Zune TV lineup gets some NBC love

While we're still waiting for the early year flirtations of NBC and Apple to sprout into a renewed relationship, it looks like Microsoft is picking up the ball and running with it. The new Zune Marketplace TV lineup includes NBC favorites "The Office, "Heroes" and "30 Rock," in addition to popular shows from Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, and Sci Fi Channel. Over 800 episodes in total are available at the moment, and all of them are going for 160 Microsoft Points -- about $2.00. A more complete list is after the break.

Comedy Central

• South Park

FUNimation

• Afro Samurai
• Witchblade

MTV

• The Hills

NBC

• The Office
• Heroes
• 30 Rock

Nickelodeon

• SpongeBob SquarePants

Sci Fi Channel

• Battlestar Galactica
• Eureka

Starz

• Ghost in the Shell
• Street Fighter

Tuner Broadcasting

• Metalocalypse
• Robot Chicken

UFC

• The Ultimate Fighter
• Fight Night

VH1

• Rock of Love

[Lein @ May 6th 2008 11:03AM]

Now we just need movie downloads, and I'll be happy.

[AJ @ May 6th 2008 11:12AM]

This is ridiculous. In order to watch every show, I have to have 5 devices...a cablebox, a TV, a Zune, an iPod, and a PC. And then I have to pay for it too...

If I buy a DVD at Best Buy I can watch it on a DVD player I bought at Circuit City...why can't all digital content be the same way?

[sorahn @ May 6th 2008 11:16AM]

SHHHH! Don't tell sony you're watching that bestbuy dvd on your circuit city dvd player. They'll start DRMing those too.

We just started slowly pushing the music industry into mp3 downloads, i'm sure the mpaa will get --- Sorry, i can't finish that sentence with a strait face.

MAFIAA will own your soul!

[Rochelle @ May 7th 2008 1:28PM]

SERIOUSLY! Couldn't agree more. Even $2 is $2 for content that I can just buy, own and watch on my DVD player a home. It's just too easy to get content for free these days on all the other devices. I'd rather keep my $2 for a green tea at starbucks.

[bob e @ May 6th 2008 11:12AM]

I think Zune Pass should be modified to include the video content.

[wetworker @ May 6th 2008 11:16AM]

I agree, btw i'm loving the new marketplace, now you can chat with your friends.

[Aaron @ May 6th 2008 12:16PM]

if they can manage to keep the pricing the same they will have a real winner on their hands. 15 bucks is just too expensive for music only though and i have a feeling it will go up alot more than 5 bucks to add video content making it too expensive (again)

[sinai @ May 6th 2008 4:05PM]

keep bringing it up. it's plain to see that the zune team really listened to users in the 2.5 release. no reason why they wouldn't consider it if enough people asked for it.

[DT @ May 6th 2008 11:14AM]

What's with the weird exchange rate? why 80 points = $1? Did they start out at parity, but the weak dollar is bringing it down? Or is this another typical MS complication of something that should be brain dead simple? For God's sake, just make one point = one cent!

[LJKelley @ May 6th 2008 11:50AM]

As complicated as this is, the reasoning behind it is that users all over the whole world pay 79 points for music downloads (well there is no Zune internationally but the point system evolves from the Xbox 360 and your points work on both systems).

So all that changes is how much local currency takes to buy points. I'm probably the only one who likes the system as it allows Microsoft to publish only one price (i.e. points) regardless of where you are and hopefully keep costs similar for all.

Secondly transaction fees eat alot of a iTunes $.99 purchase (because most merchant account have a minimum free of like $.30) compared to $5 for some points.

[Pavan @ May 6th 2008 3:41PM]

Any merchant of reasonable size can wiggle out of those minimum transaction fees - I work for an airline and fortunately, we don't have to pay $0.30 of every $1 bag of chips to the CC company!

I think it has more to do with disconnecting you from your money - they figure that people mentally "round" 1 point to = 1 cent when it comes to redeeming those points. It's really not too different than the concept behind chips in a casino.

