Apple fighting for TV show rights
updated 01:40 pm EDT, Thu October 25, 2007
Apple's TV show rights
Apple may have a strong bargaining position in the music space, where it controls the lion's share of digital download purchases. Its negotiating power for television shows is, however, limited. The company is facing resistance from content owners that are refusing to go along with stipulated pricing regulations. The highest-profile falling out thus far has been a break-up with NBC, which claims that 40 percent of all the television programs purchased on iTunes belonged to it (Apple disputes that figure, saying it was closer to 30 percent).
One of the reasons Apple has a stronger hand in music is revenue. Digital downloads (primarily through iTunes) account for for 15 to 20 percent of music companies' revenue, but NBC claims that less than 1 percent of the company's total revenue -- only about $15 million -- came through iTunes. Meanwhile, studios are beginning to explore other methods for distributing content. NBC's new Web site Hulu, created in partnership with Fox, will allow users to see shows from the two networks free on the Internet.
The problems could be spreading into the music space, where a Washington Post piece says that television networks and studios are gaining more leverage. Universal Music Group, the world's largest collection of record labels, has not renewed its yearly exclusive contract and instead is going month-to-month with iTunes, allowing it to deal with other distributors. Warner Music Group is also considering switching to a month-to-month contract.
Apple is also facing an uphill battle in the movie download realm, where only Walt Disney (Jobs sits on Disney's board), Paramount and Sony have made a partial selection of their content available through iTunes.
In the meantime, Apple has added two TV shows from NBC to its iTunes Store despite the recent fallout between the television network and the Cupertino-based company. NBC has already turned to Amazon to sell episodes of its new fall TV lineup via the online retailer's Amazon Unbox digital download service, and announced that it will offer one-week free downloads to bring its primetime and late-night TV shows to users desktops for a full week after the shows air
Billions in the bank
10/25, 01:57pm reply
Apple deposits a few billion in the bank every quarter lately. Spend some of it on buying a stake in a major network, and this problem will go away.
njfuzzy
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 2001
they need a killer tv app
10/25, 02:09pm reply
the iPod is there music bargaining chip. everyone knows this.
the problem with tv/movies is that i don't want to watch them on my iPod. i want to watch them on my tv.
and when i'm thinking about watching it on my tv, i have to get up, go to the computer in the den, and buy the show/movie from itunes. then i have to go back and wait for my apple tv to sync.
once apple lets me buy the show from the apple tv, i'll bet we see an uptick in sales.
once apple lets me 'rent' movies, we will see an even bigger uptick.
and once apple has their own cable box/dvr/apple tv we will really be in business!
poulh
Mac Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2000
Killer TV App
10/25, 04:00pm reply
Once everyone has Fiber running to their house they can do that. So what if you have to get up and go to your computer and buy one on iTunes, the time you spend waiting for the download is the real issue.
Roehlstation
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
well...
10/25, 04:12pm reply
aside from MacNN telling us something we all are already aware of...
...Apple had a falling out with the Beatles and now as independent artists all 4 of them have their own decked out iTunes Page and rumor mills are proclaiming The Beatles as a group are soon to be gracing iTunes as well_
So I figure if they can resolve that - they just might be continuing to wear down NBC until they cave as well_
Not that I care - but here's to hoping !!
UberFu
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 2002
Apple Owns Disney...
10/25, 04:36pm reply
(sort of)
I am sure that Jobs/Apple/Disney is very cozy, which is why ABC shows will always be on iTunes.
Except most of them are not particularly good.
dynsight
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2005
re: billions
10/25, 04:58pm reply
"Apple deposits a few billion in the bank every quarter lately. Spend some of it on buying a stake in a major network, and this problem will go away."
more likely that the competing networks would not want to deal with Apple, and would instead perceive them as a competitor.
climacs
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 2001
Firefly
10/25, 06:11pm reply
Apple should buy the rights to Firefly/Serenity, then give a billion dollars to Joss and say "Make a few seasons of Firefly" and then promote the h*** out of it on the iTunes store. 'Cause that would make me a happy Browncoat and show the networks ... well, no, it'd lose money like crazy (though it wouldn't necessarily have to - they could budget like $54 million or something reasonable) but it would be a show people would come to buy!
dafalcon
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Dec 2003
gimme my gorram show back
10/25, 06:16pm reply
Well said dafalcon! Nice to see a fellow browncoat around these boards!
In all seriousness, maybe that could work if apple helped produce its own shows and distribute them through its very own platform
draizor
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 2006
Firefly must continue..
10/25, 07:10pm reply
I'm tired of watching the same episodes over and over. One of the best sci-fi series ever. I'm a leaf on the wind, watch me soar. Pixar could do some great special effects for it. The movie Serenity: Reaver's Return exclusively for Apple.
Constable Odo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2007
Re: Killer TV App
10/25, 11:35pm reply
I think you've missed the point. iTS isn't VOD, you book your show seasons and they magically appear.
It's like saying downloadable music isn't going to take off because it's not as instant as radio!
McD
McDave
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jun 2006