According to NewTeeVee, Apple is looking to compete in the instant streaming game against Hulu Plus and Netflix. They are pushing a streaming rental service that would let you watch TV shows instantly for just 99 cents. This is along with the upcoming release of their new Apple TV set-top box.
According to sources, Apple is trying to get TV programmers to let it rent individual TV shows for 99 cents each, as opposed to the $1.99 it receives for sales of standard-definition episodes and the $2.99 it gets for selling HD episodes. The TV rental program would work in much the same way that movie rentals now work through iTunes; once an episode is purchased, the consumer will have 30 days to start watching the video. And once started, the TV rental will be available for 24 hours before it expires.
Hulu Plus and Netflix are both in a growing market as consumers realize a low monthly subscription for streaming video is definitely worth their while. They are both available in a variety of formats on a number of devices, including via the web. You can get an unlimited account with either service for around $10/month.
While it seems that Apple is late to the party, they could still make a grand entrance. They are looking to form partnerships with cable networks to gain access to premium content. We’re talking about shows like Mad Men and True Blood that Hulu Plus won’t have access to. I’d buy that for a dollar. The only caveat here is that Apple is still tied to their own hardware, so you would need an iPhone, Apple TV set-top box, or some other Apple device to participate. I can watch Hulu Plus and Netflix on my Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3, iPad, iPhone, Wii, and many other devices.
Even though iTunes has always been tied to Apple hardware, that didn’t stop it from becoming numero uno. In this case, I can see consumers paying for accounts on more than one of these streaming services. Your Netflix or Hulu Plus might cover most of the bases, but you still purchase content a la carte from Apple to fill in the gaps. It just boils down to what gaps Apple will be able to fill.
Would you buy individual TV episodes for a dollar each?
via FastCompany