TedPage: iPod Video

If you're reading this on the Internet you probably realize that Apple has released an iPod that can play videos. While the product isn't revolutionary (iAudio has been doing this a while) the interesting part is that they're selling TV shows through iTunes. Now, you can buy episodes of your favorite ABC show for $2 an episode. Wow, that's different. Tivo changed the way we view TV programming, no longer is it channel based but program based. I view a particular program as a unit, no before or after exists. Apple is now changing the way that pay for TV programming. Now there are basically three ways to pay for your programming.

• Cable with network PVR You pay a fixed monthly price but they control your recordings. You have more space, but if you ever drop your service you loose everything that might have been important to you. For this you pay a fixed monthly fee.
• Satellite or Cable with stand alone PVR You have a fixed amount of disk space at your house but, you control that disk space and what is on it. The programming you want to save can be saved. For this you also pay a fixed monthly cost.
• iTunes Store You can pay individually for the content that you are interested in. You're home sick, you can buy all the episodes of Desperate Housewives to keep you company. Spend a month in Europe, you don't have any reoccurring fees.

Now, I'm unwilling to bet on which of these will win. It will undoubtedly be an amalgamation of the three, but it is always interesting when a new player comes on the field. In the music business iTunes model is taking a lead, though that may be caused by the design of the iPod itself. If you think that blogs are killing traditional media, and that podcasting is killing radio, you'd have to assume that this is going to kill traditional broadcast. Though, it still doesn't take care of watching that live sporting event.