CBS promises to sell some TV shows on iTunes for 99 cents
By Donald Melanson 
posted February 19th 2010 1:33PM
posted February 19th 2010 1:33PM
We'd already heard that Apple hoped to bring at least some TV shows down to the 99-cent mark on iTunes in time for the iPad launch, and it looks like CBS is now the first to officially come on board. While a final deal apparently isn't done just yet, CBS CEO Leslie Moonves has flatly told the Financial Times that there "are certain shows that will be sold on Apple for 99 cents" -- not exactly much wiggle room there. Other networks aren't speaking on the record just yet, but the Financial Times has previously reported that some have already agreed to similar terms, and are expected to start selling shows at the lower price -- possibly coinciding with the iPad launch.Update: Peter Kafka at All Things Digital has some more info on this -- sources tell him Moonves was speaking off the cuff, and while CBS is open to a deal with Apple, there's nothing in place quite yet. Unfortunately, no one's going on the record here, so the situation remains hazy -- we'll just have to wait and see what happens.
How about free with ads.
@reader1 You'll be here all week?
DRM free or GTFO.
(Sorry if this sounds harsh but I hate being locked in by DRM)
@ChazClout
I agree completely. If I buy something, I own it. Not the content provider.
@ChazClout
Nothing like paying $60/hour to watch crap TV and not even be able to make a copy :)
@ChazClout:
Which is exactly the reason why, for the time being, streaming will never take off to the extent to replace physical media.
With physical media, 30 years from now I could find any DVD/Bly ray player and still pay the content. But with digitally distributed content, 30 years from now will I be able to play my file? Will my file be locked down to some system and if that system fails or I replace it, will my content be gone?
Long live physical media.
@Jordan
I would say in 30 years you have a better chance of finding a legacy peace of software to play your file than finding a working Blu Ray player who's parts have been out of production for 20 years :). On top of that your disks will have to be schlept around with you and not damaged fro those 30 years.
Call me kooky but I'll take my chances with "soft" media.
@JamesR
PIECE of software. Edit...please...??
@JamesR
Well, my 20 year old Laserdisc player works just fine, thank you. It's been moved 5 times in that time span.
Please check back in 10 years to see if it survived another decade. :-)
@Dafrety Unfortunately, regardless of what we want, even with physical media, we dont own the content. We only own a license to watch it. So all the DVDs and Blu-Ray discs we all have, we only own a license to watch it.
Id like to see the day where we buy a license to watch the content and we use a key or somthing to get the content in any manor we wish. Go to itunes, put the key in for Terminator 2, and download terminator 2. Go to best Buy, give them the code, and get a terminator 2 DVD. Pay once. Each time a store gets a "sale" they get a cut of the big pool from the license vendor.
how about that?
@JamesR
The software argument only works if you are free to play your content on any device with any OS and don't have to deal with any nonsense DRM. In 20 years, there will probably be more interest in reading DVD and BD disks than trying to deal with cracking some 20 year old DRM format.
My music collection gets copied to every system I own that can accomodate the space requirements. I've probably broken the 5 system limit for iTunes. '-p
@wraith404 more like $1/hour. Also, what do you plan on doing with that copy? You can already share it between 5 computers on your home network, what else do you plan on doing with that show besides giving it to your friends for them to watch?
@emax: You're right, technically we buy a license for it...but how are they gonna revoke it? Take a DVD - they can't stop me from watching it. Even a BluRay - they can't stop me from watching it....well, yet. But with digital files, what's stopping them from revoking your license and shitting all over you? Nothing.
I like the sound of your plan in theory, but it would never work.
how about .99 for all books in the ipad..
@pedmart Second that.
You know ther's single of the week? Book of the week would be cool.
@JimJam707 not if it means the crappiest book of the week... or books no one reads for a reason...
so they bring in cheaper tv shows but ramp up the price of ebooks? what a bunch of douche bags.
@MiketheVee LOL. 6 Hours of CSI for $5.99 VS that book you need to pass English for $14.99.
Fair? No. Funny? Hell yes.
@N900
I simply meant the normal books. I prefer physical text books for class
Either DRM free or SUBSCRIPTION based monthly charge for content.
Make up your minds and you'll get my money.
@Smurf:
No subscription. With subscription you still don't own it, the providers do. DRM free ONLY.
@Jordan, Hulu subscription based would be nice. Put the shows there and let people watch them. Not sure if subscription based is really iTunes favorite thing since they make less money.
@Smurf
Adding TV shows to ZunePass would be GREAT!
