I'm struggling to see the alternative when the complaint is that
Quote:
"The 99-cent rental is not a good price point," said Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman. "It doesn't work for us."
What's the alternative business model? 99-cents is a tolerable price and flat rates are consumer friendly. No higher price is going to seem right compared to $2.99 sales. Holdouts are only leaving money on the table. This seems more about protecting inflexible business models that worked once upon a time rather than smart distribution.
At least the new Apple TV has some TV content in the US. Here in the UK it's got absolutely zero TV content. Not a single show, from anyone.
Of course Apple could have implemented the BBC's free iPlayer API into the Apple TV, as countless manufacturers have done with TVs, BD Players, game consoles etc, but I guess Apple's usual 'US is all that matters' attitude won out again.
Maybe if they'd gone the app route that would have allowed each broadcaster to test the waters in their own way, see what sells and what doesn't.
Here's a thought, so this new Apple TV is streaming only, but what does that mean rental only? I'm told that when you buy a TV show or movie from the Zune Marketplace you own it in the cloud, and so can download or stream it to any device you like, from Windows Phone, to Xbox 360, to the desktop client.
Wouldn't that have been an option for Apple? That way studios could sell and/or rent their content at their discretion, and the lack of local storage on the ATV would be irrelevant, as everything would be streamed regardless.
At least the new Apple TV has some TV content in the US. Here in the UK it's got absolutely zero TV content. Not a single show, from anyone.
Of course Apple could have implemented the BBC's free iPlayer API into the Apple TV, as countless manufacturers have done with TVs, BD Players, game consoles etc, but I guess Apple's usual 'US is all that matters' attitude won out again.
Maybe if they'd gone the app route that would have allowed each broadcaster to test the waters in their own way, see what sells and what doesn't.
Not sure what your complaint against Apple is. As a Brit living on the Continent, I have a complaint against BBC: They won't make any content available outside UK. I would gladly pay. The iPlayer is great (for iPad; I don't like the full desktop web version conforming to the new iPad style -- I liked the old web page layout better). I used iPlayer on my iPad a lot when I was in UK last month. But that is not the issue...
BBC definitely needs to make their content available to the world somehow. BBC could make a ton of money because people all over the world like me want to watch their content. I can only assume that they fear that their servers would not be able to handle it. Therefore, something like iTunes Marketplace seems like the ideal solution for them -- let Apple take the strain of all the hits and streaming, and let Apple monetize it for them with the millions of credit cards already attached to iTunes accounts. I believe that Apple takes care of the encoding also, so no need to worry about testing the waters by including individual studio APIs within iTunes. Just encode a few episodes of something popular like Top Gear (that's not my favorite mind you, I am just assuming it's popular around the world).
The "App Route" as you call it, is already there -- I can get the iPlayer app showing up on my iPad right now: I just can't access any content because the BBC knows I am connecting from outside the UK! How is that an Apple issue? Countless manufacturers? On devices sold in UK, yeah. UK residents pay their TV license, so you get the content free, and ad-free; so to have BBC content played within iTunes for UK residents is moot -- and no need for you to send it to ATV, it's already on your TV! So, I'm not sure what your issue is. But if BBC opened up their content internationally for iTunes to sell it at 29p a pop, they would have millions of takers! Let's see it!
I for one would love to have the option to pay the BBC something like the Annual TV License Fee. I might even pay 29p per episode. Then again, the kids like loads of CBBC stuff like Blue Peter, etc., so that could get pricey. In the case of BBC, I would hope there would be some kind of flat monthly rate to watch everything, because we would watch a lot of stuff from BBC. ABC, etc. we would watch perhaps one or two shows per week. As it is, I suppose people could use a proxy server of some kind and bypass the geographic restriction (but you didn't hear that from me).
The whole point of this discussion is that the studios are balking at making money. Apple is handing them a business model on a silver platter, with the infrastructure and a worldwide audience of consumers thrown in; and the studios still want to play in their own little sandboxes and try to re-invent their own little lemonade stands all on their own. It's ridiculous.
