too. Not that I can confirm the framing on iTunes, I don't see that info anywhere.

All the other TV shows I've previewed on iTunes have been in the 16:9 format - including old programmes.

Exactly how old are you saying here? Not a whole lot of TV a decade or older were made for widescreen, which can cause framing problems. The older the TV show, if it's widescreen, the more likely the video was cropped on the top and bottom to make it widescreen.

[TenoBell]

Originally Posted by JeffDM

Exactly how old are you saying here? Not a whole lot of TV a decade or older were made for widescreen, which can cause framing problems. The older the TV show, if it's widescreen, the more likely the video was cropped on the top and bottom to make it widescreen.

You are right shooting for 16x9 safe framing became common in the late 90's. The 35mm frame is larger than the 4x3 frame used in broadcast television. But older shows would allow stray elements close into the frame that were not intended to be shown. Such as boom microphones, film crew, and lighting equipment. This can make it difficult to get a 16x9 frame from older shows.

[Kolchak]

But why did NBC return? Didn't they claim that Hulu was doing great?

[DimMok]

Keep it.

[nagromme]

A warning: DO NOT watch that free Battlestar Galactica episode unless you've watched seasons zero (miniseries) through three already. It HUGELY spoils all previous seasons within moments, and it's a great series that you deserve to watch will all the surprises intact.

[pt123]

Originally Posted by Kolchak

But why did NBC return? Didn't they claim that Hulu was doing great?

Do we really care why? Hopefully, both itunes and Hulu does well so those that want to pay can pay and those that want to watch for free can do so too.

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by nagromme

A warning: DO NOT watch that free Battlestar Galactica episode unless you've watched seasons zero (miniseries) through three already. It HUGELY spoils all previous seasons within moments, and it's a great series that you deserve to watch will all the surprises intact.

I'm surprised there is such a following for BG. I watched about 3 episodes of the first season and couldn't continue. Has it gotten much, much better?

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by SpamSandwich

I'm surprised there is such a following for BG. I watched about 3 episodes of the first season and couldn't continue. Has it gotten much, much better?

What didn't you like about it? I don't have an overwhelming interest in Sci-FI , but I like BSG because it's "naturalized".

[caliminius]

Originally Posted by TenoBell

This originates from a Hollywood Reporter story that says traffic to all of NBC's online content has increased since NBC went back on iTunes. So all of the benefit isn't in how much money NBC makes directly from iTunes itself, but how iTunes helps NBC grow its audience.

Sorry, but you're misrepresenting the facts. The article in no way connects NBC's return to iTunes and the surge in site traffic. A quote from the article: "A trio of unrelated events conspired to give NBC Universal record traffic at three Web locations: CNBC.com, NBC.com and iTunes."

Seems they place the surge on NBC.com to the season premiere of Saturday Night Live and the CNBC surge on the stock market turmoil.

The Hollywood Reporter does say that 30% of the top selling shows on iTunes are NBC shows. So NBC did cut out a good source of revenue.

When they're giving away a bunch of episodes for free, of course their sales are going to be high. Even free shows are purchases to iTunes.

[bloggerblog]

Aren't they supposed to bring back The IT Crowd?

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by solipsism

What didn't you like about it? I don't have an overwhelming interest in Sci-FI , but I like BSG because it's "naturalized".

I actually don't remember my exact objections now (since I only watched those 3 initial episodes), but I think it had something to do with way too much dialogue and unrealistic character behavior.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by SpamSandwich

I actually don't remember my exact objections now (since I only watched those 3 initial episodes), but I think it had something to do with way too much dialogue and unrealistic character behavior.

I can't stand some of the characters in the show because I feel they are unrealistic, too, but they have turned out to loco so it all made sense eventually. It's the man vs. man in the show and the gritty nature that I like about it most. No lasers and having the main characters never getting hurt or always saving the day. It's more 'realistic' than most shows and it's set it space against killer robots.

[Ireland]

Fuck. Wowzer.

