After sticking hard and fast to its $1.99 common TV show price point for so long, HBO and the power of its high quality shows have made Apple crumble, allowing $2.99 per episode. Apple got served. And now they’re serving up HBO shows.
Really though, if you’re interested in just a show or two, buying through the iTunes Store is a great way to get your HBO fix. I’m an addict of HBO programming but I can’t justify the monthly cost associated. The movies aren’t a real draw as I have Netflix, but the Sopranos, Rome, and the Wire I just can’t get enough of.
I’m not sure if I’ll be buying any of the current offerings (The Wire, Flight of Conchords, Rome, The Sopranos, Sex and the City, and Deadwood) because I’ve already watched all of three of them, watching one on DVD, one doesn’t appeal to me, and finally one I’m on the fence about watching (you may now commence guessing which is which). Now, if Entourage were offered, that would change my mind. I would buy weekly if the episodes were released as shown on HBO. Somehow I don’t see that happening.
I don't know what all the fuss is because this isn't the first set of programs with variable pricing. Remember, PBS got a special deal with their shows like Nova (which are much closer to $10 an episode).
@James, try $5 (although I remember them selling for $7). The terms of use are different for those shows. Namely, you can buy them and show them to a class for educational purposes. Not so with the HBO shows.
Though I really want to go to the class where they show The Sopranos, The Wire, and Flight of the Conchords for educational purposes.
I can stomach $1.99 per episode for the few shows I watch since it's cheaper for me than cable (for the most recent ones that won't be on DVD for another year ... like Torchwood and Breaking Bad and Lost ... it's Netflix for the rest), but not $2.99.
I'll pass.
@Dan, you should go to film school.
@Paul, some of those (The Wire, Flight of the Conchords, and Sex and the City) are "only" $1.99 each. But yeah, I agree. I'm hoping sales of The Wire so far outpace the other three that HBO just lowers the price.
@Dave-O: Tell that to all the film schools that rejected me. Now that I'm a famous blogger, they'll see. They'll all see.
Heh, revenge against the film schools. Considering some of the dreck their students put out, I like it.