More Evidence of Apple Domination

Wal-Mart gives up online movie download service

Guess what? It didn't work on iPods. DUH.

Netflix for the win in buying out and outlasting Wal-Mart. But what is Netflix doing to make its service available on mobile devices? Will that affect their business too?

Is a Netflix/Amazon team-up probable? They both follow the click-and-mortar strategy - provide both the DVD and the digital content delivery methods. Will either of them bow to Apple's dominance, or will they eventually team up to compete? Apple still has the huge advantage of owning the delivery platform; the DRM and the devices. Amazon's got TiVo, Netflix ain't got jack. A Netflix/Apple team-up makes sense for Netflix, but why would Apple want to get into the DVD delivery biz?

The bottom line is that movie downloads have to be easier than getting in the car or walking to the video store. Unless you live right next to one, it's probably a 15-20 minute round trip to get your gratification. This is where cable companies hold all the cards; on demand videos that rival the video store, available in less time than it takes to go there.

An Open Letter To Showtime (and other quality content providers)

Dear Showtime,

I'm a big fan of your work. You innovate with your content and you create some really special entertainment.

Unfortunately, we have a problem. The problem is that I hate my cable provider. Their service does not meet my needs: it's too expensive, it's too unwieldy to use (their crappy hardware and software is literally a burden) and frankly, I just plain hate when monopolies dictate terms to me. Especially obsolete monopolies.

And yes, cable TV is in fact obsolete - because there are superior methods of content delivery for savvy consumers. Portable, high definition methods that give me exactly what I want (no more, no less) and let me take it where I want to. The point being that the technology is there; you only need the will to actually implement it.

So why can't I buy content from you directly? I'm one of those people who believes in paying for quality products, and your content is some of the best out there right now. Why can't we just cut out the middleman, the same way things are happening in the music business? Why should I be giving so much money to the cable monopoly? I can give it to you directly, instead of having it trickle down to you through them.

You've done deals with Netflix - I got to see the season premiere of Dexter exclusively via their Instant Watching service before anyone else. I can even purchase old seasons of your shows on iTunes. So what's stopping you from putting out fresh content on iTunes or Netflix at the same time you air on cable, or shortly after you air? The big networks are providing hit shows like Lost and Heroes for free on their web sites right after they air them, and are getting additional revenue from online advertising and sponsorship. I'm telling you, me and a bunch of other people (who will, again frankly, NEVER subscribe to your channel via cable) want to pay you to get just the content we want, hassle free. We really, really don't care about the 500 other channels - yours is the special one.

Don't you want more revenue too?

Seriously - all you're doing is propping up cable monopolies with this behavior, and keeping yourself from achieving more profit. You're not going to lose business by broadcasting your fresh content via other channels... there is a true consumer need for this, and you'll make money by filling that void with additional product offerings.