Tivo/Amazon deal- 1.99 for Tv Ep..no thanks

[jdmatl]

Ok, first of all I think it is a great idea. For movies, you bet. But for TV episodes, not seeing the value.

Right now I believe you can watch for FREE past episodes of current Tv series for all the major networks.

While this doesn't compare to watching on your Tivo on your big screen, it brings to question the value of paying $1.99 for last weeks/nights episode of 2 and 1/2 men. :) (no jokes please)

.99 cents for a tv ep, maybe. $1.99..pushing it, but then again Itunes changes this don't they. But they also give away alot of free current tv eps also I think. (not an Ipod owner, mp3 flash player only)

The deal is still new and the details are probably still pending as to what/when for episodes.


Heck I wouldn't mind streaming the last nights/weeks current tv ep's I missed with new commercials added for "free" with all the Tivo Pop-ads enabled. :)


Unless the content partners pull their free eps from their wesites, I don't see the Tv eps from last week or last night being a big $$$ earner.


But then again I could be wrong. And as I said before, the full details and pricing are probably subject to change.

Maybe this is why tivo desktop 2.4 is sooooo late to market. :)

[Combat Medic]

See, you touched on it. The shows you are watching aren't free. Someone else is paying for you. Now you are paying for yourself.

[pdhenry]

I can stream to my laptop for free. It has an S-Video out, so connecting it to my TV is a snap. Streaming video is surprisingly good on an SDTV when the servers are up to the task. The streamed shows have fewer ads if they have ads. Explain the advantage of a $2 download again?

[idlepaw]

The advantage is the same as owning (and paying for) a Tivo instead of having a computer sitting next to my TV for DVR purposes. It's more convenient, I can use a remote control instead of walking up to my laptop to use the mouse, and it's a hell of a lot less ugly. Besides, you try telling the wife, "See, just plug this cable into the back of the TV, push this button to switch inputs, and click here, here, and here, and you're good to go!" Free isn't always better. Maybe $1.99 is a little high, but I guess that depends on if you use this to watch every episodes, or just the ones you miss.

[barbeedoll]

I can stream to my laptop for free. It has an S-Video out, so connecting it to my TV is a snap. Streaming video is surprisingly good on an SDTV when the servers are up to the task. The streamed shows have fewer ads if they have ads. Explain the advantage of a $2 download again?
I've never done this, but it sounds so cool that I want to try it.

I understand the S-Video out from my PC. Am I connecting to the TV or the Tivo?. If TV, as you say in your message, I'd be recording live without going through the Tivo, right?

Is there also a way I can load from Tivo to PC without going through Tivo to Go?

Can you explain in layman's terms how to do this, please. Both the hookups and what I do on my PC to activate this transfer.

Thanks.

Barbeedoll

[MikeMar]

I've never done this, but it sounds so cool that I want to try it.

I understand the S-Video out from my PC. Am I connecting to the TV or the Tivo?. If TV, as you say in your message, I'd be recording live without going through the Tivo, right?

Is there also a way I can load from Tivo to PC without going through Tivo to Go?

Can you explain in layman's terms how to do this, please. Both the hookups and what I do on my PC to activate this transfer.

Thanks.

Barbeedoll

I think he is saying that he hooks his laptop up directly to the TV (not tivo) and just streams the show right there.

I have done this for Daybreak, works ok.

Rather bittorrent the show and put it on tivo :)

[barbeedoll]

Ok, first of all I think it is a great idea. For movies, you bet. But for TV episodes, not seeing the value.

Right now I believe you can watch for FREE past episodes of current Tv series for all the major networks.

While this doesn't compare to watching on your Tivo on your big screen, it brings to question the value of paying $1.99 for last weeks/nights episode of 2 and 1/2 men. :) (no jokes please)

.99 cents for a tv ep, maybe. $1.99..pushing it, but then again Itunes changes this don't they. But they also give away alot of free current tv eps also I think. (not an Ipod owner, mp3 flash player only)

The deal is still new and the details are probably still pending as to what/when for episodes.


Heck I wouldn't mind streaming the last nights/weeks current tv ep's I missed with new commercials added for "free" with all the Tivo Pop-ads enabled. :)


Unless the content partners pull their free eps from their wesites, I don't see the Tv eps from last week or last night being a big $$$ earner.


But then again I could be wrong. And as I said before, the full details and pricing are probably subject to change.

Maybe this is why tivo desktop 2.4 is sooooo late to market. :)
You're right that you can watch the most recent episode free. However, recently I had mis-set my Tivo to capture only 5 episodes of Heroes, as I watch them right away.

Then I decided to save them all in case another family member wanted to watch from the start. Vacation intervened....and I missed four episodes.

I downloaded to my PC and watched there. But I would have preferred to download them directly to my Tivo. I think that's the market they are aiming for.

