Apple to sell 99 cent TV shows at iPad launch?
By Thomas Ricker 
posted February 11th 2010 2:10AM
posted February 11th 2010 2:10AM
Today's "people familiar with the discussions" prattle carried by both the Wall Street Journal and Financial Times has Apple reducing the price of some of its US television shows to 99 cents in time for the iPad launch. A quick search through the iTunes store makes it apparent that Apple has already been experimenting with the 99 cent rate (and a few freebies) on select iTunes episodes; shows that previously ran $1.99 for standard definition quality or $2.99 in HD. Of course, this could all change by the time the iPad launches since the talks are ongoing. Unfortunately, discussions between Apple and content providers to provide a monthly TV subscriptions have stalled according to sources at the Wall Street Journal, although Apple remains open to the idea.It's worth remembering that prior to adding video support to its iPods, Steve Jobs regularly lambasted the idea of watching video on a tiny, handheld display. The iPad, with its big 9.7-inch 1,024 x 768 pixel IPS panel, is certainly better positioned for video consumption so it's no surprise to hear rumors that Apple's trying to jump start its video business by getting back to the magical 99 cent price point it so loves.
Pay per episode pricing is ok for someone who just missed an episode or forgot to DVR something. It's certainly not going to "be the end" of broadcast TV. When Hulu begins to charge I'd be willing to bet that it's not more than $5-$10 per month and there will be more back episodes available. I think Apple is starting to throw that out there in hopes that someone will actually come up with a reason to buy the iPad. Heck, HP Entertainment laptops have a built in Hulu app that kicks both of their butts with a que/playlist style of menu that is very slick.
Personnally I cannot see paying for network TV shows when I can watch on HULU.
Would much rather see a subscription service which would compete with Dish, Direct and local Cable.
@gt1948 Except for Comcast that will cut you off at 250GB, start watching all your tv over the internet in HD and watch the counter climb.
@KAL326
It would take an aweful lot of streaming HD to get over 250 GB. If you watch 7-10 shows per week that would mean that each show would have to be over 6.25 GB. Seeing how most HD shows are around 350-400MB you could watch 22 - 1/2 hour shows (or 12 hours if you prefer) a night and not go over your limit.
Also, to go along with the origional article; I don't care if the show is $.99 or if it's $500.00 - if it's on Hulu or Netflicks then I shouldn't have to buy it on an Ipad. Come on Apple - give us Flash or at least a $5.00 additional charge to Comcast to watch everything that we can on TV at home.
The subscription service would work better so we can drop cable/dish.
I find 99 cent a tad to expensive. I can turn on the TV and find a Simpson episode on in about 2 minutes. Why would I pay for 99 cents for it? Episodes of the few show I like that failed to record on the PVR (stupid over time on sporting events) I might buy or just wait a couple of hours and que it on on bit torrent to download for free.
As for the kids they watch the kids network lots. They are playing and the kids shows are on. At 99 cents for an episode it would cost me $20 a day just to have some shows for the kids to have on in the back ground.
Wow, this will be sweet, Now we can watch TV shows in HD on a hand-held device!!!...Oh, wait, does the iPad even have an HD display?
I will just wait for a competing pad that does flash, that costs less and does not require service fees.
@LittleTruck It's not a "standard" HD resolution, but it is higher than 480i, pretty close to 720p so yes, it's technically HD, and it supports full 720p output (and the chipset supports 1080p natively, so with an HDMI dongle on the dock port, 1080p is also possible).
@zelannii
Please stop it with the BS. It is *not* "technically" HD. By definition, HD has a *minimum* resolution of 1280x720. If it doesn't support that, it's not HD. Period.
@zelannii
1024 x 768 is not a HD resolution standard
Standard HD is 1280×720, sometimes 1366×768, and 1920×1080
@LittleTruck
Amen
$0.99 for HD, i could buy it. However, I'm still only willing to pay for episodes I'm KEEPING for posterity or re watching later.
Make episodes for $0.29-0.49 that include some limited advertising, and once watched self delete after 30 days... Subscribe to any series for $3.99 for auto-download of all episodes (current and previous in a single season)
99 cents is still too much. There are a lot of shows I never would have seen if I had to buy them. But Hulu allowed me to do that and I "paid" by watching commercials, which was fine by me.
$0.99 is a magical price for a _digital download_ of a single episode? You can buy a whole season on DVD for $15...
I get obsessed about some TV Shows and sometimes when I miss a few episodes I'll go into the PSN store or my Apple TV to download them, but they take so long that the instant gratification is lost. I recently discovered the Zune Instant Play and it's pretty darn cool.
The problem is I still despise all DRM. I purchased an Episode last night watched 2 minutes of the show and then My Xbox Live Connection went down for some reason so I can't watch the show that I paid for. I'm getting the DVD from Netflix tomorrow so purchasing has been rendered pointless.
Anyone know if XBox Live is even up? I can't get to it and my network (PSN, Computer, etc) is working perfectly fine.
I don't know why anybody would care about TV on the iPad. If you're going to watch your favorite show on TV, watch it on a nice 42"+ display at home. If you're going to watch it on the road, it's likely and impromptu thing where you watch on your phone while you wait in line, eat lunch, sit on the train, etc. Very few people are going to lug around a tablet just for watching TV/movies. Alot more people will lug around their laptop to do other stuff, and since they have it with them *maybe* watch tv on it...but it's not like that's been a killer app on a notebook anyway and it's been around for years.
What they really need is a way to rent shows. I mean how many people really want to watch a TV show more than once? A subscription option might also work, but letting me watch an entire season of a show in HD for $10 would be awesome even if that meant I could only watch each show once.
So will they soon start removing drm as well so I can watch these shows on other devices as well as my pc?
Uhmm. No thanks. I'm not paying 99 cents on top of what I pay toward my cable TV. Do the math: 99 cent/show 75 dollars/month for a bunch of shows and channels (of course, we don't watch each and everyone of them). Plus, I can watch the shows on the big TV screen. For other shows, there's free online streaming on most TV channel web sites plus other free sites and forums where you can download the shows for free. Same with music. :)
Thanks... But No Thanks Stevie J.
After all I can get all the FREE TV shows I desire on my many laptop computers that support Adobe Flash and numerous HD TV sets that have cable.
Hint: Maybe you should look into that technology before raping people for even more money to support your tyrannical little iEcosystem?
WOW, thanks, I only have to pay 99 cents. Thank you Apple,......NOT. Maybe you should support FLASH so I can get all that content and more for FREE!!! Oh wait, Ya, I get it. Pay for over priced Hardware, that RAM must be made out of gold, and the over priced content. What a bargain Apple. I think I'll NOT buy one.
Hey Apple, if you can get suckers to pay those prices, go for it, it's the American way. Charge the highest amount you can for what you think you can get for it!!! I won't be one of them.