Comments on: NBC to offer free show downloads

By: Anon

Anon — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 20:44:43 +0000

I love the Office and Heroes as well. 30 Rock has also became a favirote. I will try it out once, and see what I think. However, I’m more likely to just watch episodes on nbc.com than wait for a download.

By: Michael Gay

Michael Gay — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 18:31:21 +0000

Joe, I love The Office and Heroes. NBC might not be Must See anymore, but they still have a few can’t miss shows.

By: wren

wren — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 18:18:48 +0000

Does anyone know if NBCU makes more money per CPM from free downloads w/advertising or airing via an affiliate with 14 minutes of adload?

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 16:51:16 +0000

It won’t work. If NBC had the Sopranos or the Simpsons or a show I wanted to watch, maybe. But now with the current lineup. In a matchup between this and a TiVo, TiVo wins hands down.

By: Rick

Rick — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 04:20:54 +0000

Reading between the lines (and adding what I know about the deal).

In some ways, it’s an ingenious idea. By pulling videos off of iTunes, it limits the options for someone wanting to download NBCU shows. NBCU then offers up free downloads, embedded with ads you can’t skip, and that expire in a week. That leaves open the ability of the network to see the DVD season sets, or even a full season digital set. It also allows them to stream archived videos on their sites or on demand.

Even better for NBCU, they’ll push viewers to a player that won’t play illegally downloaded material (and presumably, anything from iTunes).

It’s a genius idea, although also stupid in so many ways. It’s an interesting gamble, though, and how this is all integrated with Hulu.

It’s an attempt for NBCU to force viewers back into a controlled environment, and I’m curious to see how this plays out.

By: Charles

Charles — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 03:26:43 +0000

The downloads are only good for a week, so if you want to download to own, you’ll still need to pay. NBC’s on AmazonUnbox now, right? (That’s where I watched Bionic Woman and Chuck for free.)

By: invitedmedia

invitedmedia — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 02:02:06 +0000

ok, in one sentence they state “…we are acknowledging that now, more than ever, viewers want to be incontrol of how when and where…”. then spend the next 3 paragraphs telling the viewer how nbc will control how, when and where.

i smell a complete recall due to the lead content already.

By: Don Day

Don Day — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 01:31:03 +0000

This is the same NBC that’s having a falling out with Apple over the price of show downloads… right? Didn’t NBC want to raise the prices? Odd…