NBC to offer free video downloads - bit-tech.net Forums

The_Pope · 20th Sep 2007, 10:22

Quote:

After refusing to renew its contract with Apple to distribute its popular TV shows, NBC Universal has decided to make them available for free. But there's a catch - you'll only be able to watch them for seven days after they're broadcast and you'll be forced to sit through commercials.

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2007/09...eo_downloads/1

dfrangu · 20th Sep 2007, 10:45

"The files will be deleted after the seven-day period. If you're wanting to take it on the road with you, well you're out of luck as the files will not be transferable."

And how are they going to make this happen?

FooSai · 20th Sep 2007, 10:47

It's free, so I don't see the problem with commercials. That's how it should be...
Built in advertising = free
No advertising = pay

shame about the 7 day limit, but hey! it's free, so at least it's one step in the right direction

samkiller42 · 20th Sep 2007, 10:48

Neat idea, i can see it becomming fairly popular.

Sam

naokaji · 20th Sep 2007, 10:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by dfrangu

"The files will be deleted after the seven-day period. If you're wanting to take it on the road with you, well you're out of luck as the files will not be transferable."

And how are they going to make this happen?

nothing a stream ripper cant fix....

dfrangu · 20th Sep 2007, 10:53

My thoughts exactly... So, in other words, it's not "free", it's "almost free" since after 7 days the file will self-destruct (LOL).

Joeymac · 20th Sep 2007, 10:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by naokaji

nothing a stream ripper cant fix....

But... is there any point in doing that when the internet will already have the shows available, probably in better quality, right after they air and in standardised formats.

naokaji · 20th Sep 2007, 11:13

thats true... didnt even think of alternate sources when responding to the limitations mentioned...

mikeuk2004 · 20th Sep 2007, 11:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeymac

But... is there any point in doing that when the internet will already have the shows available, probably in better quality, right after they air and in standardised formats.

Yeah, but that illegal and the NBC are offering the legal way.

Its a shame we wont see it and if only Channel 4 would not charge for its timed downloads.

steveo_mcg · 20th Sep 2007, 12:28

Downloading TV as opposed to dvd rips is, i don't think quite illegal but equally not quite legal. But it comes down to the age old DRM argument, the people have shown you how they want to view TV, forcing your model isn't going to work since its not as good as the current model. Take a general TV edonkey links site, instead of making these ad less rips, make them full rips ads and all people will still download them and sit through or skip the adds. Its no different to the broadcast model except the people are paying to download your program so they must want to watch it so you can charge more for the ad space.

DXR_13KE · 20th Sep 2007, 13:16

"don't look a gift horse in the mouth"

it would be almost perfect if it did not auto destruct...

Tulatin · 20th Sep 2007, 13:18

I'm sure that it's quite possible to do; i mean there's going to be an app written to strip the container, and beside that, a little bit of editing can shoo those commercials.

Joeymac · 20th Sep 2007, 13:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeuk2004

Yeah, but that illegal and the NBC are offering the legal way.

Its a shame we wont see it and if only Channel 4 would not charge for its timed downloads.

I was referring to striping the download from NBC of it's DRM... which is also illegal...

It's possible to strip it of the DRM, but it's pointless to do this as for less trouble you can download a better quality version without the DRM in the first place.

Funnily enough the fact that people who want to obtain it illegally won't even bother to get it direct from NBC makes the DRM on it doubly pointless.

Tulatin · 20th Sep 2007, 14:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeymac

I was referring to striping the download from NBC of it's DRM... which is also illegal...

It's possible to strip it of the DRM, but it's pointless to do this as for less trouble you can download a better quality version without the DRM in the first place.

Funnily enough the fact that people who want to obtain it illegally won't even bother to get it direct from NBC makes the DRM on it doubly pointless.

Well technically it's against the DMCA, but why is it that downloading stuff is any more illegal than taping it off TV, oh, or better yet, changing the channel and not watching commercials is like stealing TV!

Joeymac · 20th Sep 2007, 15:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tulatin

Well technically it's against the DMCA, but why is it that downloading stuff is any more illegal than taping it off TV, oh, or better yet, changing the channel and not watching commercials is like stealing TV!

You're preaching to the choir here buddy... I was merely saying that if it's illegal to strip the drm.. then why not just download a proper video from torrent sites.

ChiperSoft · 20th Sep 2007, 16:57

Basically what NBCs doing here is offering their own DVR service, minus the fastforward button I'll bet.
It's an interesting idea, but they completely fail at understanding why people buy online. If you can't archive it, and you can't watch it on the go, why bother?

sheepdog · 20th Sep 2007, 17:43

Pay version?

Great, then all we have to do is pay NBC, then CBS, then Fox, Napster, Rhapsody, etc... and you can watch or listen to anything you want, when you want.

Of course you will be broke and not be able to afford a computer to watch it on, but hey, it is there for you to watch what you want, when they allow you to, when the sever is up, traffic is low, your internet works, and...

Firehed · 20th Sep 2007, 18:22

Here's a fantastic example of a company that just doesn't get it.

bloodcar · 20th Sep 2007, 20:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firehed

Here's a fantastic example of a company that just doesn't get it.

I really don't see how they "don't get it." By cutting out the middle man prices should remain around the same area that they currently are. More then likely though, we'll see a slight increase in the price of the shows from what they are right now.

The paid for episodes (that won't be available until next year) will be transferable to any device that you want. It's only the free versions that will degrade (yes degrade, they will not self delete) after seven days. If you don't like it then you're probably already downloading the shows from torrent sites or other P2P clients. I don't watch much TV mainly because I rarely have the time to sit down and watch something that is on a schedule but I rent/buy seasons of shows on DVD.

