Holy high definition, Batman. Apple’s announced that it now features HD shows from all four major networks (we’re sorry, CW, but maybe someday you can grow up to be a major network). As you’ll recall, Apple first announced HD TV shows back in September at the iPod extravaganza, though at the time it only provided shows from NBC, ABC, and Showtime.
Well, now CBS and FOX have joined ranks with their own resolution-so-high-you-can-see-David-Caruso’s-pores-oh-god downloads. And that’s not the only news from the iTunes front; seems the store’s been a busy little bee, moving its 200 millionth TV show and selling over a million HD episodes since their launch last month.
With the amount of HD TV content available, Apple still clearly intends to be a force in the online TV market, but it remains to be seen how they’ll handle competition from alternative forms distribution, such as the ad-based Hulu. Here’s my free prescription: $0.99 TV episode rentals, 7 days to start watching, 24 hours to finish. What think you, readers?
Subscription model. $X per month, watch what you want, but the files stop working if you stop paying. Forget Hulu; it replaces cable TV.
I want this more than I want anything else from Apple.
7 days to start watching and 24 hours to finish?? That stinks.
24 hours to watch is unreasonable. For that reason I would not rent movies from iTunes.