[edit:] I just checked iTunes Stores. As I thought, there is a TV Channels & Studios drop down category. BBC has its own page; again, the issue is not the iPlayer API, it's international licensing and availability. I can buy an espisode from UK Store for £1.49, or from USA Store at $2.99 (but that is far too expensive). So what are talking about, absolutely zero content??? I can't buy BBC content from the Netherlands Store, why not? The NL Store has absolutely zero content -- there isn't even a TV Programmes menu in the NL Store. And if one can buy the content (in some places), why not elsewhere? I think the studios want to sell their content to national cable companies around the world rather than to iTunes. Sad. And if one can buy, why not be able to rent or view at a lower rate? I don't use a local cable package. I access content on my computer or iPad. And I travel a lot. I could be paying (the BBC) for BBC content where ever I am in the world. I thought the BBC were ahead of the curve. The BBC should be chomping at the bit.
99 cent rental is NOT do-able. Nobody in their right mind is going to pay that. I might as well get cable or Dish if that's the price. And I'm not interested in owning an episode of How I Met...
That's not how Apple is positioning itself with advertising-driven revenue. As their iAd platform clearly shows, they want their customers to "experience" the advertising. Maybe if iAds migrate to the television screen, then maybe shows paid for by ads will come to Apple's delivery network.
That's a good idea: Each show will download packaged with a couple of iAds that you may watch or not at your liking. >>> Lower pricing for customers and higher revenue for studios. It's a win win situation. And in addition some advertising studios will have to rise their sometimes unbelievable ugly makeshift ads to get recognized.
Not sure what your complaint against Apple is. As a Brit living on the Continent, I have a complaint against BBC: They won't make any content available outside UK. I would gladly pay. The iPlayer is great (for iPad; I don't like the full desktop web version conforming to the new iPad style -- I liked the old web page layout better). I used iPlayer on my iPad a lot when I was in UK last month. But that is not the issue...
The "App Route" as you call it, is already there -- I can get the iPlayer app showing up on my iPad right now: I just can't access any content because the BBC knows I am connecting from outside the UK! How is that an Apple issue? Countless manufacturers? On devices sold in UK, yeah. UK residents pay their TV license, so you get the content free, and ad-free; so to have BBC content played within iTunes for UK residents is moot -- and no need for you to send it to ATV, it's already on your TV! So, I'm not sure what your issue is. But if BBC opened up their content internationally for iTunes to sell it at 29p a pop, they would have millions of takers! Let's see it!
.
You're talking about a completely different issue here. It sucks you can't get BBC content abroad but as I live in the UK that's not a problem I have. My gripe was with Apple not integrating iPlayer into the new Apple TV. They stripped out Netflix (as it's US and Canada only), but replaced it with absolutely nothing. iPlayer would have filled the gap to a degree.
Of course all the content is aired here for free, but iPlayer is all about on demand which is why it's been such a hit on so many devices. For a video on demand IPTV box like ATV, it's such a no brainer to include it really boggles the mind why Apple couldn't be bothered. The BBC want iPlayer EVERYWHERE, on every TV, every BD player, every set top box, every phone, every game console, you name it. The only big place where it isn't available is on the Xbox 360, as Microsoft refused the BBC's conditions that the content must be free.
I think the BBC content currently on sale in the iTunes store is something of a joke. The reviews are usually just people saying ' watch it on iPlayer for free', and the pricing is beyond ridiculous. Plus most of it isn't even in high-def. It's telling too that you can actually download iPlayer content for offline viewing on other, non Apple phones, but Apple apparently won't let the BBC into their DRM.
Interesting hypothesis, but sorry, hits are never a consideration.
Then what could possibly be the reason for not banning that clown? I have him on ignore and I still have to read his inane dribble posted as quotes if I am to follow the thread.
Your highly valuable content is not so valuable. I cancelled my cable over 6 months ago and have not looked back. You know what? Raise or lower the price to whatever you want because I'm not buying it anyway. In fact, if you had not been quoted on an apple-centric site, I wouldn't even know you're still alive. Great business plan, that.
If $1 rental and $3 sales makes up for $millions of commercial revenue I don't have a clue. I understand it's not an easy choice. But if this pricepoint attracts a lot of consumers to moving away from the TV network in favor of digital rental/ VOD/ Apple TV... it's just the way of the future.
PS. Anyone that comes up with a commercial free pay model for movies and TV-content that both consumers and networks like should get the nobel peace price or something.
If $1 rental and $3 sales makes up for $millions of commercial revenue I don't have a clue. I understand it's not an easy choice. But if this pricepoint attracts a lot of consumers to moving away from the TV network in favor of digital rental/ VOD/ Apple TV... it's just the way of the future.
PS. Anyone that comes up with a commercial free pay model for movies and TV-content that both consumers and networks like should get the nobel peace price or something.