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by solipsism

I can't stand some of the characters in the show because I feel they are unrealistic, too, but they have turned out to loco so it all made sense eventually. It's the man vs. man in the show and the gritty nature that I like about it most. No lasers and having the main characters never getting hurt or always saving the day. It's more 'realistic' than most shows and it's set it space against killer robots.

Killer robots can do anything!

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by bloggerblog

Aren't they supposed to bring back The IT Crowd?

Huh ?

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by JeffDM

Huh ?

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_IT_Crowd

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by solipsism

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_IT_Crowd

Interesting. Is it any good? I see the UK version on Amazon, I might bite on that one.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by JeffDM

Interesting. Is it any good? I see the UK version on Amazon, I might bite on that one.

It's a lot like the The Young Ones from the 1980s. Over the top with purposely unrealistic characters and situations.

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by solipsism

It's a lot like the The Young Ones from the 1980s. Over the top with purposely unrealistic characters and situations.

I don't know that show either. I don't know if I have a good point of reference. The only UK TV shows I remember seeing are Fawlty Towers, Red Dwarf and Dr. Who with Christopher Eccleston. I liked those. Then there's Flying Circus, which I thought they belabored the joke a bit too often.

[bloggerblog]

Originally Posted by JeffDM

Interesting. Is it any good? I see the UK version on Amazon, I might bite on that one.

It is the funniest and most relevant TV show ever! The third season was terminated because the show was sold to NBC and many people were extremely disappointed because NBC changed the cast. See the comments section at the bottom:
http://www.nbc.com/Fall_Preview/The_IT_Crowd/

You can watch whole YouTube shows or watch some snippets. Click on The Series One Highlights:
http://www.channel4.com/entertainmen...ideo/index.jsp

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by bloggerblog

It is the funniest and most relevant TV show ever! The third season was terminated because the show was sold to NBC and many people were extremely disappointed because NBC changed the cast. See the comments section at the bottom:
http://www.nbc.com/Fall_Preview/The_IT_Crowd/

You can watch whole YouTube shows or watch some snippets. Click on The Series One Highlights:
http://www.channel4.com/entertainmen...ideo/index.jsp

Bollocks! But I guess if they are mainly catering for the US market a recasting would be in order. At least they kept Richard Ayoade as Maurice. I am guessing it'll be set in the US as well and that NBC hopes to have the same success as it did with "The Office".

It airs the same night as the geeky comedy "The Big Bang Theory" on CBS. I wonder if they will be competing for the same time slot. I also wonder how much they will flatten out the comedy. I don't think the original oddball stories will work in the US.

You can watch all the episodes in the link below:

• http://www.the-it-crowd.ch/The_IT_Crowd_-_Home.html

PS: If you haven't caught it, you might want to check out "How Not To Live Your Life". It's my new favorite sitcom on either side of the pond.

[solipsism]

"Little Britain" USA airs on HBO in 8 days.

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Britain_USA

[bloggerblog]

Originally Posted by solipsism

...You can watch all the episodes in the link below:

• http://www.the-it-crowd.ch/The_IT_Crowd_-_Home.html

Thanks for that link

[bloggerblog]

Originally Posted by solipsism

PS: If you haven't caught it, you might want to check out "How Not To Live Your Life". It's my new favorite sitcom on either side of the pond.

Eeeeeewwww!

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by bloggerblog

Eeeeeewwww!

I love that show!

[Shaun, UK]

Originally Posted by solipsism

I love that show!

Me too! Very original comedy.

[His Dudeness]

What about the new Knight Rider? That show ROCKS!!!

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by bloggerblog

It is the funniest and most relevant TV show ever! The third season was terminated because the show was sold to NBC and many people were extremely disappointed because NBC changed the cast. See the comments section at the bottom:
http://www.nbc.com/Fall_Preview/The_IT_Crowd/

S03E01 of IT Crowd just aired tonight or last night with the same cast from S02.