Apple Sold 1 Million Videos in 20 Days

Apple issued a press release to announce the sale of 1 million videos in 20 days. This is a staggering number, considering they sell for $1.99 each, there is an extremely limited selection, and you couldn't get the video iPod for half that time.

“Selling one million videos in less than 20 days strongly suggests there is a market for legal video downloads,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Our next challenge is to broaden our content offerings, so that customers can enjoy watching more videos on their computers and new iPods.”

Now we can only hope that the studios get smart and open up this content so we can get the "Netflix Player" and stop waiting by the mailbox.

I think Netflix was worried about the wrong company. Apple seems to be the one to watch, not Blockbuster or Amazon.

via Paid Content.

Comments

[rjejr]

I love Jobs' quotes, in light of the fact for the past, oh 2, 3 or 4 years he's been saying Apple would never make a video player b/c nobody wanted one ;-)
I'll give him credit though for focusing his comments on "downloads" rather than the iPod. He wants a Mac Mini sitting on top of everyone's PS3 and Xbox 360.

[Aron]

It's intricate. Netflix talks a bit out of both sides of their mouth these days. On one side they talk about how BluRay and HD-DVD will solidify their business model for years to come and how that's a positive. On the other side, they talk about Apple and Comcast being allies in the war to convince content owners to license for VOD.

The reality is that if the more ideal variants of VOD were to emerge rapidly at this very moment it would be a negative for Netflix who is not in the position to dominate the market. Netflix may or may not transition successfully to VOD in the future, but they are not that well positioned for it.

Without the impending threat of VOD however, it would be much more likely for someone such as Amazon to have entered this space by now. It makes no sense for a competitor to dump 300M$ to achieve profitability in 3 years, when at that time, the market may already be in significant decline. In this fashion, VOD is a benefit to Netflix.

However, I still maintain to this day as I did 3 years ago when I first invested in Netflix, that VOD is still not as close as it appears. Apple's success thus far is surprising but not wholly convincing. The basic economic problems of the model have still not been solved. Selling DVDs at retail is the economic engine for major studios. Netflix more closely resembles an unstoppable, legally protected cancer from their perspective.

Iger and Cuban are the ones to watch. They don't force a snowball effect but are willing to experiment. It will be interesting to see how it goes.

[trey]

Shill on. It's not that Netflix is incompetent and has been trumpeting VOD for two years; it is always the studio's fault.

Hey Aron, I thought you said you would never read or post on Hacking Netflix again??? Like I said, it was just a tantrum to try to get Mike K. to listen to your pathetic complaints. Foot-stomping, in short. When you saw it did not work, you quickly returned and continued posting under your own name. And you're still using all your aliases like Ace, Trey/BadAss, Hunter McDaniels, etc. Welcome back, liar. Se we know you're a little cry-baby who runs to Mike K. rather than fight your own battles.

[Aron]

I make the assumption that your behavior is beyond fixing, but it's a shame that Mike K refuses to address the situation.

A kingergarten teacher will tell you how effective 'free speech' is as a classroom policy.

[netflix throttles best]

"I make the assumption that your behavior is beyond fixing, but it's a shame that Mike K refuses to address the situation."

Yeah, it's a shame he doesn't ban you, since you said a few weeks ago that you were never gonna post or read the board again, yet here you are. You apparently felt that the threat of leaving was something Mike K. would take seriously. Instead, he totally ignored your little baby foot-stamping tantrum. So, here you are again, just a month and a half after you said you'd never post again.

Here's the thread:
http://www.hackingnetflix.com/2005/09/dave_winer_had_.html

Here's your comment:
http://www.hackingnetflix.com/2005/09/dave_winer_had_.html#comment-9387546

and here are your exact words:
"Well that's all. I'm gonna ban myself from writing\reading comments henceforth. And yes, you can take some of the credit for that "netflix throttles best"."

So, now we know just how much integrity you have, Aron. You act as if you're above this board, but here you are again. How long til we get another tantrum and ultimatum, Aron? If Mike K. doesn't run this board the way I see fit, I'll quit. Wah!

"A kingergarten teacher will tell you how effective 'free speech' is as a classroom policy."

You oughtta know, Aron, since you're the one who cries to the teachers when the kids hurt your feelings. You're the one who goes back on your own word, banning yourself from this website. See how little integrity you have?

Hey, why don't you two take it outside?
These types of comments do nothing for the site and are completely off topic.
Thanks.

"Hey, why don't you two take it outside?"

There is no outside. The only logical place for discussing events on Hacking Netflix is *ON* Hacking Netflix. Outside is nowhere.

"These types of comments do nothing for the site and are completely off topic."

The same can be said about your own words. You've broken your rule to criticize us.

From Wikipedia:
"In general, popular wisdom advises users to avoid feeding trolls, and to ignore temptations to respond. Responding to a troll inevitably drives discussion off-topic, to the dismay of bystanders, and supplies the troll with the craved attention."

[netflix throttles best]

Pointing out the fact that Aron stormed off this forum and said he was "banning himself" forever IS relevant for any thread he posts. It shows lack of integrity and character and maturity. It shows he is under the mistaken impression that HE decides how this forum is run. How long before Aron throws another fit and threatens to "leave forever" (one month) if his demands aren't met. I suggest Mike K. ban Aron officially - since he already said that he was banning HIMSELF anyway.

[Mike K]

I'm not banning anyone (so far). I'm an optimist and worry about forcing registration or banning people. How will it change the dynamic of the site?

I guess I have to stop believing that people can have a little bit of respect for each other.

- Mike K

We respect those who keep their promises and behave in a mature manner. Saying "I'm gonna quit if you don't require registration" and then coming back a month later is not mature or honest behavior. It doesn't even matter. Everybody knows that Aron/Ace, trey/badass, Peter, Hunter, and all the other shills are just 8-year-olds playing on their dad's PC. Their idea of depth is to say "NFLX Rulez", and "I LUV NFLX." Bumper sticker slogans.

[aron/ace, trey/badass, hunter, peter, tony = netlfix shills]

Netflix Rulez! Blockbuster Sux. I Luv NFLX! BBO is going down in flames. Ha ha ha. I'm loving it. I invested half my life savings into NFLX. I make more every week than you make in a year. Money is all that matters.

[Aron]

"How will it change the dynamic of the site?"

Thanks for responding anyway Mike. You and I are looking at the same thing and yet seem to have considerably different opinions of what we see. I won't press the issue.

[Super Nova]

"Thanks for responding anyway Mike. You and I are looking at the same thing and yet seem to have considerably different opinions of what we see. I won't press the issue."

Aron, why are you still here? We'd like your reason for returning after "banning yourself from reading/posting on hacking netflix." It seems you want to pretend that little tirade of yours never happened. But dozens of folks read your huffy comments. Why not leave, if you have different opinions about how a site should be operated? I like how the site is run. It lets both sides state their opinion and experience without restriction. If you want censorship, go to NFLX and try stating your views about their service. They don't have a public forum like, say, GreenCine or NicheFlix. That's very telling. So are your attitudes about the policies on this board.