Channel 4 joins BBC in iTunes store
Wednesday 19 March 2008 09:55:32 by Andrew Ferguson
Fancy parting with your hard earned cash to download episodes of Spaced, Shameless or Skins? Well, this is now possible as Channel 4 has started to put its shows into the iTunes store according to the gadget website T3.
The shows cost £1.89 each, and we presume unlike content downloaded from iPlayer or 4oD they will not expire after 30 days. One slightly annoying feature of iTunes is that you cannot browse the store before downloading the software.
To give users a taster of the quality, a 25 minute show weighs in at around 290MB and is about the same quality as you would get from the iPlayer and 4oD services, which is somewhere around Freeview quality. Apple on its free film trailer site offers a wide range of resolutions, so it would be nice to see a range of resolutions in the paid for content too.
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Posted by
CARPETBURN 7 months ago
quote"To give users a taster of the quality, a 25 minute show weighs in at around 290MB"
Poor to average quality then.
quote"around Freeview quality"
4OD, Iplayer and Itunes video is not even close to freeview quality IMO bitrate and res. is lower.
quote"Apple on its free film trailer site offers a wide range of resolutions, so it would be nice to see a range of resolutions in the paid for content too."
No chance of that do you have any idea how many Mb (or should i say gig) a 30min programme would be in 1080 MOV format?? Another over priced service.... BBC IPLAYER will be next to charge.
quote"To give users a taster of the quality, a 25 minute show weighs in at around 290MB"
Poor to average quality then.
quote"around Freeview quality"
4OD, Iplayer and Itunes video is not even close to freeview quality IMO bitrate and res. is lower.
quote"Apple on its free film trailer site offers a wide range of resolutions, so it would be nice to see a range of resolutions in the paid for content too."
No chance of that do you have any idea how many Mb (or should i say gig) a 30min programme would be in 1080 MOV format?? Another over priced service.... BBC IPLAYER will be next to charge.
Posted by
andrew (
staff member)
7 months ago
Who said anything about 1080p? The option for a range of bit rates/resolutions would be nice, and people can decide for themselves in the file size versus quality battle.
staff member)
7 months ago
Who said anything about 1080p? The option for a range of bit rates/resolutions would be nice, and people can decide for themselves in the file size versus quality battle.
Posted by
g-bhxu 7 months ago
Personally. I can't see why we should have to pay again for BBC programmes that we've already paid for through the TV Licence fee.
Personally. I can't see why we should have to pay again for BBC programmes that we've already paid for through the TV Licence fee.
Posted by
ian72 7 months ago
g-bhxu - that would apply to DVDs as well but they have been selling those at normal retail prices for a long time.
The TV license pays for the running of the corporation. It does not mean that we own the TV programmes (if it did then we should all get a share when they sell those programmes abroad). We are not paying for the content itself, just the right to watch it when the BBC decide to show it. Anything other than that they can charge in addition.
g-bhxu - that would apply to DVDs as well but they have been selling those at normal retail prices for a long time.
The TV license pays for the running of the corporation. It does not mean that we own the TV programmes (if it did then we should all get a share when they sell those programmes abroad). We are not paying for the content itself, just the right to watch it when the BBC decide to show it. Anything other than that they can charge in addition.
Posted by
herdwick 7 months ago
"just the right to watch it when the BBC decide to show it."
Indeed. B is for Broadcasting.
"just the right to watch it when the BBC decide to show it."
Indeed. B is for Broadcasting.
Posted by
c_j_ 7 months ago
"Do they think we are stupid?"
Certainly looks that way, given the comparison with DVD quality, features, and prices. My experience of iPlayer/4oD has been that they're not up to proper watching on a TV (not even an ordinary one).
Incidentally, here's the revenue split for a download single on iTunes, anyone know the TV split?
iTunes downloads cost 79p per track. Writer/publisher get 6p,
Performer 6-8p,
Visa/Mastercard 7p,
Apple 12p,
Record Company almost 50p.
http://www.tomrobinson.com/records/music/index.htm
"Do they think we are stupid?"
Certainly looks that way, given the comparison with DVD quality, features, and prices. My experience of iPlayer/4oD has been that they're not up to proper watching on a TV (not even an ordinary one).
Incidentally, here's the revenue split for a download single on iTunes, anyone know the TV split?
iTunes downloads cost 79p per track. Writer/publisher get 6p,
Performer 6-8p,
Visa/Mastercard 7p,
Apple 12p,
Record Company almost 50p.
http://www.tomrobinson.com/records/music/index.htm
Posted by
CARPETBURN 7 months ago
quote"Who said anything about 1080p? The option for a range of bit rates/resolutions would be nice, and people can decide for themselves in the file size versus quality battle."
I assumed you also meant 1080 resolutions as that is indeed a choice the apple movie trailer site offers.Appologies if i got that wrong and you were only refering to the lesser quality downloads.
quote"Who said anything about 1080p? The option for a range of bit rates/resolutions would be nice, and people can decide for themselves in the file size versus quality battle."
I assumed you also meant 1080 resolutions as that is indeed a choice the apple movie trailer site offers.Appologies if i got that wrong and you were only refering to the lesser quality downloads.
Posted by
bosie 7 months ago
Wonderful, something else to watch on the tube to work. I don't actually mind paying because it saves me the effort of buying the DVD and ripping it to iPod. When the BFI gets onboard I'll be even happier. I'm not bothered for Hollywood but access to European cinema would be very nice too.
Wonderful, something else to watch on the tube to work. I don't actually mind paying because it saves me the effort of buying the DVD and ripping it to iPod. When the BFI gets onboard I'll be even happier. I'm not bothered for Hollywood but access to European cinema would be very nice too.
Posted by
gayboy-ds 7 months ago
C4 gets funding from the TV License and IMO there shows appeal more to me than most of the pretencious bile thrown out of the Beeb. The Beeb should come to a deal with Apple for distibuting iPlayer content for free.
Apple needs the BBC's business for the UK and American markets as it's TV and film portfolio isn't too amazing.
C4 gets funding from the TV License and IMO there shows appeal more to me than most of the pretencious bile thrown out of the Beeb. The Beeb should come to a deal with Apple for distibuting iPlayer content for free.
Apple needs the BBC's business for the UK and American markets as it's TV and film portfolio isn't too amazing.
Posted by
CARPETBURN 7 months ago
quote"C4 gets funding from the TV License....."
Er no they get their money more from adverts and sponsor deals for rubbish like big brother.
quote"C4 gets funding from the TV License....."
Er no they get their money more from adverts and sponsor deals for rubbish like big brother.
Posted by
jchamier 7 months ago
C4 gets some public money, but its not from the TV licence - "Channel 4 was established with, and continues to hold, a remit of public service obligations which it must fulfill"
see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_4
C4 gets some public money, but its not from the TV licence - "Channel 4 was established with, and continues to hold, a remit of public service obligations which it must fulfill"
see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_4
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quote"Fancy parting with your hard earned cash to download episodes ......Shameless, Skins........"
Yes i would be happy to great shows :)
quote"..shows cost £1.89 each, and we presume unlike content downloaded from iPlayer or 4oD they will not expire after 30 days."
£1.89 per episode, thanks but no thanks i can buy the series on dvd for less than that works out. Taking shameless series 4 as an example (previous series to what is airing) had 7 episodes (excl xmas special) 7x£1.89=£13.23. Play.com just as an example have it in stock on 3 DVDs for just £12.99.Do they think we are stupid?