Sci/Tech Web Thursday 30th August 2007
iTunes can get Lost
Yesterday, Apple added TV Shows to the UK iTunes store, two years after introducing the service to the USA. For the time being, there are 28 shows such as Lost, Desperate Housewives and Ugly Betty available from networks including ABC, Disney, Nickelodeon and MTV.
The good: A lot of this content isn’t available to buy in the UK yet, via any other means. Some of it hasn’t even been shown on TV yet.
The bad: It’s extremely expensive. Individual episodes cost £1.89 (US$3.80). In America, the exact same content costs £0.99 (US$1.99). That’s almost double the price!
Factor this terrible value into buying a full series of a show and it gets really ugly. For example, series 3 of Lost is £32.99 (US$66.42). A quick wander into the US store and you can find the exact same content for £17.38 (US$34.99). I’d probably pay £17.38. I definitely won’t be paying £32.99.
So store to store, the value sucks. But how about comparing iTunes store prices to DVD prices. Let’s look at another example. Like Lost, Ugly Betty is £32.99 (US$66.42) for the full series on iTunes. The DVD isn’t available to buy yet, but when it is released, it’ll be just £29.99 (US$60.39). So for less money, you can watch it in better quality, have a hard copy, DRM-free and get extras too. Hmmm, it’s a tricky one. Which one do I go for?!?
I know what you’re thinking. It’s Britain! Everything is more expensive here. Well, you’re right, but it doesn’t have to be. There is absolutely no justification for this outrageous price hike. And I’m not the only one who thinks this. The show reviews in iTunes are full of 1-starred complaints from disappointed potential customers.
Update (31/08): Apple appear to have deleted all the negative comments about the prices they’ve set. I hope they’ll still take them on board.
Apple, your prices are too high. You cannot expect us in the UK to pay to watch Ugly Betty on a small iPod screen for +£30 per series!
I love Ugly Betty. Fantastic. If you haven’t seen it buy it – but not from the iTunes stre. It is a rip off price. It is double that of the US. Protest and don’t buy. Force them to lower their stupid prices.
I hope Apple’s greed gets the better of them. HUGELY over inflated price. I’m not one to be ripped off so I say NO WAY to these crazy prices. Is it any wonder people pirate copyright material. Dying to see LOT Season 3 but at this price Apple can GET LOST!!
I quite agree.
I’ll update this post if there are further updates, but for the time being, Apple won’t be getting any of my money.
Update (01/09): I’ve just discovered something. Apple are selling 28 episodes (each 23 minutes long) of Series 1 of Disney’s Little Einsteins for £52.92 (US$106.74). I thought the other prices were bad, but this goes to prove it. APPLE ARE OUT OF THEIR FREAKING MINDS! Who do they think is going to pay that much for cartoons. I wouldn’t even spend that much on a new television!