Also people who only have one Tivo (I have seven) might want to put shows they couldn't record directly to their Tivo.

Barbeedoll

[pdhenry]

I think he is saying that he hooks his laptop up directly to the TV (not tivo) and just streams the show right there.Yeah, that's all I do. I have an unused S-Video input on the TV and I just connect the audio & video out to my TV and stereo and go from there.

Smith on CBS was torture (they must have put it on an overloaded server) but Heroes streamed from NBC looked great on a 31 inch Trinitron SD set. Roughly VHS quality.

[MikeMar]

Yeah, that's all I do. I have an unused S-Video input on the TV and I just connect the audio & video out to my TV and stereo and go from there.

Smith on CBS was torture (they must have put it on an overloaded server) but Heroes streamed from NBC looked great on a 31 inch Trinitron SD set. Roughly VHS quality.

yeah, i did it for daybreak, works fine. Not ideal (rather bittorent) but it works fine.

I might have to grab a keyboard and mouse and play some games on it :)

[dig_duggler]

Worth it for shows you don't get (like Weeds on Showtime for example). For better or worse 1.99 is industry standard now.

[Sandlapper]

I'll gladly pay a 1.99 for a commerical free episode of something I forgot to record.

[peteypete]

Cheapsakes!! 1.99 is chump change. Sure, you ain't going to watch a whole season like that but maybe a couple missed episodes for the convenience.

[dswallow]

There's about 22 series I currently regularly watch that air only on cable network channels. If there averaged 17 episodes in a season (figuring there's a lot of tiny seasons among some of these), that'd be about $745 a year to buy the series I can't get free over the air. Contrast that with my annual cost of DirecTV which was just over $1,500, it'd be worth considering.

More realistically someone could get the minimum package from their cable/satellite company, which typically would cost around $40-$45 a month. Looking at my own usage, I'd guess at most 10 of those cable channel series I watch could exist on channels that wouldn't come with the basic lineup, so figure it'd cost $340 to buy those episodes. I'd save about $960 a year dropping down to one of the 2 lowest-cost packages with DirecTV, then spend $340 of that buying the episodes of series I couldn't otherwise get. That's still over $50 a month saved.

And of course there's people in markets where shows might get pre-empted or cut into or markets where they don't have one of the networks available over the air... so even at $1.99 per episode, it can offer significant savings to people -- at least to those who don't carry the highest-end channel package already.

And there's the added benefit of essentially building up a library of everything you buy this way so you can watch them anytime you want in the future, too. And they're all stored off-site for you, so no worry over physical damage or hard drives or figuring out where you put some video file.

I think it'd be good to sell the series as a subscription offering some sort of discount off the $1.99/episode price if you buy a whole season. But even if they choose not to, it can still work out to benefit the subscriber financially in many ways.

And, as mentioned, the rental cost on movies this way is pretty much always cheaper than most PPV options via cable or satellite, too.

[MikeMar]

And there's the added benefit of essentially building up a library of everything you buy this way so you can watch them anytime you want in the future, too. And they're all stored off-site for you, so no worry over physical damage or hard drives or figuring out where you put some video file.

Isn't it 30 days from when you buy it. how could you build up a library then?

[dswallow]

Isn't it 30 days from when you buy it. how could you build up a library then?
Rentals have the 30-day start/24-hour finish restriction. Purchases don't.

[MikeMar]

Rentals have the 30-day start/24-hour finish restriction. Purchases don't.

oooOOOOhhh

any news if you can ttg them though? or they have to stay on the tivo, or can you keep redownloading them?

[TriBruin]

This pricing is also in line with Apple's iTunes pricing, which, apparently, is going over VERY well. At least the TV side is, I have heard movies are not going very well.

First off $1.99 is an impulse price point. People will like the idea of being able to order the episodes of TV shows they miss. Second, like DSWALLOW said, I bet people will compensate for the cost by cutting back on other media costs, like extra cable tiers.

A perfect example. About a year ago Comcast moved SciFi of Extended Basic (analog) to Digital only. I only watched BSG on SciFi, but that alone made me consider upgrading my cable. I chose not to, instead I ordered a Season Pass off iTunes. I still get to watch one of my favorite shows, but Comcast didn't get any more money from me. :D

Now, the possibility of watching these same shows directly on my TV is even more inviting.

[dswallow]

oooOOOOhhh

any news if you can ttg them though? or they have to stay on the tivo, or can you keep redownloading them?
They're specifically excluded from TiVoToGo and from Multi-Room Video features.

However from Amazon Unbox your purchase includes a version for use on portable devices. And you can have the purchased videos on 2 TiVo's or PC's simultaneously. So there's some flexibility available similar to TiVoToGo and MRV. It might just be a matter of time before they work out ways to let TTG and MRV work with them directly.

