NBC, CBS TV Shows for 99 Cents

Riding on the wave of press from Apple's sale of more than 1 million video downloads in 20 days, NBC (through DirectTV) and CBS (through Comcast) will be selling tv shows for 99 cents. The Apple iTunes video selection includes a limited number of ABC shows.

This is great news because the sooner the studios realize that there is a serious market for movie downloads, the sooner we'll have a movie download service from Netflix, Blockbuster, etc.

via Thomas Hawk's Digital Connection.

Comments

So, we get to PAY 99 cents and still see the commercials?! What a deal! - NOT!

[Certificate]

I was going to sign up for DVD Avenue's free trial, but I'm not sure if their certificate is valid. It comes up as "localhost.localdomain....somestate, somecity, somelocation..." etc.

Anyone have any expertise in this area?

To see it for yourself, try to subscribe to their free trial...

www.dvdavenue.com

"So, we get to PAY 99 cents and still see the commercials?! What a deal! - NOT!"

I am guessing you did not even take the time to read the article. The first line of the article is that the CBS show will be commercial free.

"So, we get to PAY 99 cents and still see the commercials?! What a deal! - NOT!"

I am guessing you did not even take the time to read the article. The first line of the article is that the CBS show will be commercial free.

[Rob Emmerich]

I think the first line of the article is that "NBC" will be commerical free...

I somehow don't see this as really related at all to Apple or iTunes, it's just more VOD content on STBs. This may be new for DirecTV but I've been watching video on demand for years. I think it's a good thing, just not the same as iTunes as it's on a STB and not on a computer/iPod.

"I am guessing you did not even take the time to read the article. The first line of the article is that the CBS show will be commercial free. "

I can read it better than YOU appearently as it says only NBC is commercial free. CBS will have commercials inserted. See here:

http://www.dailynews.com/business/ci_3192590

"CBS and Comcast will allow viewers to access current episodes, with commercials, of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "NCIS," "Survivor" and "The Amazing Race" as early as midnight after their initial airing. "

[sMoRTy71]

If it requires a DirecTV DVR, then why wouldn't you just record the show with the DVR at the time it is aired? You can then skip the commercials as you watch.

This seems like a really dumb idea. I would rather see them put the shows into another format (like iPod video) than do something that adds no value.

[sMoRTy71]

If it requires a DirecTV DVR, then why wouldn't you just record the show with the DVR at the time it is aired? You can then skip the commercials as you watch.

This seems like a really dumb idea. I would rather see them put the shows into another format (like iPod video) than do something that adds no value.

I agree. The Comcast stuff has a use if someone DOES NOT have a dvr but wants to catch a show they missed. The Directv one - I don't get it. You have to have the new Directv PVR, so why not just record it for free?!

[PlungeBob]

Dear "Certificate"

Regarding your reaction to DVD Avenue's website:

Your reaction was entirely correct.

At best, it indicates that the DVD Avenue site managers are newbies,
which is not encouraging. At the worst it could be a complete scam.

(getting a geniune certificate requires that you confirm that
you are who you say you are to the certificating organization,
a la a letter on company letterhead, etc.)

They have under-construction pages too. These should never be seen
by potential customers.

Altogether disconcerting.

I am hoping that Mike will start a separate thread for this
topic. If enough people post positive descriptions, then I might
give the service a try.

Cheers

[just wating]

Isn't anyone going to tie this into throttling? Everything other comments section has at least one paranoid professional victim crying out for attention.

[Laddy]

I don't see how the current internet bandwidth would support millions of people downloading 8.5GB files or with HD movies 40GB files. I think there might be a limit to compression technology.

"Isn't anyone going to tie this into throttling?"

You already did, so what's the point now?

"Every other comments section has at least one paranoid professional victim crying out for attention."

Every section also has a professional Repub who backs election-rigging fake presidents.

[Nat]

At least with the ABC shows being sold through iTunes, you get to keep the video.