New Video iPod’s impact on cable uncertain
Apple’s new Video iPod is an interesting animal, or fruit, rather. People are saying that Apple, again, has redesigned the entire playing field , and are molding the world of TV in their own image. The ability to watch cable shows without your TV may be a scary one for cable providers. On the other hand, maybe not?
According to the market watch report:
“People pay $30 or $50 a month for unlimited cable television for a couple hundred channels that they can watch 24 hours a day,” Hoffenberg said. “Now all of a sudden, when one hour of TV is a dollar or two, it changes the value proposition for television.”
However, cable could also benefit if the video iPod doesn’t take off.
Paying for individual TV episodes may prove to be a stubborn roadblock for many people to get beyond, because the “free” on-demand model is becoming so accepted.
“If anything [the video iPod] might encourage people to use VOD, once some of these current network shows are available on a non-linear basis,” said Jim Penhune, an analyst at Boston-based Strategy Analytics, a provider of consulting services for the cable and broadband industry.
It’s all very complicated and has a lot to do with numbers and stuff. Also trends I’m sure. Oh, and consumer attitudes. For me, the real question is: Do I even want to watch Lost or Desperate Housewives on a 2.5″ screen for an hour?