Can iTunes Resurrect Old Time TV?
Once again, a new technology that has been attacked by the entertainment industry will likely be used to gain that same industry a new stream of profits. Apple's iTunes download service has offered songs for about a dollar apiece for a few years now, and they started offering some episodes of newer TV shows when the newest iPod with video was released last month. Some in the entertainment industry complained about the TV episode downloads, claiming that it would cost local networks ratings. Now they've found a way for the studios to make money out of a product that hasn't made them money in decades: old TV shows.
When I say "old," I'm not talking about that episode of Family Guy that aired in September. I'm talking about about TV series that aired in the 1950's and 60's. Hopefully, the studios will find that a substantial number of people will pay $1 to download an episode of a TV show they haven't seen in 40 years. With any luck, TV series from 1950 - 2005 could be downloaded with the iTunes service for $1 or $2 an episode. I know there is an interest in many obscure shows that haven't been on TV in years, because I see old, poor-quality VHS rips of some shows pop up on Bittorrent sites and on Direct Connect hubs all the time.
People like to see the shows they grew up with, and I think they'll pay a buck or two for that opportunity. Most of these shows are too corny or unknown to be worthy of airing on TV Land or any other cable station, but I don't doubt there are a few thousand fans of Small Wonder or Punky Brewster who will download every episode of each series if given the chance. This is the theory that has made Amazon.com the biggest retail store on the internet. They make the majority of their money from items that only small groups of people are interested in. They just happen to have a few million of these "low interest" items.
Can iTunes Resurrect Old Time TV?
When I say "old," I'm not talking about that episode of Family Guy that aired in September. I'm talking about about TV series that aired in the 1950's and 60's. Hopefully, the studios will find that a substantial number of people will pay $1 to download an episode of a TV show they haven't seen in 40 years. With any luck, TV series from 1950 - 2005 could be downloaded with the iTunes service for $1 or $2 an episode. I know there is an interest in many obscure shows that haven't been on TV in years, because I see old, poor-quality VHS rips of some shows pop up on Bittorrent sites and on Direct Connect hubs all the time.
People like to see the shows they grew up with, and I think they'll pay a buck or two for that opportunity. Most of these shows are too corny or unknown to be worthy of airing on TV Land or any other cable station, but I don't doubt there are a few thousand fans of Small Wonder or Punky Brewster who will download every episode of each series if given the chance. This is the theory that has made Amazon.com the biggest retail store on the internet. They make the majority of their money from items that only small groups of people are interested in. They just happen to have a few million of these "low interest" items.
Can iTunes Resurrect Old Time TV?