MSN Video Downloads
posted Jan 7th 2005 1:52PM
Just about the only part of Bill Gates's CES keynote address that was completely SNAFU-laden was when he mentioned that MSN was going to be offering a video download service for the Portable Media Center. The most imaginatively titled MSN Video Downloads is mainly meant as a way for people who buy Portable Media Centers (and Smartphones and Pocket PCs loaded with Windows Media Player 10) to have something legal to watch on them, and they've already signed up several cable companies like FOX Sports, CNBC, MSNBC, and Food Network; a one year subscription will set you back twenty bucks, but there will also be some free stuff if you can't be bothered to pay up. They've also gotten MTV onboard to create "microprogramming" for the PMC, but it's completely unclear whether or not it'll be part of the MSN Video Downloads subscription service or separate deal entirely.
I love how I have to double pay for content now. I have television and over 400 channels but nothing is on when I want, so I have to have a DVR. I have an internet connection but now I have to pay for virus protection. I have a portable video device and now I have to pay to put television that I already pay over $120 a month for onto the stupid thing. Ever feel that everyone else has their hand in your pocket?
Did congress pass a law that says you have to have all that crap?
This is how capitalism works. If you don't want to pay all that money, live without the services.
I have to say I really like this idea. I'm a big fan of 24 but I don't get FOX locally (I know that sounds weird, but it doesn't come through clear over the non-paying cable line or the antenna)... but I also don't want to hand out $50 a month to Comcast for their "basic" service (apparently for some reason I'm not eligable for the "super basic" package).. either way it's frustrating. I'd be willing to pay $20 a year (that's SO cheap!) to watch it.. best yet, download it on my computer so I can watch it whenever I want... so cool... let's hope the software doesn't suck =-}
$20 per year _sounds_ low. $20 per month sounds more in line with what they would try to squeze out of consumers.
OR
$20 per year gets you _select_ versions of some TV show stuffed with a heaping amount of commercials rendered totally unskippable (cuz Fox and Microsoft 0wn3 your device)
Oh, you can guarantee that there will be commercials all over that content. MSN commercials, Fox commericals, product commericals. Add in the product placement and you're mind is really gonna be blown. (Ever notice how everyone in 24 drives a FORD (tm) brand vehicle?)
This is about content management. TV content was made to be watched in "real-time", so when Tivo came out, that content management became obsolete, and control over content management was ceded to the viewer.
Over the next few years, if DRM requires that you purchase this subscription to view recorded content (whether this is directly on your Tivo, on your PC, or on a PVP), they regain control of content management. Sure, you can download last week's episode of "24" and watch it on your Archos, but the file, when loaded, will interact with your hardware to disable skipping and fast-forwarding during commercials.
Is it $20 per year, per channel? Or $20 for the whole service?
Also, how do you get the content on the device? Do you then have to pay for internet service on the device or is there a way to get it downloaded onto the device, via WiFi?
Any idea if any of these players with color screens will have remotes with color screens, any time soon???
Oh. One small does not select. International advertisement person's son. From despises " the Eastern Zhou Dynasty row country will " " the Romance of the Three Kingdoms " " Sun Zi Bingfa " " Holy Bible " and so on. One day night. Had one strange dream...
How oh continues... [ international SOS ]