Apple's iTunes Pitch: TV for $30 a Month

Raise your hand if you would pay Apple $30 a month to watch TV via iTunes. Anyone?

Would you pay $30 a month to watch TV via iTunes? That's the pitch Apple has been making to TV networks in recent weeks. The company is trying to round up support for a monthly subscription service that would deliver TV programs via its multimedia software, multiple sources tell me.

It depends on what you get for $30. If it's cheaper than cable/ satellite for the same service then sure.

Probably not, as I get OTA channels for free. And I'm sure that the picture quality is MUCH higher than any compressed for streaming format.

Originally Posted by nippyjun

It depends on what you get for $30. If it's cheaper than cable/ satellite for the same service then sure.

X2,

if it was a good deal, I'd probably jump on it. With that said, I don't think it'll be worth while... might as well just use hulu

If you are allowed to stream any show from 10 or so major networks, whenever you want, ad free, then this sounds like a good deal.

No commercials, HD at reasonable bit rates, no DRM, on-demand access, HBO original series included? Yeah. Otherwise? No.

There's nothing good enough on TV to justify $10/month with significant restrictions, let alone $30. In my opinion.

Possible advantages over Hulu would be 720p vs. SD, no ads, and shows being available as soon as they air on television instead of a week later.

$30 a month is way cheaper than DirectTV with HD. If they offered HD content, sure. No commercials and a lower price, yeah, I'd be on board.

is it going to have signifigantly more content than what netflix offers for 9 a months? if so then I would consider it.

I don't think this could serve as your only source of television content though because there likely won't be any live content like news, sports, etc.

I might but there's a lot of things Apple would have to do.

No DRM
Built in DVR with ability to record to a NAS or an upgradeable HDD that isn't locked to expensive Apple hardware.
HD content
NFL Sunday Ticket
Access to premium channels like HBO
No commercials.

Oh and make iTunes not a complete piece of shit like it is right now.

If it is streaming then in will fail, you can get most of the stuff apple has for free streaming.

On the other hand if I can get all the HD show apple has available for $30 a month I would have to think about it. The biggest problem I see is that I don't watch that much tv to make $360 a year worth it. Off the top of my head I can five or six and you need eight over the course of a year that are high def to justify the cost. Most HD seasons on iTunes are about $50 and the low resolution are $30. I not positive on the current price of the low res as I don't watch the low def as the picture is horrible for some shows. Depends on if it was finished in 720p or 640x400 the 1280x720 progressive stuff is fine being down rezed the other stuff not so much.

The other problem is if you drop tv from your cable package your internet costs more. The other problem is the other stuff that is local content. If you can get digital over the air that would fix that.

But generally I think they are in for a rough road.

Originally Posted by Vermillion

I might but there's a lot of things Apple would have to do.

No DRM
Built in DVR with ability to record to a NAS or an upgradeable HDD that isn't locked to expensive Apple hardware.
HD content
NFL Sunday Ticket
Access to premium channels like HBO
No commercials.

Oh and make iTunes not a complete piece of shit like it is right now.

You can read my mind....

Originally Posted by Vermillion

I might but there's a lot of things Apple would have to do.

No DRM
Built in DVR with ability to record to a NAS or an upgradeable HDD that isn't locked to expensive Apple hardware.
HD content
NFL Sunday Ticket
Access to premium channels like HBO
No commercials.

Oh and make iTunes not a complete piece of shit like it is right now.

Same. More concerned about the upfront equipment costs. Folowed by HD content and channel/show list.

Originally Posted by Vermillion

Oh and make iTunes not a complete piece of shit like it is right now.

I really hated it on XP, but on Windows 7, it's pretty tolerable. I'd go so far as to say it's even "decent", which is certainly something I'd never thought I'd say about iTunes.

'Course, iTunes on OS X is still significantly better, but that's to be expected.

Some variation of this is the future of television imo. We pay for what channels we want and receive them streaming or downloadable in HD with no commercials whenever we want and on whatever device we happen to be signed in on. I would want HBO/Showtime for some series shows that I watch, ESPN, Fox Sports, that's really about all I want that I can't get OTA with my antenna...

No advertisments, HD, and not just mainstream crap. maybe.

Originally Posted by phide

I really hated it on XP, but on Windows 7, it's pretty tolerable. I'd go so far as to say it's even "decent", which is certainly something I'd never thought I'd say about iTunes.

'Course, iTunes on OS X is still significantly better, but that's to be expected.

What better way to make windows crap, like they say it is, Than by giving away free windows software many people want, which makes windows run like crap.

Bet it won't run on the iPhone. When it will, let me know. Otherwise not interested.

Originally Posted by DeFex

What better way to make windows crap, like they say it is, Than by giving away free windows software many people want, which makes windows run like crap.

Heh. It'd take a lot more than 1.6MB worth of background apps to slow down a Windows machine with more than, say, 128MB of RAM. You certainly don't give Microsoft much credit on this one