Boxee making deals with networks

[clcallegari]

This is a step in the right direction

http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/06/b...content-sales/

[TheKrishna]

I do agree it's a great step. However, I would like them to take it a lil further. I understand not wanting to give new episodes of their shows away for free. However, older seasons, older shows, Late Night with David Letterman, I say give these away for free. Throw some adds in so they can get paid, but other than that keep it free. Then offer a pay service to watch newer shows. That in my view would be great.

But for now its a good step. A step googleTV should of taken.

[fitzintx]

So why are the networks going to all charge to view their shows when you can watch them free online? I can't wrap my head around the fact I can watch the latest full episodes online but as soon as you try to do it with Boxee or Google TV then they charge. Is it only because they can?

Seems like I should just get a Mac Mini that will sit nicely next to me tv and use the browser to go watch Full Episodes...

[TheKrishna]

So why are the networks going to all charge to view their shows when you can watch them free online? I can't wrap my head around the fact I can watch the latest full episodes online but as soon as you try to do it with Boxee or Google TV then they charge. Is it only because they can?

Seems like I should just get a Mac Mini that will sit nicely next to me tv and use the browser to go watch Full Episodes...

In my opinion, I think networks honestly think that fans are so loyal that we will pay to see their shows. What they forget is most people have dvrs, online sources, and other ways to watch our fav shows. Or we just don't watch and stop caring after a while. Like I mentioned in befored, this is a step in the right direction for Boxee, but CBS should really offer free shows and such. They can put ads in their shows. I don't mind sitting through a 30-60 second ad.

Of course that is just my opinion, I could be wrong.

[twistybox]

You may very well have free HD broadcast (ATSC) in your area. Nothing currently beats the quality of HD network programming. And at FREE, nothing beats the price. Even better when you have a PVR set up to record HD.

[MrMichaelJames]

So why are the networks going to all charge to view their shows when you can watch them free online? I can't wrap my head around the fact I can watch the latest full episodes online but as soon as you try to do it with Boxee or Google TV then they charge. Is it only because they can?

Seems like I should just get a Mac Mini that will sit nicely next to me tv and use the browser to go watch Full Episodes...

What is your current cable bill? Mine is over $100. Say you watch 2 CBS shows, 24 episodes a season, thats $24 a show a year, $48 for all your CBS shows for a year. You pay $1200 a year for cable. Now add in other networks same pricing. At $24 a show for a season spending the same $1200 on watching just what you want but having to pay $.99 an episode you could watch 50 different shows for their entire season and spend the same amount of money. Do you watch 50 different shows? I know I don't get anywhere near that.

It's the a la cart model. Pay for the shows you want to watch and only the shows you want to watch. Ditch cable, pull locals over the air if you want. Seems like a win win for consumers. Networks would rather sell directly to the consumer instead of having to pay the ridiculous fees to cable companies.

[funk_dat69]

It's a good step in that it shows Boxee is dealing in good faith with the content owners. However, I, for one, hope CBS (and other networks) move to ad-supported streams. People are used to that and accept that. I for one couldn't justify paying for a 30 minute show when I could easily view it for free elsewhere. (cbs.com, DVR, torrents)

I also hope that Boxee isn't forced to remove other options (WTV/MS-DVR support, Fancast, navi-x) to appease the networks. We will see. Make a deal with the devil..

[SHollywood]

What is your current cable bill? Mine is over $100. Say you watch 2 CBS shows, 24 episodes a season, thats $24 a show a year, $48 for all your CBS shows for a year. You pay $1200 a year for cable. Now add in other networks same pricing. At $24 a show for a season spending the same $1200 on watching just what you want but having to pay $.99 an episode you could watch 50 different shows for their entire season and spend the same amount of money. Do you watch 50 different shows? I know I don't get anywhere near that.

It's the a la cart model. Pay for the shows you want to watch and only the shows you want to watch. Ditch cable, pull locals over the air if you want. Seems like a win win for consumers. Networks would rather sell directly to the consumer instead of having to pay the ridiculous fees to cable companies.

Couldn't disagree more! You're paying $100 a month (I assume), but how many channels do you get for that? It's not the cable providers fault if you decide to watch 1 episode for the season. If that was the case, then anyone within their right mind would opt for a BASIC cable package for around $20. Then at .99 an episode, you lose! Even with a basic cable package, you can still have access to several channels and your choice of episodes from those.
If Boxee thinks inking deals with pay per episode is the way to go, expect these boards to be lit up even more with people bitching and bellyaching, which there is already more than enough of.
I seriously question who's running the show and making all of these horrible decisions Boxee has made thus far? I was happy with the box when I purchased it, but things are going downhill as of late.......

[neveroffline]

Couldn't disagree more! You're paying $100 a month (I assume), but how many channels do you get for that? It's not the cable providers fault if you decide to watch 1 episode for the season. If that was the case, then anyone within their right mind would opt for a BASIC cable package for around $20. Then at .99 an episode, you lose! Even with a basic cable package, you can still have access to several channels and your choice of episodes from those.
If Boxee thinks inking deals with pay per episode is the way to go, expect these boards to be lit up even more with people bitching and bellyaching, which there is already more than enough of.
I seriously question who's running the show and making all of these horrible decisions Boxee has made thus far? I was happy with the box when I purchased it, but things are going downhill as of late.......

Exactly. Part of my premise for drawing people to the Boxee over the Apple TV is and has been .99 cents an episode for something that is FREE on the Boxee Box? Those people are crazy.

However, if things keep up (BTW: CBS works in fancast while, NBC, ABC, Fox, SyFy, etc do not), I'm afraid the boxee box and its siblings will end up being no more special than VUDU, Netflix, or the like - all subscription based.

If you take away the free online content, consider me done - fork and all.

My main reason for people to buy the Boxee Box? All the FREE content - that on other "boxes" cost $0.99 if they want the online content - IE: basic tv shows, some free cable shows, etc. That hasn't worked out as planned.

EDIT: basically, if I can watch something for FREE on my PC/Mac etc on a Computer Browser, even if its from CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, etc. - then I want to be able to do that same act, as if I was AT MY PC, on my Boxee Box. You can't, and its BS.

[agosanim]

What is your current cable bill? Mine is over $100. Say you watch 2 CBS shows, 24 episodes a season, thats $24 a show a year, $48 for all your CBS shows for a year. You pay $1200 a year for cable. Now add in other networks same pricing. At $24 a show for a season spending the same $1200 on watching just what you want but having to pay $.99 an episode you could watch 50 different shows for their entire season and spend the same amount of money. Do you watch 50 different shows? I know I don't get anywhere near that.

It's the a la cart model. Pay for the shows you want to watch and only the shows you want to watch. Ditch cable, pull locals over the air if you want. Seems like a win win for consumers. Networks would rather sell directly to the consumer instead of having to pay the ridiculous fees to cable companies.

Let's have a better model, you put commercials in the show I don't pay, just like over the air tv but it will be over the internet tv. We are already pain for an internet connection and before this is over they will be charging us 200.00 dollars a month just for a fast enough unlimited internet service.

The government sure ain't going to protect us from the greed of this internet services, as long as they get their cut.

Hell I see enough commercials on the ESPN Channels that they should be free over the air or internet. Every channel that plays commercials should be free. If they want to have an Alternative channel without commercials for those that like to pay that should be an option.