Allowing a consumer to download for free and forcing them to watch commercials to supplement the income really isn't that bad. You guys are bitching over nothing.

And to answer the question as to why companies go after downloaded TV shows so often: Seasons on DVD. It's really not that hard to understand and if you were in their shoes, you'd be trying to protect your IP as well.

Irvine · 21st Sep 2007, 05:45

Meh, I don't know what you're talking about. I'd use this service...it's especially useful (for the people that go the legal route) if I missed an episode of The Office or something, and I wanted to get caught up. Oftentimes, I end up not watching the show because I can never catch it at the right time or I get into it in the middle of the season.

20th Sep 2007, 10:48	#4
samkiller42 KEEP IT CLEAN! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Havant, Hampshire, England Posts: 3,183	Neat idea, i can see it becomming fairly popular. Sam __________________ The Rig: i7 920 D0, Gigabyte EX58-UD5, 12GB DDR3 1600mhz, BFG GTX295, Samsung 64gb SSD, WD 640gb Black, Samsung F2 Eco 1TB, Dell 3007WFP, Windows 7 RC. The Netbook: Samsung NC10 Black, Intel Atom, 2gb DDR2 Xbox Live: samkiller42¦PSN: samkiller42¦Bungie: samkiller42

20th Sep 2007, 12:28	#10
steveo_mcg What owl? Join Date: May 2005 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 3,975	Downloading TV as opposed to dvd rips is, i don't think quite illegal but equally not quite legal. But it comes down to the age old DRM argument, the people have shown you how they want to view TV, forcing your model isn't going to work since its not as good as the current model. Take a general TV edonkey links site, instead of making these ad less rips, make them full rips ads and all people will still download them and sit through or skip the adds. Its no different to the broadcast model except the people are paying to download your program so they must want to watch it so you can charge more for the ad space. __________________ No boom today, boom tomorrow... there's always a boom tomorrow.

20th Sep 2007, 13:16	#11
DXR_13KE Madeira's banana is the best!!! Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Madeira ; Portugal Posts: 6,466	"don't look a gift horse in the mouth" it would be almost perfect if it did not auto destruct... __________________ *Renegade X - 0.40 Release!* <---- CLICK!

20th Sep 2007, 13:18	#12
Tulatin The Froggy Poster Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 2,941	I'm sure that it's quite possible to do; i mean there's going to be an app written to strip the container, and beside that, a little bit of editing can shoo those commercials. __________________ Desky E8400 @ 4.0 1.42v; P5K-E WiFi; 4x1 Kingmax Mars 1066 @ 1129 CAS 5; 2x [TOO CHEAP TO SPONSOR] 4850 @ 675/1050; Enermax Liberty; WCing in a CM690

20th Sep 2007, 17:43	#17
sheepdog Modder Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Missouri Posts: 60	Pay version? Great, then all we have to do is pay NBC, then CBS, then Fox, Napster, Rhapsody, etc... and you can watch or listen to anything you want, when you want. Of course you will be broke and not be able to afford a computer to watch it on, but hey, it is there for you to watch what you want, when they allow you to, when the sever is up, traffic is low, your internet works, and... __________________ My comp (Supermicro Sc830 bigun')

20th Sep 2007, 10:45	#2
dfrangu What's a Dremel? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: BUCURESTI, RO Posts: 13	"The files will be deleted after the seven-day period. If you're wanting to take it on the road with you, well you're out of luck as the files will not be transferable." And how are they going to make this happen?

20th Sep 2007, 10:47	#3
FooSai Multimodder Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: UK Posts: 70	It's free, so I don't see the problem with commercials. That's how it should be... Built in advertising = free No advertising = pay shame about the 7 day limit, but hey! it's free, so at least it's one step in the right direction

20th Sep 2007, 10:53	#6
dfrangu What's a Dremel? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: BUCURESTI, RO Posts: 13	My thoughts exactly... So, in other words, it's not "free", it's "almost free" since after 7 days the file will self-destruct (LOL).

20th Sep 2007, 16:57	#16
ChiperSoft Minimodder Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: San Diego, CA, USA Posts: 46	Basically what NBCs doing here is offering their own DVR service, minus the fastforward button I'll bet. It's an interesting idea, but they completely fail at understanding why people buy online. If you can't archive it, and you can't watch it on the go, why bother?

20th Sep 2007, 18:22	#18
Firehed Why not? I own a domain to match. Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: An hour north of Boston Posts: 12,576	Here's a fantastic example of a company that just doesn't get it. __________________ hire me @ eric-stern.com - web developer and php ninja pics @ my smugmug :: Twitter @firehed :: blog @ firehed.net 40D\|580EXII\|285HV\|AB800\|70-200f/4LIS\|17-50f/2.8\|150f/2.8Macro\|50f/1.8 MacPro @ 8x2.8GHz, 10GB FBDDR2, 3TB HD :: MBP @ 2x2.2GHz, 4GB DDR2, 320GB HD

21st Sep 2007, 05:45	#20
Irvine Multimodder Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 163	Meh, I don't know what you're talking about. I'd use this service...it's especially useful (for the people that go the legal route) if I missed an episode of The Office or something, and I wanted to get caught up. Oftentimes, I end up not watching the show because I can never catch it at the right time or I get into it in the middle of the season. __________________ abit IP35 Pro\|E6600@3.3\|7900gs@585/780\|2GB Corsair DDR2 800\|WD 250GB\|X-Fi XtremeGamer\|Zalman VF-900\|Modded Zalman CNPS9500