NBC to Offer Free Video Download Service

Damocles the Elder writes "Apparently NBC realized that people on the internet do watch TV, because after breaking up with Apple over iTunes pricing schemes, they're setting up their own free service." From the article "NBC first contracted with Amazon to offer its programs for sale to downloading devices like MP3 players. Now it is establishing its own downloading service, which NBC executives say they expect to become a viable competitor to iTunes. "With the creation of this new service, we are acknowledging that now, more than ever, viewers want to be in control of how, when and where they consume their favorite entertainment," said Vivi Zigler, the executive vice president of NBC Digital Entertainment. "Not only does this feature give them more control, but it also gives them a higher quality video experience."

Nice to see...

[Goose In Orbit]

...that MP3 players can now play videos

Just great...

[TheRealStyro]

Just great, another advertiser-based Internet-distribution video service. And naturally not compatible with any other service and/or PMP.

Here we go...
1) download
2) crack (?)
3) strip advertising/convert format
4) watch
5) share (optional)
6) delete when DVDs are released
7) repeat steps 1-5 with DVDs
8) when pay service starts change 1 to "pay & download".

Meh. As long as my PVR keeps working I'll stick with 1,3,4 & maybe 6.

Re:Wait for comcast!

[CastrTroy]

I'm currently on what I call "low-speed high-speed". It's the 1 Mbit down, 125 Kbit up service that my ISP offers. If there was a good legal place to download tv shows for free, then I would probably get the 6 Mbit service that they offer. As it stands right now, I only browse the web, download music from eMusic, and download a Linux DVD ISO once or twice a year. If there was more content available on the web, I would probably sign up for the fastest package they had. But as for now, most of the stuff I do, even videos like Apple Movie Trailers play just fine over my 1 Mbit connection. You would think that bringing richer content to the web would make the ISPs happier, as there's more people paying for higher service levels. However, I'm not sure if it really helps them, as they have pretty much built their business model on selling 6 Mbit connections to people who do nothing more than browse the web and check their email.

Re:pirates win

[HTH NE1]

simply release your media in a format everyone can enjoy for free in a quality higher then the pirates are putting out, slip in some well targeted adverts, hey presto you just...

...invented broadcast television.

Re:I'm really happy to hear this

[YrWrstNtmr]

Assuming they include 10 minutes of adverts in a one-hour video, and that you will only watch the show once, your time would have worth under $12/hour for them to be better value than the iTunes version.

Of course! Time spent watching TV is billable time. I think we've found the ???? step before PROFIT!

"Degrade"?

[glindsey]

According to TFA, the videos will "degrade" after seven days.

I'm assuming this means that your download of 30 Rock will slowly morph into an episode of Studio 60, and eventually, Saturday Night Live itself.

What a coincidence!

[dontspitconfetti]

breaking up with Apple over iTunes pricing schemes

Wow, that's the exact same reason I broke up with my girlfriend!