Comparing Video Podcasts with the iTunes Store TV episodes
In my recent iTunes freebie update, I posted about HBO's Extras podcast, the video podcast that presented the first of Season 2's episodes. I asked readers what they thought about this possible new trend. International readers in particular responded enthusiastically. They loved getting access to quality video especially since iTunes does not yet offer video stores outside the US. Here is a rundown of some of the other Store-versus-Podcast-for-Free-Episodes issues brought up both by reader feedback and via brainstorming.
Issue | iTunes Store | Video Podcast |
|---|---|---|
Hosting | Data at the iTunes Store, using their bandwidth. | Data on the home server, presumably using provider's bandwidth. |
Maximum downloads | Set (presumably) by the iTunes store contract, a la the recent 100 million ABC download promotion. | No download limits except from provider bandwidth |
Encryption | Standard iTunes video DRM | No DRM. Podcasts can be freely copied and distributed. |
Advertising | At the highly trafficked "Free on iTunes" section, via the yellow-tagged advertising slugs, and in the TV store, traffic will be driven strongly to the free material. | The podcast section does have advertising but iTunes users are not used to hunting around for full TV episodes in the Podcast section, it's kind of redundant to put "free" tags on podcast material, there's no built-in way to drive traffic to your material (a la "Free on iTunes") nor is there a compilation of episode material (e.g. "TV Episode Podcasts") |
Availability | US only, and only to those with iTunes accounts (usually requiring a credit card on record) | International, no iTunes US account needed |
Comarketing Materials | None at the TV store listings | Can easily package commentary tracks, behind the scenes audio and video along with the episodes into the same main podcast screen so all related comarketing materials are presented at once |
Updates | Must go through the iTunes store to update materials | Can update materials on your own site, since the data is locally hosted |
iPod Playback | TV shows appear in their own Video submenu on the iPod. You choose whether to sync all episodes, most recent N episodes, or unwatched episodes. | Video podcasts appear in their own menu, and your podcast settings limit whether those episodes get synched. At this time, you cannot set separate rules for video podcasts versus audio ones. |