Paying a subscription for Hulu would suck. I am not paying money to only have 4 episodes available from a series at any given time. If Im paying money I want the WHOLE catalog of seasons, every single episode available whenever I want. Rhapsody couldnt get away with only letting people listen to a few random songs from each band in a million years, so Hulu couldnt either.
Regardless I dont think I would ever pay for Hulu. If they managed to get all the older classic TV shows that arent available anywhere else like SeaQuest, Dinosaurs, Wonder Years, etc then I would be willing to pay but thats probably impossible.
Is it just me, or does the idea of a buck a TV show seem utterly insane? My whole gd Comcast bill with two HD DVRs, another dumb box, and broadband is $110 (yes, I'm on a discount plan, but it's open to anyone who pays their bill ontime for awhile, just go to the payment center and ask "what can you do to keep me from switching?" Works everytime.)
I can't think of many TV shows I'd pay to own, specially at that price. Jobs and Co. has it made, millions of sheeple with ADD and no common sense.
@Dank Dillweed
I have plenty of stuff bought at the $1 pricepoint. Not much above it though. Although I expect my stuff to last 10 or 20 years and to be reused. I've bought mostly stuff that I've re-watched every so often or stuff that's just hard to find (on cable or iTunes).
...but most stuff is not worth paying a buck a show for. Considering what you can stuff into a PVR, a buck a show doesn't seem very competitive even with an expensive cable plan.
Mine (pvr) has about 1500 recordings presently.
Dont these content companies realize you can just download for free without drm? it seems like they dont recognize they are fighting an uphill battle.
@ckent
Nevermind downloads.
Just get a decent antenna.
@ckent
Most people have a life. Their time is worth more than 99 cents an hour. I call BS on people who claim they can "torrent" anything they like for "free" as though it happens without any time or effort. Yeah, you can find old shows and movies for free if you want to waste hours getting them. I'll fork over that whopping $1 and get it legally and without the hassles.
@Ed T
Ok. I get the shows I watch from Netflix DVD releases and have no desire to download illegally, but even I know there isn't much "hassle" to it.
There are RSS feeds your clients can follow for really any aired TV show, there are NAS devices with clients built in that will auto download from those feeds.
As the user you just have to turn on your HTPC and watch whatever is new that pretty much just shows up as it is available.
Pretty hassle free, I'd say.
@Ed T
You don't use torrents do you??
CBS? Pass.
Although I do like the version of red green show, whatever that awful show is that comes in toxic neon green overlays to hide all thems wrinkles
Every show that no one likes or wants.... Wait ya its on CBS so that sounds about right.
@Jaylittles531
Dr. Sheldon Cooper will be writing you a dissertation on how much you generally fail to acknowledge the greatness that is the Big Bang Theory television show.
@7egend
Bazinga
@Jaylittles531
I can proudly say I have never heard of that show.
@Jaylittles531
You truly are missing out.
@Jaylittles531 That's a pretty funny show, you're missing out on =].
@Craneguy
I'll stick with my Fox shows or Movie Channels. Like Bones, Family Guy, The Simpsons, American Idol....
I'll occasionally watch something else but usually nothing on CBS interests me.
And I promise not to buy them.
...That's pretty cheap. 3 TV shows or 1 half liter soda. Actually, dunno if I can even get 1 soda for that, maybe some more cents.
Anyways, even though I don't have a movie store in iTunes here, I can still imagine how annoying DRM is. So if it has DRM...well, yeah.
So are these shows still gonna be free on hulu?
...
@Edobe, Hulu only gets them for like a month. Hulu might to subscription based to match these other offerings. Really wish everyone just used Hulu and agreed on a subscription base.
@Edobe Hulu has reported as last as October 2009 that they would be switching to subscription based services. Obviously they'll have to turn their offerings up a couple of notches if they want me to pay for it though.
Will this have an affect on the pricing on the zune? Right now they are between 1.50 and 2.00 USD (DRM free)
If stations get on board with 99cent TV shows, do you think that would affect the pricing on buying individual shows on the Zune marketplace?
@Bengal34 : I hope so. Studios/Networks need to get on board with Zune Marketplace. Would also be helpful if Marketplace used actual currency then MS Points.
Ready??? SUB- SCRIP- TION
I am not going to pay 99 cents, or 1.99 to catch a show i missed the night before. I am going to use my DVR, Free On Demand, or watch it streaming online.
Renting movies is fine. Buying TV shows to own is fine. But I dont want to own every TV show I watch, and unless Itunes can replace one of my solutions for watching TV shows when I want to rather when they air, then I wont be buying them...
next in news: google offers CBS shows for free lol
pay for tv shows? very funny CBS, very funny...