TiVo's recent plan to make TV shows and movies downloadable onto the fifth-generation iPod and Sony PSP may
strain relations between networks and studios who hope to develop revenue from the digital distribution. Several TV and studio execs are considering legal action against TiVo, according to a report from the
Daily Variety. An NBC Universal spokesman said "TiVo appears to be acting unilaterally, disregarding established rights of content owners to participate in decisions regarding the distribution and exploitation of their content. This unilateral action creates the risk of legal conflict instead of contributing to the constructive exploitation of digital technology that can rapidly provide new and exciting experiences for the consumer." The new service is expected to be available by early next year, and software necessary to utilize it is expected to cost between $15-30.
The service will undercut ABC's current offering of video content online that makes movies and videos available for $2 each, which can already be downloaded and viewed on Apple's fifth-generation iPod player. TiVo's service could reduce appeal of other video-on-demand offers, and cut into the DVD business, according to the report. The number of current users who own a stand-alone TiVo box and who also own a home-networking system is roughly 300,000, while the total number of TiVo subscribers totals 1.3 million.
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They're too blinded by greed to actually see how to use the technology for new purposes. Still stuck in the advertising (and now product placement) modes. Dullards.
So true. I mean, they give away iTunes for free then charge 99 cents for lossy compressed tracks, and $2 for 320x480 video when it would be better and cheaper on a DVD, then after I upgrade to Tiger they want another $30 for QuickTime Pro, to which I said "no thanks, I didn't want to pay $159 total for Tiger," and five hundred freaking dollars for Aperture...and...and...
...oh wait, you meant those other greedy media companies...
The sooner the world is finished with freeloading "content owners" the better. These are people who can't who exploit those who can. We don't need them anymore. They can go back to their golf courses until their bank accounts run out.
Have you seen standard CDs or DVDs get cheaper over time (the 80s hits super-saver series not included - I'm talking new releases)? I thought so...
And check out this comment! "Um. Comparing high end media editing to "content owners" (read not content creators, just blood sucking leeches) is completely unjustified."
Where is the high-end media editing? QuickTime Pro?!? Is "high-end" editing? HAHAHA ha ha oh my god that's a good one.