Apple expands Season Pass offerings, Disney prepares "rich media destination"

Iria · Mar 29, 2006, 05:44 PM

The Season Pass concept is taking shape at Apple's iTunes Music Store. Following the unveiling of the "multi-pass" earlier this month, Apple has now added season pass options to several other shows. A quick look at the structure and pricing of these offerings reveals a bit about how these shows are being positioned vis-?is other post-broadcast options, including on-demand and network-run marketing operations.

Unlike the multi-pass which was debuted for frequently-aired, topical shows, the season pass has been designed for prime-time network fare such as Lost and Desperate Housewives. Priced at US$34.99 for both shows, the season pass includes rights to all episodes from the season, including episodes that have yet to air. For Lost, that translates to 25 episodes at a cost of US$1.40 per show, and Desperate Housewives lands within pennies of this.

Focusing on these two shows, a comparison to DVD prices shows that the online versions are competitively priced. The first seasons of both shows sell for nearly $60 each on Amazon, roughly $25 more than the iTMS cost. What does that price premium get you? Physical media, superior resolution, and a dead-simple way to play the content on your TV. Is this going to be the big differentiator between online content and traditional content delivery mechanisms?
___________
Read More / Source: Ars Technica

Mar 29, 2006, 05:44 PM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 74	Apple expands Season Pass offerings, Disney prepares "rich media destination" The Season Pass concept is taking shape at Apple's iTunes Music Store. Following the unveiling of the "multi-pass" earlier this month, Apple has now added season pass options to several other shows. A quick look at the structure and pricing of these offerings reveals a bit about how these shows are being positioned vis-?is other post-broadcast options, including on-demand and network-run marketing operations. Unlike the multi-pass which was debuted for frequently-aired, topical shows, the season pass has been designed for prime-time network fare such as Lost and Desperate Housewives. Priced at US$34.99 for both shows, the season pass includes rights to all episodes from the season, including episodes that have yet to air. For Lost, that translates to 25 episodes at a cost of US$1.40 per show, and Desperate Housewives lands within pennies of this. Focusing on these two shows, a comparison to DVD prices shows that the online versions are competitively priced. The first seasons of both shows sell for nearly $60 each on Amazon, roughly $25 more than the iTMS cost. What does that price premium get you? Physical media, superior resolution, and a dead-simple way to play the content on your TV. Is this going to be the big differentiator between online content and traditional content delivery mechanisms? ___________ Read More / Source: Ars Technica