What Will iPod Do for Television?
Apple’s iPod profoundly changed the way people experience music. What will it do for television?The industry was intrigued by Wednesday’s announcement that episodes of the hit ABC shows “Desperate Housewives” and “Lost” will be available for Apple’s new video iPod. Episodes will go on sale for $1.99 on iTunes the day after they are broadcast.For ABC and its parent Walt Disney Co., the bet is that the new technology will bring in more new fans of the programs than will be taken away from watching them on traditional broadcast television.
The network’s affiliates were not told the deal was in the works before Wednesday, and they’re the people most likely to be concerned about its impact. Now the iPod will join digital video recorders and DVDs as another way of seeing television programs other than their regularly scheduled times on the ABC stations.Leon Long, chairman of ABC’s affiliate board said if viewers have the choice of watching “Desperate Housewives” on their wide-screen television with surround sound or a two-inch iPod screen, they will almost certainly watch it on TV.
The iPod option will likely be attractive to people who missed an episode and want to keep up with the story, he said.He noted that two of the three series ABC is offering to iTunes are serials that require viewers to follow story lines that play out over several months.Initially, the downloads might also appeal to techies who want to try out the new product and might not necessarily be fans of the programs, which could bring these shows a new audience.As for the chance it will pull people away from his station, Long said, “It’s certainly a risk but I don’t think it’s a great risk.”