[Ray-- @ May 6th 2008 11:16AM]

or you can just go to HULU and watch all of NBC's content for free... i dont get it really... NBC lets you watch and embed entire shows for nothing off HULU but wants to charge you to put it on your zune!? Why dont they just put the friggin 15 second ads in the download and make it free???

[Mark @ May 6th 2008 12:17PM]

Probably because you would be able to skip the commercial on a Zune unlike on Hulu. I'm sure in the future devices will include software that wont let you skip things like commercials. Can't wait for that.

[Neal @ May 6th 2008 11:46AM]

When I can put the NBC's free stuff in my pocket and watch it on the bus on the way into work, or on a plane, or driving on a road trip, you have a deal.


Until then, having shows I can watch on demand, when I want, and stop and resume at my leisure = ftw

[DG @ May 6th 2008 12:05PM]

If you use AdBlock on Firefox, there are no ads. That's been my experience at least. When I watch programming on Hulu, there is an ad at the beginning, but that's it. Doesn't make sense to me, but I'm not complaining.

I am complaining, however, about Hulu's presentation of Married...With Children. I watched an episode last night, and "Love and Marriage" has been replaced with some string music that's kind of similar, but not quite. I'm assuming the license ran out on the Sinatra song, but really, that's too bad.

[ChiWax @ May 6th 2008 2:05PM]

I think the 2 bux per episode is to pay for the right to take the video with you on a Zune. Not everyone sits at their PC all day and watches video that way. I wish MS would just integrate all of this stuff once and for all. Media Center Extenders, 360s, Zunes, and Media Center PCs should all be a part of the same license in my opinion. If I buy a TV show on Zune, I should be able to watch it seamlessly on all of these devices. The same should go for XBOX Live Marketplace Hi-Def. If I buy a Hi-Def rental on XBOX, I should be able to take it on a Zune and watch it on other Media Center Extenders as long as it's within a certain time period. They let this all happen with music....when is this going to be possible with video? Q.

[Abuzar @ May 6th 2008 7:43PM]

Yeah but it's how the companies make money for providing you with entertainment. The ad's are like 15 secs so you should watch them.

[Quix @ May 6th 2008 11:18AM]

$1.99 per TV episode??? Way to go, NBC. I see you managed to get the higher pricing with Microsoft that Apple wouldn't give you.

Bwa ha ha ha!

NBC: "We dumped Apple because we didn't agree with their $1.99 pricing."

Microsoft: "We'll sell your shows for 160 ZUNE POINTS!"

NBC: "Whoa, you have a deal!"

Hilarious. Microsoft + NBC: it's like the last two dinosaurs on Earth, battling it out to see which will become extinct last.

I recall spending $1.99 per episode for Battlestar Galactica last season. This year, however, I pay nothing. Because NBC isn't in iTunes. Yet I'm sure NBC will rock the profits by selling to the dozens of Zune owners out there.

Microsoft: The Freedom to Innov....ah, screw it.

[Jay @ May 6th 2008 11:33AM]

I don't think the $1.99 == $1.99.

Sure, the overall cost might be the same, but I'll bet NBC is getting a greater portion of the $1.99 now, under the Zune, compared that to the iPod.

[jjRogers @ May 6th 2008 11:45AM]

Quix-
You bought into Apple's propoganda machine hook line and sinker. The $1.99 per episode wasn't the issue -- it's was Apple's 75% take of that. NBC decided to leave iTunes so they have better control over the revenue per episode. Apple doesn't negotiate -- you either sell on iTunes and give them 75%, or you don't sell on iTunes. You'll notice that NBC sells episodes of it's shows for $1.99 on a variety of sites now, but they are most definitely making more revenue per episode.

[Quix @ May 6th 2008 12:05PM]

@ jjRogers:

You honestly believe Apple nets 75% of the price of content they sell on iTunes???

Wow. Talk about "buying into the propaganda machine."

"You'll notice that NBC sells episodes of it's shows for $1.99 on a variety of sites now, but they are most definitely making more revenue per episode."

