Video iPod, iTunes 6, and IPTV
Oct 14 2005 9:43 AM
The new Video iPod is out. Looks cool and all, but I don’t plan on trading in my iPod Photo anytime soon.
The importance of the new Apple announcement lies in the release of iTunes 6, specifically the ability to buy television shows. Finally, a revenue model for IPTV is beginning to appear.
With the poplularity of TiVO and Media Centers, and cable companies offering DVRs, the days of the 30 second commercial as we know it are numbered. Minus sports and important events, I hardly ever watch “Live TV” anymore. Instead, I record everything I want to watch and always skip through the commercials.
iTunes 6 offers a way for broadcasters to make money in lieu of selling advertising. Are all TV shows there? Of course not. Is it the best quality video? No. And obviously, you have to watch the show on your computer via Quicktime, or on your new Video iPod. The important part is that iTunes makes it easy to purchase and watch a TV show legally.
This is very new and very cool stuff — and it won’t be long before others jump on board. What I’d like to see is the ability to buy TV shows from a couch, with a remote, and watch them on a television. Cable companies already offer On-Demand movies — why not TV shows as well?
Be sure to check out Mark Cuban’s “How Bob Iger Saved Network TV” if you’re interested in this kind of thing.