Comments on: EzyDVDs Online Movie Store Put On Hold, Potential Customers Destined To Become Pirates

By: Nick Broughall

Nick Broughall — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:20:02 +0000

@Attilla - it's different. the original iTunes store, which sold only music, worked only with the iPod. But 80% of MP3 player owners had an iPod, so the whole restrictive nature of the service was irrelevant.

With movies and TV shows, you don't necessarily want to be stuck at your PC watching them, and you don't necessarily want to watch them on your iPod. I know the only way I'll buy movies or TV shows online is if/when I can watch them on my TV easily, and unless I own an Apple TV (which I don't), that's an impossible proposition.

And as soon as things become difficult, people will look for an easier way, which at the moment is piracy - it's much easier to download a movie and burn it to DVD illegally than buying legitimate content online in this country (if you don't own an Apple TV, that is).

By: rangott

rangott — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 08:19:17 +0000

if iinet teamed up with ezydvd and made the online dvds a decent 2-4 gig stream or download on iinets free usage at the same price as retail rental stores I would use it. I dont pirate movies now because I hate the quality. When you think about it pirated copies are a 6th of the quality and that isnt accetable for film buffs.

By: poobum

poobum — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 07:11:04 +0000

Counting the paid movie download as part of your monthly bandwidth quota is the thing that’s stopping me from using iTunes Store for movie rentals / purchases. I don’t think it will take off until ADSL2 in regional areas and more generous bandwidth allowances take off, with incentives for paid downloads (eg iiNet’s latest announcement).

By: Simon Gilligan

Simon Gilligan — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 06:29:14 +0000

Just a small correction to Nick .. iTunes is nowhere near the biggest seller of music. It is the biggest *single* seller of music, but online sales in the states still only accounts for 30% of total consumer spend. The remaining 70% is still channeled through traditional retail. Those percentages will no doubt flip in the next 2-3 years, but that’s where they stand today. The stats are here: http://www.ifpi.org/content/section_resources/dmr2008.html

By: Tim

Tim — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 06:19:10 +0000

Attila, I think you’re missing the point: iTunes is easy. Really easy. That’s why it is such a success.

By: attila

attila — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 06:02:03 +0000

This would be the same itunes that built its sucess using highly restrictive DRM, allowing its content to be played on devices which only Apple sold?

Doesn't that go against the "build it non-proprietary and they will come" argument being made in the Giz post?

By: Nick Broughall

Nick Broughall — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 05:52:42 +0000

I disagree. Look at iTunes in the US - it's now the biggest seller of music, beating all the retail stores easily.

Granted, there's still piracy - you'll never get rid of it completely - but piracy has always been around. Before the internet it was cheap cds in backalley streets or dvds from china. They're not going to go away.

But if there is an attractive model for legally purchasing content that isn't overpriced and doesn't have too many restrictions, then legal options will take off.

By: attila

attila — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 05:32:56 +0000

"you're not going to make the slightest dent in piracy until we have a few attractive, legal options on the table."

Unfortunately the most "attractive" aspect will be the price. If they want to charge more than $0 then there will still be rampant piracy.

The convenience argument is largely a smokescreen for greed - people would rather get something for nothing than pay for it.

By: JB

JB — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 04:54:24 +0000

HERE HERE!
Now, who wants to try and convince the studios that this is a good idea?