I just rented Wall Street (old one) for $2.99 on iTunes. Acceptable. More importantly, I'm less shocked at the utter rubbish people like these Viacom and NBC fools say. Half of the management has no clue and they're backed by institutional investors that have even less. Throw in the fact that everybody's out for a buck and it all starts to make sense, with or without sensationalist characters as depicted in movies.
What I do know is that Viacom ain't getting more of my money for Futurama. I stopped after buying the first six episodes. It's great, but not worth $1.99 each (for standard def, IIRC). Not when free is staring you in the face. Well, ABC got my bucks for Lost final season, and Fox is getting some for The Cleveland Show (actually funny and outrageous, I find). Content I would very, very unlikely have purchased not rented.
I'm outside the US anyway so I'm far, far down the list of consumers US content producers give a shit about, even though if you look at the content consumers eg. on torrents, it's a real global audience that enjoys US content.
You mean MSNBC or the Obama Administration don't you?! Oh wait, they are one and the same! My bad...
that is a cute comment but it is worth noting that Bush acctually hired a Fox news reporter into his administration...tony snow...will Obama hire Olberman or Madow once Gibbs flakes out? I doubt it.
I have a dvr and on demand. Why would I want to rent anyway, especially for more than 99 cents?
Are you taking your DVR and cable box with you everywhere you go? Some people do travel and like to have fast access to content. Being able to DL your favorite TV show at a WiFi Hotspot (or even at home) for a flight, road trip, whatever is a nice option to have. I?ve done it in the past with purchases for those very reasons even though I planned to only watch them once so a rental would be a 50% reduction in price.
Is it really so alien to watch TV outside of your living room?s HDTV, cable box, DVR, etc.?
Then what could possibly be the reason for not banning that clown? I have him on ignore and I still have to read his inane dribble posted as quotes if I am to follow the thread.
Speaking for myself, when people "feed the troll" or resort to reciprocal attacks, pile-ons or other forms of vigilantism, I have a hard time sympathizing with those that complain about it, a lot of the complainants become just as guilty.
Interesting hypothesis, but sorry, hits are never a consideration.
Hypothesis or fact? Right.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JeffDM
Speaking for myself, when people "feed the troll" or resort to reciprocal attacks, pile-ons or other forms of vigilantism, I have a hard time sympathizing with those that complain about it, a lot of the complainants become just as guilty.
You shouldn't speak for yourself, you should represent this site in a dignified manner and ban those who are very clearly trolling for responses to dead end comments. There is no excuse other than for hits and exposure, period.
Comments
It's a real pity Appleinsider refuses to ban this troll in the name of hits.
Interesting hypothesis, but sorry, hits are never a consideration.
So much for program value.
"The 99-cent rental is not a good price point," said Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman. "It doesn't work for us."
What's the alternative business model? 99-cents is a tolerable price and flat rates are consumer friendly. No higher price is going to seem right compared to $2.99 sales. Holdouts are only leaving money on the table. This seems more about protecting inflexible business models that worked once upon a time rather than smart distribution.
Of course Apple could have implemented the BBC's free iPlayer API into the Apple TV, as countless manufacturers have done with TVs, BD Players, game consoles etc, but I guess Apple's usual 'US is all that matters' attitude won out again.
Maybe if they'd gone the app route that would have allowed each broadcaster to test the waters in their own way, see what sells and what doesn't.
Wouldn't that have been an option for Apple? That way studios could sell and/or rent their content at their discretion, and the lack of local storage on the ATV would be irrelevant, as everything would be streamed regardless.
At least the new Apple TV has some TV content in the US. Here in the UK it's got absolutely zero TV content. Not a single show, from anyone.
Of course Apple could have implemented the BBC's free iPlayer API into the Apple TV, as countless manufacturers have done with TVs, BD Players, game consoles etc, but I guess Apple's usual 'US is all that matters' attitude won out again.
Maybe if they'd gone the app route that would have allowed each broadcaster to test the waters in their own way, see what sells and what doesn't.
Not sure what your complaint against Apple is. As a Brit living on the Continent, I have a complaint against BBC: They won't make any content available outside UK. I would gladly pay. The iPlayer is great (for iPad; I don't like the full desktop web version conforming to the new iPad style -- I liked the old web page layout better). I used iPlayer on my iPad a lot when I was in UK last month. But that is not the issue...