[bilbo]

Worth it for shows you don't get (like Weeds on Showtime for example). For better or worse 1.99 is industry standard now.

$1.99 is not worth it for any of the 12 episodes from season 1 of weeds (which i could just as easily netflix). there are about a dozen episodes from season 2 which are unavailable from amazon unbox.

for all those who keep commenting that you can bittorrent it -- downloading/uploading copyrighted bittorrent is illegal. a lot of us would rather download something legally for a small fee -- especially since the riaa is not above sueing a grandfather for $600,000 for four movies his grandson downloaded/uploaded without the grandfather's knowledge (three of which his grandson already owned) and offered a deal for $4,000, which the grandfather is now refusing to pay (even in installments).

http://www.betanews.com/article/MPAA_Offers_Deal_to_Sued_Grandfather/1131121138

[ZeoTiVo]

I have Little desire to own TV shows and would get them on DVD box set if I did (like firefly)
I am on extended basic cable and have thought of upgrading for things like sopranos or band of brothers but just do not want the rest that goes with it. So I rent from Netflix instead......
a subscription that let me download 15 hours for 15$ would have me signing up right away and I could forget premium channels or they could get better, etc.. It may be that what they have to pay for download rights precludes such a low dollar subscription but the whole download purchase model leaves me cold. I just want to watch and delete and not worry much about the show after that.

please Amazon come up with a subscription plan

[jfh3]

I know people that pay this to download shows to their iPod - I'd rather see .99 for TV episodes and/or a subscription plan.

I signed up for unbox today and bought a show just to be ready when Tivo rolls it out. I will absolutely rent movies in the 1.99-4.99 range and may buy some, just to have them available on my Tivo; the better the quality, the more I'm likely to rent/buy. And if there is an "Order from Tivo" interface, I will buy far more frequently.

[QuietPower]

1.99 isnt that bad

I have to see what the picture quality is like...

Have they said anything for HD Shows?

[john123]

Why can't they just offer them up free, and make money from adverts thet can insert in them.

Then we can skip the adverts...

:)

[nhaigh]

1.99 isnt that bad

I have to see what the picture quality is like...

Have they said anything for HD Shows?


HD will take time to download. I downloaded a full 1080p (mpeg4) trailer for the new Harry Potter film to my PS3 from the Sony store and it was 57mb in total and that gave me a 58 second trailer :) HD Files are big which is why we have Blu-ray.

[BlackBetty]

And if there is an "Order from Tivo" interface, I will buy far more frequently.

+1

[bicker]

This is what blows my mind. On another (very well-regarded) website, people got bent out of shape when I suggested, last month, that the correct price-point for downloading of individual television episodes would be between $1 and $2. I think some folks are just in a fantasyland with regard to how pricing works, and what is appropriate in terms of pricing services.

I think $1.99 is right on-target for individual episodes. I see bundles being offered: 7 or 8 for $10; Entire seasons for $20 (with the promise of a pro-rated refund if the series is prematurely canceled).

[DeathRider]

This is what blows my mind. On another (very well-regarded) website, people got bent out of shape when I suggested, last month, that the correct price-point for downloading of individual television episodes would be between $1 and $2. I think some folks are just in a fantasyland with regard to how pricing works, and what is appropriate in terms of pricing services.

I think $1.99 is right on-target for individual episodes. I see bundles being offered: 7 or 8 for $10; Entire seasons for $20 (with the promise of a pro-rated refund if the series is prematurely canceled).

Sounds like good price points.

Ala Carte is always more expensive and bundles are usually cheaper. But that usually deals with distribution.

As far as downloading, I don't think costs chage whether i download one or down load 10. It's more for marketing.

Some shows, I'll just wait until it's out on DVD, and even then ehen it's on sale.

But I can see if it's a very popular show and everyone talks abou it at the office watercooler the next day. So, if you miss it, you would want to dl asap.

I wonder if they could have specials where you can download the show before it airs...or at least the same day, so you don't get behind...

[NatasNJ]

How long till Tivo "forgets" to record the seasnon finale of LOST so you are forced to go buy it for $1.99? Joke really but paying for TV that is free and the point of TIVO is to get it for you FOR the charge you are already paying seems double charging to me.

Is it me or shouldn't everything just be ONDEMAND style? And just have unlimited access to all the shows you want to watch for a certain fee?

[ChuckyBox]

Is it me or shouldn't everything just be ONDEMAND style? And just have unlimited access to all the shows you want to watch for a certain fee?
Yes, and no one should have to work and champagne should bubble forth from public fountains.

[ZeoTiVo]

How long till Tivo "forgets" to record the seasnon finale of LOST so you are forced to go buy it for $1.99? Joke really but paying for TV that is free and the point of TIVO is to get it for you FOR the charge you are already paying seems double charging to me.

