The problem is that people were already used to buying music (or at least there was some precedent for it), but TV shows have always been a free, ad-supported thing. TV on DVD is a relatively recent phenomenon, and even then I’d bet most people rent it rather than buy it.

Sure, it’s “just a dollar,” but dollars add up.

this is going to be a tough nut to crack. too many ‘free’ sources for tv content out there…

The only reason I still have cable is for a few select shows I can’t get without it. But if Apple does lower the price or offers a subscription service I’d be inclined to cancel my cable and just go with over-the-air channels supplemented with purchases or subscription through iTunes. Subscription being the better of the two options.

Combine this with this:
http://techcrunch.com/2010/02/10/google-fiber-optic-network-home/#comments

and I’m that much closer to telling Comcast to piss off.

For me switching from a PC to a Mac had everything to do with security, operating system, buffer overflow attacks, etc….
But I really dont trust Apple, If I where the networks, I would not touch them with a Ten foot pole, of course apple would say “It will give you exposure” but in reality, Apple will eventually gain the upper hand. I think Apple has grown to such levels that it is no longer a niche player for artists and creative people, it has become for the masses. I think it is a matter of time before another company is created that will take the spot light from Apple.
I also think Apple made a huge mistake with the Ipad, the product is really worthless and I am willing to bet money that sales of it disappoint all projections. +
Everybody knows that Steve Jobs cut in line and stole a liver. People are on the donor list for years, many die waiting to get a liver and Mr jobs, get one when He wants one.
This world is soo corrupt.

Yes, Apple tells you what to do and you jump like a person who cannot think for themselves. They are your parents…..

but we, the consumers, usually don’t see it that way. It is easy to spend just a dollar, especially when you can do it with just ONE click.

only problem with this model – nothing but reality tv to watch since this “model” sucks for the actual content producers. Ever wonder why iTunes movie selection is so crappy? Hollywood is not dumb.

Interesting how Apple is for subscription TV shows when it is in their interest but hasn’t launched a subscription music service where they are the incumbent leader.

They had a similar promotion in October – all this season’s episodes were $1 SD, $2 HD.

If tv networks want to increase sales on iTunes, they should sell tv shows in the iTunes New Zealand music store. Currently we have movies but NO tv shows. Lots of other countries don’t have tv shows for sale in iTunes either.

What is iTunes?

Well if you like paying for, in this case channels, you never use then go ahead and keep you cable. My reason’s for wanting to ditch cable have nothing to do with blindly following Apple.

There is no such thing as free you end up paying for what you watch one way or another (whether it’s through a cable provider, internet provider or iTunes) I just prefer to pay the least amount at the end of the day. At least through iTunes can can watch it on several devices not just my TV.

Problem is it is still too expensive. I follow about 12 – 15 currently running shows at the moment. If each one releases an episode per week, that works out to $48 – $60/month which is more than a satellite/cable subscription where I live.

Then if one of my friends recommends a show to me that i’ve never heard of but he thinks I would like, the cost starts to build to really unacceptable levels.

Then there’s the issue of my bandwidth. I believe if I am using my bandwidth, which I pay for seperately, then I should be able to keep whatever I download indefinitely, so that I may watch it again ad nausium. Space is no issue for me. Hard drives are cheap. Rental or streaming is not an option.

The next issue is quality. I don’t download anything in SD anymore. I have a 60″ TV so anything less than 720p looks positively ordinary, so according to the pricing I would have to spend $72 – $90/month to get those TV shows I follow (assuming they cut HD pricing by the same %).

FFFFFFUUUUUUUUU….

So do like I did. Buy a dell htpc for $300, hook it up with hdmi, can use a combo of hulu and netflix and be done with it.

Apple: Please please please move to the cloud. Having to back up my iTunes library is among the most annoying aspects of my “digital” life.

Also, please support the broadcom card (available for $20 on ebay) that lets my apple TV play 1080p video.

Steve, I don’t want to pay a cable company $80 per month when I could pay you that $80.

Or just go http://kino.to or similar webpages.

We pay for electricity, we pay taxes, we pay for our bandwith. Next we’ll pay for air cos someone had the brilliant idea to privatize it.

Torrent!!!

You can download Lost Season 6 Episode 3 from many torrent sites in less than 3 minutes.

FREE.

With a JailBroken iPhone or Android you can even watch as AVI format.

$1 x 20-40 shows a month is too much money!
Torrent :-)

Some sites like http://www.bitmetv.org which is invite only has ULTRA fast connections. Better than cable TV and much better than paying $1 :-)

Nahhhhhhh………….

You sound new.

The problem is Matt that what users really want is a fully legal method that cheaply and conveniently services our need. Everybody who reads this blog is well aware that you can get just about anything you want illegally via torrents so don’t act as though you are the first to discover it and bring the knowledge to a thankful public.

That isn’t the point of this blog.

Nice try, but Hulu isn’t available outside the US right now (without tweaking region settings). Netflix sounds promising (I hear about it in every ep of HDNation I download), but not for my PS3 as I really don’t want to have to put a disc in to use the service. I’ll have to use my PC to do the 1 month free trial because there is no info on their site about file sizes and bitrates, plus I imagine intercontinental streaming is going to be almost out of the question.

There’s also no info as to whether it’s streaming only or download and keep so we’ll see.

No-

Im very aware. I have been working in this space since 1994.

I have even pitched Warner Brothers on a paid model.

My point is $1 subscriptions will not work. It might get some traction but in the end there are too many teen-agers and family members who get Free TV from others who pay the bills.

There are several concepts around payment but $1 subscriptions for TV shows is not it.

If a family already pays $80 USD per month for a Comcast cable setup + $20 NetFlix then why would these same people go and spend a bunch of money on $1 shows?

So until that happens more people will be using Torrent.

You sound new to all this with your brilliant view on what people want.

I dont think the point of this blog post is that people will pay $1 with all the other bills they have going. A few shows here and there but not a solution.

Why dont you take off your IronM@ask when you say rude no-it-all comments.

Who are you?

Take off your IronM@ask-
Write your real name and point a website to who you really are.

Dont hide!!

You have no real ideas do you?

What is your plan? What would you do?

What? Go away troll.

…and I just checked and Netflix isn’t available outside the US either so that breaks that idea too. Looks like iTunes is it but I wont be using that.

Damn we need some IQ checks before people are allowed to register.

I am looking forward to promoting iPad apps on http://www.appgiveaway.com ;-)

TV shows are free if you happen to:

a) Live in the USA
b) Catch it when it’s aired or on Hulu through your computer.