BBC definitely needs to make their content available to the world somehow. BBC could make a ton of money because people all over the world like me want to watch their content. I can only assume that they fear that their servers would not be able to handle it. Therefore, something like iTunes Marketplace seems like the ideal solution for them -- let Apple take the strain of all the hits and streaming, and let Apple monetize it for them with the millions of credit cards already attached to iTunes accounts. I believe that Apple takes care of the encoding also, so no need to worry about testing the waters by including individual studio APIs within iTunes. Just encode a few episodes of something popular like Top Gear (that's not my favorite mind you, I am just assuming it's popular around the world).
The "App Route" as you call it, is already there -- I can get the iPlayer app showing up on my iPad right now: I just can't access any content because the BBC knows I am connecting from outside the UK! How is that an Apple issue? Countless manufacturers? On devices sold in UK, yeah. UK residents pay their TV license, so you get the content free, and ad-free; so to have BBC content played within iTunes for UK residents is moot -- and no need for you to send it to ATV, it's already on your TV! So, I'm not sure what your issue is. But if BBC opened up their content internationally for iTunes to sell it at 29p a pop, they would have millions of takers! Let's see it!
I for one would love to have the option to pay the BBC something like the Annual TV License Fee. I might even pay 29p per episode. Then again, the kids like loads of CBBC stuff like Blue Peter, etc., so that could get pricey. In the case of BBC, I would hope there would be some kind of flat monthly rate to watch everything, because we would watch a lot of stuff from BBC. ABC, etc. we would watch perhaps one or two shows per week. As it is, I suppose people could use a proxy server of some kind and bypass the geographic restriction (but you didn't hear that from me).
The whole point of this discussion is that the studios are balking at making money. Apple is handing them a business model on a silver platter, with the infrastructure and a worldwide audience of consumers thrown in; and the studios still want to play in their own little sandboxes and try to re-invent their own little lemonade stands all on their own. It's ridiculous.
[edit:] I just checked iTunes Stores. As I thought, there is a TV Channels & Studios drop down category. BBC has its own page; again, the issue is not the iPlayer API, it's international licensing and availability. I can buy an espisode from UK Store for £1.49, or from USA Store at $2.99 (but that is far too expensive). So what are talking about, absolutely zero content??? I can't buy BBC content from the Netherlands Store, why not? The NL Store has absolutely zero content -- there isn't even a TV Programmes menu in the NL Store. And if one can buy the content (in some places), why not elsewhere? I think the studios want to sell their content to national cable companies around the world rather than to iTunes. Sad. And if one can buy, why not be able to rent or view at a lower rate? I don't use a local cable package. I access content on my computer or iPad. And I travel a lot. I could be paying (the BBC) for BBC content where ever I am in the world. I thought the BBC were ahead of the curve. The BBC should be chomping at the bit.
That's not how Apple is positioning itself with advertising-driven revenue. As their iAd platform clearly shows, they want their customers to "experience" the advertising. Maybe if iAds migrate to the television screen, then maybe shows paid for by ads will come to Apple's delivery network.
That's a good idea: Each show will download packaged with a couple of iAds that you may watch or not at your liking. >>> Lower pricing for customers and higher revenue for studios. It's a win win situation. And in addition some advertising studios will have to rise their sometimes unbelievable ugly makeshift ads to get recognized.
Not sure what your complaint against Apple is. As a Brit living on the Continent, I have a complaint against BBC: They won't make any content available outside UK. I would gladly pay. The iPlayer is great (for iPad; I don't like the full desktop web version conforming to the new iPad style -- I liked the old web page layout better). I used iPlayer on my iPad a lot when I was in UK last month. But that is not the issue...
The "App Route" as you call it, is already there -- I can get the iPlayer app showing up on my iPad right now: I just can't access any content because the BBC knows I am connecting from outside the UK! How is that an Apple issue? Countless manufacturers? On devices sold in UK, yeah. UK residents pay their TV license, so you get the content free, and ad-free; so to have BBC content played within iTunes for UK residents is moot -- and no need for you to send it to ATV, it's already on your TV! So, I'm not sure what your issue is. But if BBC opened up their content internationally for iTunes to sell it at 29p a pop, they would have millions of takers! Let's see it!
.
You're talking about a completely different issue here. It sucks you can't get BBC content abroad but as I live in the UK that's not a problem I have. My gripe was with Apple not integrating iPlayer into the new Apple TV. They stripped out Netflix (as it's US and Canada only), but replaced it with absolutely nothing. iPlayer would have filled the gap to a degree.
