Why Apple's iTV Will Change Everything | Hacker News Reader

Why Apple's iTV Will Change Everything

kevinrose.com

16 pointssant0sk113 comments

I wish this was the case -- but it will take a while for this to become true. Primarily because the big cable dinosaurs, like Comcast, aren't dumb and have seen the writing on the wall for a while. That's why Comcast is buying up content -- like NBC.

They know that without content, nobody will buy iTVs -- just like how Apple needed to get MP3s to the masses to sell iPods. They've watched as Apple has become the only big player for digital music and they're afraid of handing the reigns of the video industry over to Apple. For Apple to sell iTVs, they'll need to figure out where the content comes from. (No, mom won't bittorrent.)

If I was Apple -- I would get the content providers to the table by threatening to make iTV a TiVo-style box. In other words, bring your paid content to the table, or I'm going to help kill your industry with the best commercial-skipping set top box on the market.

He's exactly right about gaming though -- I would be worried if I were Nintendo.

In other parts of the world I can see monopolists over content like satellite provider BSkyB with their exclusive sports rights fighting Apple very hard

I also think the iOS is some way behind what the latest consoles can offer in game performance, though its certainly not beyond their capabilities to catch up with a bigger box (and fewer developer restrictions...)

> no, mom won't use bittorrent

I introduced my mom, once a DVD collector, to bittorrent. She hasn't purchased many DVDs since and maintains a collection of hundreds of movies on external harddrives. I guess I have a cool mom.

The other problem I see is that if you're using Comcast for your broadband and decide to drop your TV service, they'll jack up the broadband price.

At least in my area, Comcast is a total ripoff unless you bundle 2-3 of their services and even then it's no bargain. At least there's DSL and WiMax in my town, but I don't think everyone is going to have the same number of choices.

There's a problem with Apple using the iTV name: there is a television network in the UK called ITV which would take (surely justified) legal action:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/7947882/ITV-woul...

Tell that to Cisco's iPhone or Fujitsu's iPad. :-)

It's not just a TV network in the UK, it's the biggest network.

ITV is the #1 commercial channel, has been around for roughly 50 years, and viewing figures exceed BBC 1, the BBC's flagship channel. They are, in fact, the 500lb gorilla of British television.

IIRC The Register reported last week that ITV's lawyers were already seeking a high court injunction restraining Apple from using the name. And it's still only a rumour.

The trademarks Apple stomped on recently -- like iPad or iPhone -- were for marginal/semi-abandoned products. The core trademark (the actual name) of a major media corporation is something else entirely. ITV will fight to the death over this, and they're big enough to give Apple a black eye.

It does make sense for TVs to eventually shift to this, even if Apple isn't the one to do it (though there are few better innovating companies - if any). 9 months of the year I don't have cable, and I barely miss it. Agree with what others said about content, and if major players refuse to commit then it'll be a slow transition, but that's where iAd comes in.

If Apple really is serious about AppleTV (more than just a hobby), then iAd is brilliant. Ads suck these days, the best ads are probably the ones by Apple (okay and I love the dos equis ones too). iAd brings interaction to the already visual experience, basically it makes an ad that I'm much more interested in watching. If Apple can get major networks on board by providing them comparable revenue through iAds, then it really could change everything.

Or you can live it now with Roku. You know, that box that came out from a no-name company two years ago for $99.

Netflix instant, Amazon VOD, crapload of other channels. Why wait?

You've just described Boxee.

Why iTV specifically? How is this different than Boxee or GoogleTV?

Apple's existing agreements with content providers for the iTunes store and their consumer marketing prowess set them apart.

In the US. In the rest of the world there is garrr and pirating as usual.

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