Is it me or shouldn't everything just be ONDEMAND style? And just have unlimited access to all the shows you want to watch for a certain fee?
TiVo is not making you pay double. This is just another way to get the show you want. I do not get any premium movie channels for instance and could instead use my DVR on basic cable and now could download all the sopranos and once I purchased then they are ONDEMAND for me :up:

about the only thing missing for me though is that I do not want the shows ONDEMAND - I just wan tto watch them once and then delete. So I would rather "rent" the show for a 48 hour period for say 99 cents. Seems the market disagrees with me :o

[JJ]

$1.99
is a bargain if the local affiliate decides to switch to a car chase, apartment fire or other breaking news during that LOST finale...

I won't be using this option often, but I like having it available...

[Revolutionary]

Personally I love it. I already download a few of my shows from itunes every week (I have an S3, but I need 3 tuners on Mondays and Thursdays :eek: ). This will streamline the process enough that I won't think of downloading and watching the shows as a chore (yes, I know that's twisted...).

[ZeoTiVo]

Personally I love it. I already download a few of my shows from itunes every week (I have an S3, but I need 3 tuners on Mondays and Thursdays :eek:). This will streamline the process enough that I won't think of downloading and watching the shows as a chore (yes, I know that's twisted...).
what happened to watching live TV :D

[Revolutionary]

Har har. :)

Only on Sunday's and Monday's before 9:00, when I'm out of content from the previous week. ;)

[steve614]

Of course I don't know all the details, BUT...
If I were to have to pay for a TV episode/movie, I would want to be able to save it to a DVD.

Now if it is spelled out that these TV ep/movie downloads would be more like rentals, then no thanks, I'll stick with Netflix.

[end of rant]

[barbeedoll]

How long till Tivo "forgets" to record the seasnon finale of LOST so you are forced to go buy it for $1.99? Joke really but paying for TV that is free and the point of TIVO is to get it for you FOR the charge you are already paying seems double charging to me.

Is it me or shouldn't everything just be ONDEMAND style? And just have unlimited access to all the shows you want to watch for a certain fee?
So you're saying that Tivo needs to not only provide the opportunity for you to record a show, but they should be responsible for providing it to you for free if you forget. How long until all of us "forget", (or just don't get around to it), and are clogging the download system?

When I can, I'd rather record something I can access for multi-room viewing and use with Tivo toGo or record to DVD. Then when I forget, or don't have enough room on one of my seven Tivo with the space to record eight shows at once, I can go to this new service and get it for a couple of bucks.

I'm doing it now via iTunes, and I'd rather support Tivo for the same price. But, if you think the price is too high, I'd suggest you not use this service.

Barbeedoll

[dswallow]

So you're saying that Tivo needs to not only provide the opportunity for you to record a show, but they should be responsible for providing it to you for free if you forget. How long until all of us "forget", (or just don't get around to it), and are clogging the download system?

When I can, I'd rather record something I can access for multi-room viewing and use with Tivo toGo or record to DVD. Then when I forget, or don't have enough room on one of my seven Tivo with the space to record eight shows at once, I can go to this new service and get it for a couple of bucks.

I'm doing it now via iTunes, and I'd rather support Tivo for the same price. But, if you think the price is too high, I'd suggest you not use this service.
What you'd do is implement something like Bittorrent so that the "download system" is pretty spread out. :)

[Revolutionary]

So you're saying that Tivo needs to not only provide the opportunity for you to record a show, but they should be responsible for providing it to you for free if you forget. How long until all of us "forget", (or just don't get around to it), and are clogging the download system?


You missed a key word in -- and thereby the point of -- his post. "How long till TIVO forgets to record..." not how long until until "you" or "I" forget to record.

The "conspiracy theory" implication being that Tivo, Inc., will surreptitiously instruct Unbox tivos to not record shows, in hopes that this will push customers to download the shows at extra cost (and extra profit for Tivo).

Its totally paranoid. But its got nothing to do with asking Tivo for a freebie.

[chedlin]

If they offer these shows in HD I'll go for it. Cable is getting so expensive that $2 for a show is starting to look like a bargain.

[barbeedoll]

You missed a key word in -- and thereby the point of -- his post. "How long till TIVO forgets to record..." not how long until until "you" or "I" forget to record.

The "conspiracy theory" implication being that Tivo, Inc., will surreptitiously instruct Unbox tivos to not record shows, in hopes that this will push customers to download the shows at extra cost (and extra profit for Tivo).

Its totally paranoid. But its got nothing to do with asking Tivo for a freebie.
Yup! I missed the key word. Thanks for your alertness, and I appreciated your kindness in your correction. It takes a village, right?

Barbeedoll