NBC Will Offer Ad-Supported Free TV Downloads
9:32 pm, September 19th, 2007, Pete Mortensen
NBC has struck the most recent blow in the on-going, extremely catty break-up between the media giant and Apple, announcing it in November it would enable consumers to download “many of its most popular programs” for free. Provided they watch embedded ads that can’t be removed. On their computers. Within seven days of the air-date. When they self-destruct. No, I’m not kidding. As BuzzSugar puts it:
- The video will only work for a week after the episodes are broadcast.
- Only a limited number of shows will be available at the start, but at least they’re generally good ones: “Heroes,” “The Office,” “Life,” “Bionic Woman,” “30 Rock,” “Friday Night Lights,” “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” and “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”
- The content won’t be available to Mac users (um, take that, Apple?)
Now that’s got to have Apple quaking in its boots — the return of the original DiVX technology plan! Best of all, it’s Windows-only! So great! NBC does claim that its downloads will soon be compatible with iPods and Macs, and that it will eventually offer ad-free downloads that will be transferrable to other devices, but not until mid-2008.
Still, this is a fascinating twist. I can’t wait to see what comes next. The video download market is nowhere near as locked up as music is.
(Thanks, Kimra and Andrew!)
Posted by Pete Mortensen in iTunes | Comment on this article
[...] that Steve Jobs! NBC is going to offer free downloads of some of its shows. By “free” they mean with embedded ads you can’t remove. And they expire after a [...]
NBC Will Offer Ad-Supported Free TV Downloads at Maszman Speaks!, on September 20th, 2007 at 6:57 am
What I especially love is this quote in the NY Times regarding the future of TV from Jeff Gaspin, the president of the NBC Universal Television Group:
“I don’t think anyone would argue with the idea that the customer is going to be in control.”
NBC has a perfect right to do this, but to argue that this plan is a step toward customer control of content is a little ridiculous.
David B., on September 20th, 2007 at 7:29 am
I’m viewing the cultofmac homepage, and one of the sidebar ads is for buying “The Office” on iTunes, along with other NBC shows.
Maybe your advertisers need to update something?
MR, on September 20th, 2007 at 8:10 am
Gosh, one can see how one may have to stick with those naughty torrents then. Or, same as it ever was for anyone outside the USA.
Enda P, on September 20th, 2007 at 9:59 pm
Yeah! Freakin’ geniuses at NBC. Let’s exclude the most desirable demographic from being able to see our shows. Why would they want the group with the higher disposable income (and they do dispose of it) to view their programs? This makes as much sense as cancelling Studio 60. It only got a 9 rating, vs. a 20 to 24 for “American Idol,” or about 12 or 13 for most other “high” rated shows. But here’s the catch: The demo for Studio 60 had an average income of almost $70K!! About 50% higher than the next closest, and well above the average income of Idol viewers, about $25K. So which do you want? A media buy of 8 million people who buy a Lexus, shop at Nordstrom’s, and eat out 4 nights a week (at actual restaurants), or 19 million who drive a 5 year old Caravan, shop at Wal-Mart, and think taking the kids to the drive thru and eating in the minivan is a night out? They made the same choice here. Add to that the reliability of Windows under stress (like viewing streaming data), and you’re sure to drive the online viewers away in about 3 weeks. (And what? No Scrubs!?)
imajoebob, on September 21st, 2007 at 9:12 pm
Really this is extremely similar to the recently launched UK system – with broadcasters such as the BBC and Channel 4 offering 7 day catch up. The stuff is DRM protected – so – yup – too bad Mac. Although in the BBC case at least its necessary because of the unique way the BBC is funded that some form of platform nutral solution be provided – be that an extension of download or an across the board streaming solution.
garax, on September 25th, 2007 at 1:22 pm
[...] Molly Celaschi wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptNBC has struck the most recent blow in the on-going, extremely catty break-up between the media giant and Apple, announcing it in November it would enable consumers to download “many of its most popular programs†for free. … [...]
TV » NBC Will Offer Ad-Supported Free TV Downloads, on September 27th, 2007 at 1:47 am
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Press Release Distribution TWNKeys, on September 27th, 2007 at 7:32 am
So this “Service” won’t be available until mid-2008? OK, well.. iTunes is available RIGHT NOW! DUH!!!!!
cLake, on October 5th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
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[...] sales for reasons only Jeff Zucker can fathom. In the fall-out, NBC pulled its content from iTunes, promising to roll out their own downloadable video application, offering full episodes of TV shows just as good as iTunes. They call it NBC Direct, and it came [...]
NBC Direct Download Service Launches, Mainly Serves Bertolli Ads, on November 12th, 2007 at 2:20 am
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