Um, not when you've excluded the market-leading DAP and online media store. Unless you have really funny math. Put down the press release from Redmond and think for yourself.

[doctorSpoc @ May 6th 2008 1:05PM]

@ jjRogers

lets see... 140 million iPods out there and 2 million Zunes out there... assuming proportional numbers of zune owners buy shows... that means that NBC needs to start charging about $140 an episode to make back their money... do you think they are making 70 times more profit with MS than they would with Apple? if not they are complete morons! i suspect they are indeed complete morons. or MS needs to all of a sudden start selling WAY more Zunes (like that's going to happen).

c'mon man. this is a completely bonehead move by NBC... someone needs to get fire on this one... money is money... there's money to be made with Apple and there simply is no money to be made with MS. i suspect people with just get the content from free sources now.

my calculations... NBC execs = STUPID

[sinai @ May 6th 2008 1:45PM]

"NBC needs to start charging about $140 an episode to make back their money" is the same kind of logic that software companies use to calculate how much money they lost via piracy.

well it appears you have passed basic arithmetic, Spoc. but you obviously do not understand economics AT ALL.

[Duscrom @ May 6th 2008 1:52PM]

"Um, not when you've excluded the market-leading DAP and online media store. Unless you have really funny math. Put down the press release from Redmond and think for yourself."

Kids, this is what we call Monopoly ideals. Yes, let's NOT have support for compitition, Keep on the market leader and let the market leader get larger. And since when is $1.99 MORE then iTunes. I don't know bro, MY iTunes is charging me $1.99 per episode

[Quix @ May 6th 2008 1:58PM]

"Yes, let's NOT have support for compitition," - Duscrom

Hey, I'm all for competition. I say let the best store (and device) win. But pulling your stuff from iTunes and offering it on Zune for the SAME PRICE is not exactly what I'd call "competition."

Ditto the music companies allowing Amazon to sell DRM-free music but not allowing Apple to do the same.

You're being used.

Microsoft has a funny perspective on "competition." And apparently NBC does too.

[doctorSpoc @ May 6th 2008 2:09PM]

well it seems you've not passed either... nor do you understand this marketplace at all... are you sure you don't work for NBC?

so you're telling me you think that NBC is going to make more money selling to a 100 times smaller platform at the same price? or if it's just to strong arm Apple... do you think that one studio is going be able to force Apple's hand on this? iPod sale are still selling strong. this changes nothing... Steve Jobs must be pissing himself laughing at this weak ass game... all this means is that people go back to acquiring the shows by other means illegal or otherwise..

bottom line there was some money to be had with Apple/iTunes.. there is basically NO money to be made with MS/Zune... i was trying to demonstrate just how idiotic NBC's plan is... basically they are trying to push a bolder up a hill with a string... it's just not going to work.

[primetime4 @ May 6th 2008 11:25AM]

Why can't Microsoft do a proper announcement or intro? I know this isn't really a big thing but putting some marketing hype around this couldn't hurt. How about a town hall or something.

[DT @ May 6th 2008 11:32AM]

That would require the town to show up, which would require them to care.

[jjRogers @ May 6th 2008 11:59AM]

Microsoft is weak when it comes to marketing products geared towards consumers. Their focus is corporate customers, since that is their bread and butter. Have you ever seen an ad for the Zune? I don't think I have.

[jcwestbrook @ May 6th 2008 12:39PM]

I like that the new features just show up. The new marketplace has a lot of things now that it should have had in the beginning (like group editing of track info - and don't get me started on finally having gapless playback although they get kudos for not making me buy a new player to get it). I think if Microsoft made a big announcement it would just open them up for public ridicule. Copying Apple isn't the way to go. I don't understand why people want the whole big event, with invitations, and the press drooling like prepubescent boys.

[ChiWax @ May 6th 2008 2:10PM]

I wish MS would hype up their Media Center functions and the ability to hook afordable PCs into a TV. Beyond that, I love that MS doesn't get up and say "Look at me!!!" every time they change things a little bit...Q.

