Finally! UK Apple users can now download hit television shows such as Lost, Desperate Housewives and Grey’s Anatomy from the iTunes Music Store – though this move might threaten commercial broadcasters in the process.
Apple is charging £1.89 per episode through iTunes UK after signing deals with American television studios including ABC Studios, Disney, MTV Networks, Nickelodeon and Paramount Comedy.
The shows can be viewed on a PC or Mac, through an iPod or through the Apple TV set-top box.
Programmes available to download include Paramount Comedy’s South Park and That 70s Show; Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer; MTV’s Laguna Beach and Pimp My Ride; and ABC’s Ugly Betty and Commander in Chief.
Analysts predict that Apple’s move could threaten the digital download ambitions of a number of UK broadcasters - such as Channel 4’s 4oD.
“This is a massive threat to the commercial broadcasters, especially Channel 4 and Five, who have embarked on a paid download strategy of shows,” said Arash Amel, the senior analyst and head of broadband media at Screen Digest.
“It should also provide a significant challenge to Sky’s attempts to sell downloads via the Sky Anytime platform. The basic concept means that if you miss a show one evening, you can buy it to watch on your iPod on the commute the next day.”
Even though we waited two years for television content to become available on iTunes, it will very difficult for Apple to achieve the same success in the UK with its TV download service than it has found in America.
“The situation in the UK will be tougher for Apple than in the US because broadcasters who have rights to hit American shows will be placing a lot of pressure on the studios to make sure download-to-own rights are bundled into the big fees the UK broadcasters have paid for first-run rights,” Amel added.
Apple said the number of programmes it could offer via iTunes would grow. “We are thrilled to bring TV programming to the iTunes store in the UK,” said Eddie Cue, the Apple vice-president of iTunes. “We have got 28 shows and expect to continue to add more great programming.”
We shall wait and see if Apple can challenge the might of the BBC, Channel 4 and Five by offering downloadable TV content.
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Yink says:
thats pretty kewl. I have to admit for my fave show I wouldn’t mind paying a few bucks to have it download and keep on my ipod.
Specially as the download would be quick and no messing with software to get it to the right size etc.
They’ll need hero available for download though ^_^
Aug 29, 2007, 3:51 pmSnige66 says:
this is a great step in the right direction. Now I just need to get a new front screen for my ipod. it’s all scracthed to hell. I just hope the quality of the programmes is good
There are a ton of progs to convert though, some as easy as 123 so they are going to have to put up some killer shows for me to buy into this.
Also I bet itunes will only have shows that are out in this country, so we’ll still be miles behind. IF this is a move to stop downloading ilegally and before it airs in whatever country, then they need to airs shows early too. If I donwload anything it’s only to see early or not watch it at all on TV and get it on region 1 dvd. If stuff gets aired/offically able to download very nearly worldwide eg 24 then it’s a win win situation and the studios get all the money they need.
Aug 29, 2007, 1:09 amwalking leaf says:
It’s great to see iTunes UK online store finally got some television content to download though you have to question the cost of each episodes of Desperate Housewives or Lost.
£1.89 is a bit expensive when you consider the picture quality is not fantastic (640-by-480 resolution) and if you are a fan of the show and want to buy all the episodes, then the third season of Desperate Houewives will cost £43.47 on iTunes. It is significantly cheaper to buy the whole series on DVD which includes bonus features and of course a better picture…
Despite that, its nice to see TV content on the online store but it would be better to see more BBC/Channel 4 content. I desperately (sorry bad pun!) want Heroes Season 2 available online.
Aug 29, 2007, 4:20 amwalking leaf says:
Oh! Forgot to add this - September 5th could be the day Steve Jobs reveal a new Apple iPod! There are rumours that the sixth generation of the popular music player will feature touch-screen (just like the iPhone) and run Mac OS X (the Mac’s operating system). It might even be wireless so you can stream music from your computer to the new iPod without connecting any wires.
And possibly, you can download the entire collection of The Beatles. Roll on next week!
Aug 29, 2007, 4:28 am