NBC goes Zune, gives up 80% of market

[CoffeeShark]

NBC TV has dropped iTunes in favor of the Zune Marketplace, which just recently came out with their new video store service. No more of The Office on iTunes!?!?

Evidently, NBC wasn't thrilled with Apple's mandated pricing, and seeks both lower and higher content pricing depending on what is being sold.

This begs the question: why give up the established user base of iTunes users, who are the majority of paying consumers of downloadable TV shows? Seems like a bad move...

The Coffee Kids have an iPod and a Zune, so I watched some video on each - the Zune screen is really nice, and the iPod screen is sweet, too, and glossier. Personal preference, I think.

Microsoft is also pushing Zune Social advances with some Zune Card updates. Nothing much to see here, just note that MS is going hard at an integrated MS lifestyle - I would guess the Zune is going to be their consumer PDA-style device eventually, with their WM phones the professional edition.

Check InfoWorld for the best news on this.

[Craig]

NBC and the rest of Hollywood are scared shitless of the control Apple has in today's digital world. They are making a bold statement with this action, but I frankly do not see many other studios following. The NBC and MS relationship is strong (MSNBC) and no other Hollywood powerhouse has such ties.

[CoffeeShark]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig

NBC and the rest of Hollywood are scared shitless of the control Apple has in today's digital world. They are making a bold statement with this action, but I frankly do not see many other studios following. The NBC and MS relationship is strong (MSNBC) and no other Hollywood powerhouse has such ties.

True enough. Amazon was surprised how many companies signed on with them for their DRM-less store, but it was more of a rebellion against the control of Apple than their desire to use Amazon.

[ArmadonRK]

For us (das consumer) normalized pricing is great. NBC primarily wants to charge more for their shows (apparently NBC wanted iTunes to raise their shows' prices to $4 a pop) which is understandable from their point of view, but really not a wise business decision when Apple has basically set a standard people would be hard-pressed to vie away from.

Now when is Google gonna get on the bandwagon...

[Unbroken]

Let's give it up for Zune!!!

M$ > Apple

[DominiKing]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unbroken

Let's give it up for Zune!!!

M$ > Apple

word son, I'm sick of this iTunes crap. I dunno but I'm really against it, you can't really use the music unless it's in iTunes or an iPod. If you do manage to get em out then the names of the music files are changed to just letters and numbers. I hated it when I had to take music off an iPod cause the computer had crashed. Re-naming sucks so you just had to use iTunes again I'm all for change and competitiveness (lol I don't know if that's a word) and the Zune is a great mp3 player that will give Apple a run in some time

[useful_idiot]

Well damn, I was gonna spend part of my tax return on an ipod to replace my stolen one...maybe now I should go for a zune?

I've always liked the look of the zune a little better, and granted I don't buy a TON of movies or shows to watch, I still buy the classics just to have in case.

What do you guys think?

[CoffeeShark]

they're both good products, i can tell you that. My big concern is the use of iTunes, although their store is obviously better than Zune's.

I actually like the Zune interface a little better, although the zune squircle thingy takes some getting used to. the zune software works and synchs up well.

I think it comes down to personal preference. personally, the iPod Nano is just too small for me. The Touch is sweet, though, if you can afford it.

[ArmadonRK]

I only buy iTunes Plus music these days, it's unprotected and DRM free, I just convert them to MP3s and I can play them wherever. I still have a few older non-Plus tracks, but I just burn 'em to CDs and rip em back off as MP3s...

[CoffeeShark]

i just buy off Amazon, or buy the CD and rip it.