‘Free’ NBC TV downloads
p2pnet news | Advertising:- Apple recently decided it wouldn’t sell NBC TV shows and now NBC says it’ll be offering a desktop application through which it hopes PC users will download DRM-laden ‘free’ full-length episodes of prime-time and late-night following their first broadcasts.
‘Free’ in corporate parlance doesn’t exactly mean ‘free,’ of course.
Viewers will be forced to watch unskippable advertisements.
And the ‘free’ shows will commit suicide after seven days.
“Initially, NBC Direct will feature returning series such as Heroes, Friday Night Lights, The Office and 30 Rock, along with the soon-to-debut Life and Bionic Woman,” says AdWeek, going on:
In addition, fans can download episodes of late-night staples Late Night With Conan O’Brien and The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.
NBC said it plans to launch enhanced versions of NBC Direct in coming months, including one that works with both Macs and portable devices. Whether those devices will include iPods remains to be seen. Eventually, the network will offer users the option to rent or purchase full-length shows through the service—placing NBC in possible direct competition with Apple’s iTunes. NBC recently announced that it did not plan to renew its contract with iTunes, which expires at the end of this year.
NBC says it’llhave a Mac version soon, “and will eventually allow the programs to be watched on portable devices,” says the New York Times, noting drily:
“But it’s unlikely those devices will include Apple’s iPod.”
Also See:
wouldn’t sell NBC TV – Apple, NBC iTunes rift, September 3, 2007
AdWeek – NBC Preps TV Show App, September 19, 2007
New York Times – NBC Brings the Most Popular Word to TV Downloads: Free, September 19, 2007
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September 20th, 2007 at 11:39 am
Why not just download the episodes off Bittorrent in HighDef, with no commercials, mere hours after they are broadcast?
September 20th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
I would have no problem with ad supported DRM as long as it’s free to me. If they ask me to abide by certain restrictions and I get it for free then I don’t see it as a hardship. Sure I could use P2P or BitTorrent but in the long run content costs money to produce. Getting it for free outside the “rules” only makes it harder for the content to be produced. You can deny the facts of the buisness world if you want but eventually somebody has to pay the Piper.
September 20th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
So NBC reads p2pnet, huh?
September 20th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
No I am a guy who used P2P lot’s in the past I just don’t anymore. I am trying to use what ever legal means I can for content both free and paid. I am always waiting for a clear cut answer to P2P in Canada, if the private copying levy does make P2P audio legal in Canada. When a 100% undeniable answer comes in favour of P2P for music in Canada I will be first in lune to fire up my favourite P2P app. Frostwire!
September 20th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
If it’s in wma format, just use FairUse4WM and use a converter and voila! Mac and iPod compatible
September 20th, 2007 at 9:32 pm
I’ve found that almost everything on the p2p networks is out there to freely stream if you know where to look. Let the big corporations finish suing each other over this before I take the very slight risk of getting it over p2p.
September 24th, 2007 at 2:04 pm
Sound like there going to use same player that BBC uses.