Where are the TV show downloads?
If the networks had half a brain between them, they'd start offering downloadable TV shows for around 5 bucks apiece. It'd be free money for them, plus people wouldn't be able to fast-forward the commercials (as they can with TiVo, Replay, etc.). Someday they'll get a clue...
posted by Rick Broida @ 10:41 AM
4 Comments:
At January 09, 2005 3:25 PM,
Rick Broida said…
99 cents per episode would never happen; there's a higher "perceived value" for TV than for a song. Five bucks might be on the high side, but if you were a rabid Alias fan and missed an episode (and didn't have the time or knowledge to get the torrent), it might seem like a reasonable price. OTOH, that's about what you pay for downloable movies, so they'd probably charge
$2.99 per episode or something. I guarantee that when it happens, the shows will cost more than 99 cents apiece.
At January 10, 2005 9:34 AM,
Rick Broida said…
Rick: Well, Dave, once again you've missed the point entirely.
For starters, you can't buy an entire season of a TV show on DVD during its initial run. Usually you have to wait 6-12 months--sometimes longer. If you're hanging on the edge of your seat during every episode of, say, 24, and you accidentally miss one, wouldn't it be great if you could download the show the next day to keep up with the plot? No one said anything about buying entire seasons this way; obviously the studios make big bucks with the DVD approach. But for the occasional missed episode or something you might like to watch while traveling, the download-and-go option would be invaluable. Or worth a couple bucks, to be sure.
At January 10, 2005 11:20 AM,
Rick Broida said…
Obviously if the networks were ever to offer a "download the whole season" option, my pricing suggestion wouldn't make a lick of sense. You're not really paying attention, here, are you...
In any case, it looks like we may both be wrong. Microsoft appears to be working on a subscription model for Web-based TV, letting you pay a flat rate for shows you can download. This probably makes more sense than any kind of per-episode, per-show plan, though I still think a service like CinemaNow or Movielink could make a killing by offering popular TV shows for a couple bucks per ep.
At January 11, 2005 12:33 PM,
Rick Broida said…
Let me use smaller words and speak...more...slowly...so you can understand my point. Movie-download services like CinemaNow and Movielink have become very popular, especially among notebook-carrying travelers. All I'm saying is the TV networks are missing an opportunity to make easy money by offering TV shows via such services.
As always, you seem to think that what's right for you is what's right for everyone. I guarantee you there are plenty of people out there who would pay a couple bucks for, say, an episode of Law & Order or a couple classic Seinfelds--especially in lieu of movie garbage like "Dodgeball" and "White Chicks."
What about this upsets you so? It's okay to charge 4-5 bucks for a movie but not for a TV show? Is it because the shows are shorter, or because TV is "free"?
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