iTunes, Amazon, and NBC
There's been a lot of talk in the blogosphere recently about NBC's decision to pull all of its shows from the iTunes store. There were a lot of rumors and disinformation spread around from both sides, mostly claiming that the disagreements were over pricing and DRM. Two of the so far undisputed statements so far, however, are that NBC planned to let their contract lapse in December (right in the middle of most shows' seasons) and that Apple decided to stop carrying their shows early (before new seasons start.) It's a smart move on Apple's part, of course. The public backlash of fans unable to continue purchasing new shows would be pretty devastating, and it would fall squarely on Apple.
But NBC still recognizes that downloadable shows are the way of the future, and so they've partnered with Amazon to offer their content to the computer-owning masses. Unfortunately for iPod and AppleTV owners, content purchased on Amazon's Unbox does not support these AppleTV or the iPod.
There's a certain irony to the entire situation. Apple, who jealously guards its own iTunes/iPod copy protection, is now on the other side of DRM hell. Most of the content on the iTunes store (which exists solely to generate sales of iPods and AppleTVs) is protected with DRM. The DRM, in this case, prevents the purchases from playing on non-Apple hardware and software. Now, at least one major content provider has taken their business elsewhere--to another distributor with more restrictive DRM. DRM which prevents playback on Apple devices.
Personally, it is my sincere hope that this turn of events will cause consumers to wake up. People who downloaded Heroes season 1 on iTunes may wonder why season 2 isn't available. They may contact Apple, or search, and read more about DRM and how it restricts their rights to use the content they purchase. They may start demanding fewer restrictions--after all, they watched the first chapter of the show on their AppleTV, so why shouldn't they watch the second?
But NBC still recognizes that downloadable shows are the way of the future, and so they've partnered with Amazon to offer their content to the computer-owning masses. Unfortunately for iPod and AppleTV owners, content purchased on Amazon's Unbox does not support these AppleTV or the iPod.
There's a certain irony to the entire situation. Apple, who jealously guards its own iTunes/iPod copy protection, is now on the other side of DRM hell. Most of the content on the iTunes store (which exists solely to generate sales of iPods and AppleTVs) is protected with DRM. The DRM, in this case, prevents the purchases from playing on non-Apple hardware and software. Now, at least one major content provider has taken their business elsewhere--to another distributor with more restrictive DRM. DRM which prevents playback on Apple devices.
Personally, it is my sincere hope that this turn of events will cause consumers to wake up. People who downloaded Heroes season 1 on iTunes may wonder why season 2 isn't available. They may contact Apple, or search, and read more about DRM and how it restricts their rights to use the content they purchase. They may start demanding fewer restrictions--after all, they watched the first chapter of the show on their AppleTV, so why shouldn't they watch the second?