“Does anyone in their right mind think that Apple choose to have less content in other markets outside of the US? It’s the studios and labels who carved up the IP world into regions long ago, and it is they who sustain it.”

Ditto

Made me so sad for human intelligence everytime I read someone’s whining about iTMS availability outside the US – and/or how the US store lacks “imports” – while Apple was having to negociate region-by-region with all the various publishers, artists, associations…

I’m also one who thinks its funny to see how the EU’s even-pricing rulings are keeping the publishers from getting more money in a given region.

Does anyone in their right mind think that Apple choose to have less content in other markets outside of the US? It’s the studios and labels who carved up the IP world into regions long ago, and it is they who sustain it.

I for one thank our (more often bumbling and hypocrite) European overlords for forcing the price cut on iTunes UK music tracks later this summer. But what I particularly like is that Apple’s interpretation is that it’s the labels who take the hit; or get the hell out of the store. Definitely different to what the EU had in mind!

I wouldn’t claim this is a crisis but it’s clear that the door is open to variable pricing. And that’s probably a good thing.

The HBO shows, on the other hand, have no commercials and never did.

I disagree with this article, however. I believe offering HBO differential pricing is indeed a crack in the dam, and will lead to differential pricing across the board. Its likely however, that it will take place at fixed price points (e.g. only 0.99, 1.99 and 2.99).

I do not know how bad a thing this is though. We’ve got to realize that when iTunes first came along, paying for downloads seemed a ridiculous idea, considering people could get them from free on Napster. At the same time, internet commerce was not well developed at all. Now that people are a little more savvy with the internet, and more used to buying media off it, differential pricing might not be as much of a turn-off as it once was.

@whmlco

“And that these “special cases” are just the tip of the iceberg.”

But Nova going for $5, and Sopranos et. al. going for $3, puts a damper on any prices higher than that.

How many shows can claim to be as critically-acclaimed and/or popular as Nova or Sopranos???

Anything priced at greater-than $3 will just have people asking: “Who do they think they’re kidding? I can get The Sopranos for only $3…”

If the Sopranos can only get HBO an extra buck, what chance do most other shows have of asking for the same – let alone greater – premium.

Heck, even HBO’s “less established” 1-hour show is going for $1.99… so its not like -anything- from HBO would be cause for a higher purchase price.

As far as pricing goes, Apple can do what they want because the one thing that constrains the pricing today is the fact that if they price it too high many people will simply turn to downloads. In a way we have the illegal downloaders to thank for breaking the age old marketing tactics of the music cartels, but the movie studios are still in the dark ages.

I have a relative who won’t pay for any music or movies (yes he’s a very cheap bugger). So how can you profit off this kind of person? I asked him if he would download a movie if it were free, contained ads, but was at a better quality than can usually be had via the torrent sites, and he said he’d be all over it. I’d do that too for many movies, just like I watch them on broadcast TV. On some occasions I’d want to rent movies ad-free and would pay for this luxury. The movie studios need to start finding ways to serve their customers rather than simply opposing the way people want to consume the content and brow beating them with protectionist tactics.

If NBC demand a price that is above what people will pay, Apple will make no money, but more importantly, neither will NBC. They’ll drop their prices to a point at which people will pay.

Whilst I admire Apple for standing firm against the efforts of the studios to try and rip us off, this will all normalise in the end anyway.