Today’s announcement that CBS was adding primetime programming — including “CSI” and “Survivor” — to iTunes made me wonder what happened to the network’s Google Video deal. Turns out that deal could be in the process of changing …
First, a little background. CBS was one of the CES launch partners for the Google Video store; it was the network’s first foray into downloads for pay and it is the most limited. Unlike iTunes and downloads for sale on CBS.com, the Google Video downloads of CBS primetime shows are 24-hour rentals. The full season of Survivor episodes is available — reflecting the shorter shelf-life of a reality show — but can’t be ordered as a season. Only two episodes of CSI are up at once with the next-to-last episode being replaced by the new one from January through the season’s end; now the last two are stuck in time. Library shows like “I Love Lucy” can be purchased.
During a phone interview Thursday, Larry Kramer, president of CBS Digital, said the network has become more comfortable with digital downloads since the Google Video store beta launched and that shows in the iTunes deal. “You see it on Apple” he said. “You can buy a whole season.” Even so,the deal. Now, he says, “I think they’re looking at finally making some moves. We’re in active discussions with them about the next step.”
No details about what that might be but today’s move puts Google Video at a tremendous disadvantage to services like iTunes when it comes to a show like “CSI.” If you can pay $1.99 and keep the episode on your computer or download it to a device versus $1.99 for a day-pass download, how many people are going for the latter? And if you want an episode from earlier in the season, iTunes is your only online option. (The NBA also went with Google Video first, then signed a broader deal with iTunes.)
— Kramer says they’re all short-term deals. (That usually means a year or so.)
— The other series now on iTunes include “CSI: Miami” and “CSI: New York;” “NCIS” and “NUMB3RS.” Kramer says he hopes putting the shows up during the summer may draw interest from iTunes users who already have maxed out on other networks’ series shown in season.
— None of the CBS deals so far are exclusive although iTunes is the only place where full seasons can be downloaded. A full season of “CSI” is far more expensive than ABC’s “Lost” — $44.99 for 24 episodes compared to $34.99; Kramer says the network also charges more for its DVDs.
— From the press release: iTunes has sold over 30 million videos.
Related:
— CBS Goes Direct With Survivor Shows
— CES: Google Launches Premium Video Store; CBS, NBA, Charlie Rose, ITN Content For Sale
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