Of course all the content is aired here for free, but iPlayer is all about on demand which is why it's been such a hit on so many devices. For a video on demand IPTV box like ATV, it's such a no brainer to include it really boggles the mind why Apple couldn't be bothered. The BBC want iPlayer EVERYWHERE, on every TV, every BD player, every set top box, every phone, every game console, you name it. The only big place where it isn't available is on the Xbox 360, as Microsoft refused the BBC's conditions that the content must be free.
I think the BBC content currently on sale in the iTunes store is something of a joke. The reviews are usually just people saying ' watch it on iPlayer for free', and the pricing is beyond ridiculous. Plus most of it isn't even in high-def. It's telling too that you can actually download iPlayer content for offline viewing on other, non Apple phones, but Apple apparently won't let the BBC into their DRM.
Interesting hypothesis, but sorry, hits are never a consideration.
Then what could possibly be the reason for not banning that clown? I have him on ignore and I still have to read his inane dribble posted as quotes if I am to follow the thread.
Your highly valuable content is not so valuable. I cancelled my cable over 6 months ago and have not looked back. You know what? Raise or lower the price to whatever you want because I'm not buying it anyway. In fact, if you had not been quoted on an apple-centric site, I wouldn't even know you're still alive. Great business plan, that.
Sincerely,
The Consumer
PS. Anyone that comes up with a commercial free pay model for movies and TV-content that both consumers and networks like should get the nobel peace price or something.
If $1 rental and $3 sales makes up for $millions of commercial revenue I don't have a clue. I understand it's not an easy choice. But if this pricepoint attracts a lot of consumers to moving away from the TV network in favor of digital rental/ VOD/ Apple TV... it's just the way of the future.
PS. Anyone that comes up with a commercial free pay model for movies and TV-content that both consumers and networks like should get the nobel peace price or something.
I just rented Wall Street (old one) for $2.99 on iTunes. Acceptable. More importantly, I'm less shocked at the utter rubbish people like these Viacom and NBC fools say. Half of the management has no clue and they're backed by institutional investors that have even less. Throw in the fact that everybody's out for a buck and it all starts to make sense, with or without sensationalist characters as depicted in movies.
What I do know is that Viacom ain't getting more of my money for Futurama. I stopped after buying the first six episodes. It's great, but not worth $1.99 each (for standard def, IIRC). Not when free is staring you in the face. Well, ABC got my bucks for Lost final season, and Fox is getting some for The Cleveland Show (actually funny and outrageous, I find). Content I would very, very unlikely have purchased not rented.
I'm outside the US anyway so I'm far, far down the list of consumers US content producers give a shit about, even though if you look at the content consumers eg. on torrents, it's a real global audience that enjoys US content.
You mean MSNBC or the Obama Administration don't you?! Oh wait, they are one and the same! My bad...
that is a cute comment but it is worth noting that Bush acctually hired a Fox news reporter into his administration...tony snow...will Obama hire Olberman or Madow once Gibbs flakes out? I doubt it.
I have a dvr and on demand. Why would I want to rent anyway, especially for more than 99 cents?
Are you taking your DVR and cable box with you everywhere you go? Some people do travel and like to have fast access to content. Being able to DL your favorite TV show at a WiFi Hotspot (or even at home) for a flight, road trip, whatever is a nice option to have. I?ve done it in the past with purchases for those very reasons even though I planned to only watch them once so a rental would be a 50% reduction in price.
Is it really so alien to watch TV outside of your living room?s HDTV, cable box, DVR, etc.?
Then what could possibly be the reason for not banning that clown? I have him on ignore and I still have to read his inane dribble posted as quotes if I am to follow the thread.
Speaking for myself, when people "feed the troll" or resort to reciprocal attacks, pile-ons or other forms of vigilantism, I have a hard time sympathizing with those that complain about it, a lot of the complainants become just as guilty.
Interesting hypothesis, but sorry, hits are never a consideration.
Hypothesis or fact? Right.
Speaking for myself, when people "feed the troll" or resort to reciprocal attacks, pile-ons or other forms of vigilantism, I have a hard time sympathizing with those that complain about it, a lot of the complainants become just as guilty.
You shouldn't speak for yourself, you should represent this site in a dignified manner and ban those who are very clearly trolling for responses to dead end comments. There is no excuse other than for hits and exposure, period.
iPlayer is being superceded by Project Canvas/YouView - it would be great to have AppleTV support for this.
Lovefilm have an equivelent streaming service in the UK to Netflx - where is our support?