BBC News: Unions representing Hollywood actors, writers and directors have called for talks over the use of TV shows on Apple’s new video iPod. The unions want to ensure their members get a cut of the revenue generated by the sale of TV shows on Apple software.
A new (and clearly disruptive) technological advance enables anyone to watch video on the move, just as you can listen to music and podcasts on the move. While this concept of portable viewing isn’t new by any means – portable TVs have been around for at least 30 years – the convergence of the right technology, consumer desire and available content at low cost makes it extremely likely that a major revenue stream for content producers is on the horizon.
And it’s perfectly reasonable for anyone involved in producing that content to want to ensure that they receive their fair share of that revenue stream. In the words of Patric Verrone, president of the Writers Guild of America (West), quoted in the BBC report:
I’m thrilled by the notion I can watch my shows in the palm of my hand, but I also want to make sure we are paid appropriately.
Let’s hope everyone can work out a deal that everyone’s happy with, including consumers.
Finally, in case you’re wondering what a TV show originally created for viewing on TV would look like in terms of video quality on the small iPod screen, read what CK Sample has to say in his review on The Unofficial Apple Weblog of watching an episode of Lost on his new video iPod. (Summary: not bad at all for $1.99, he says.)
And as you ponder iPod TV and podcasting (as I am, and I don’t own a video iPod… yet), think about this from CK:
[…] As a side note, if you are a Lost fan, make sure you check out this week’s podcast commentary on the show. Think; you can download the new episode later today in the iTMS. Open the file in Quicktime. Start playing the video and mute it, while listening to Ryan’s commentary on the episode. That’s nice podcasting sweetness.