[RawBert @ May 6th 2008 11:25AM]

So, the Zune owners out there of course know that their music sounds better than it does on an iPod (try it before you call me a fanboy - I have and use both). I wonder if the video looks better too...

[JakeB @ May 6th 2008 11:28AM]

I noticed the sound difference, but I am not sure about Apples HD audio songs as I threw my iPod away when the Zune first came out. Do you know how the HD audio for Apple sounds vs the regular audio for Zune?

[JakeB @ May 6th 2008 11:27AM]

Why not but the DVDs and then make a digital copy to your Zune? Or find someone with the DVDs to make the digital copy to your Zune? I hate watching video on anything smaller than the PSP screen and even then I can't watch it for too long.

[DT @ May 6th 2008 11:33AM]

Option one is complicated for most average users, and option two is illegal.

[JakeB @ May 6th 2008 1:48PM]

Option one depends on the program, mine is three clicks and i got jsut the movie in wma format.

Option two lies in a grey area. As long as the encryption is not broken then it is not illegal. I have some DVDs that dont have encryptions on them.

[jjRogers @ May 6th 2008 11:39AM]

Just a quick comment on the posts about price. NBC didn't leave iTunes because of the price per episode that customers paid. They left iTunes because Apple takes 75% of that. That's a ridiculous amount of money into Apple's pocket, and little into NBCs. Thus NBC wanted more money per episode from the sale, which means less money for Apple.

[DT @ May 6th 2008 12:04PM]

Where in the world did you hear that? No way is Apple's cut 75%.

[Quix @ May 6th 2008 12:14PM]

Apple takes 75%, eh?

Bull. Crap.

[doctorSpoc @ May 6th 2008 1:15PM]

let's say that's true... there are almost 100x more iPods out there than Zunes... to make the same money as they would with Apple.. NBC needs to either start selling shows at ~$140 a pop or sell 100x more shows per Zune owner... are you kidding me?

Steve Jobs is laughing his ass off at NBC playing their weak ass hand.. it's like.. do you guys want to make money or what? NBC just told consumers, ok just go and steal our content because our egos are too big and we are not supporting your platform of choice...

NBC execs = STUPID

[jjRogers @ May 6th 2008 11:41AM]

I can't wait to enjoy episodes of The Office on my Zune!

[srhawk @ May 6th 2008 12:04PM]

jj, where do you get the 75% number? I cannot imagine that ANY studio, much less NBC, would turn over 75% on a sale to ANY retailer, real or digital. And given that Apple has publicly stated that it would be taking only 30% on iPhone/iPod touch apps in its upcoming App Store, I find the 75% on TV Shows to be very suspect.

[Quix @ May 6th 2008 12:12PM]

@ jjRogers: Astroturf Different.

[PerfectC @ May 6th 2008 1:56PM]

Yeah that 30% is right I think. And it is for server costs.

[Mark @ May 6th 2008 12:07PM]

mtv has rob and big on zune mp too :)

[fartblossom @ May 6th 2008 12:07PM]

I have a tivo, plus the tivo desktop software, and I watch all my office episodes on my zune. Completely legal, and yes, i fast forward through the commercials. Ipods and others work with tivo desktop too.

Downside is the cost of the tivo, plus the cost of the fully functional software, plus the subscription to tivo service.

Downside to hulu is they don't go back that many episodes. The zune marketplace has all episodes, all seasons.

[Duscrom @ May 6th 2008 2:07PM]

And, Plug your Zune into an Xbox 360, and you can watch it on your TV

[PerfectC @ May 6th 2008 8:02PM]

And why would he do that if he already has it saved on his Tivo?

[Boynamedsue @ May 6th 2008 12:07PM]

Aww man! I can't wait to start enjoying these programs and building a huge library.

until of course the parties involved switch DRM providers and the content i paid for becomes unwatchable.

[fanman @ May 6th 2008 12:08PM]

Did I miss something? Heroes series 1 and 2 are on the UK iTunes store.