Unbox ? Yes, that’s the video download service that imposes more restrictions on the user but apparently more flexible when it comes to bulk pricing and discounts. Users can only use Unbox is they have a computer with a Microsoft Windows operating system. Linux and Mac can’t use it which does not seem to bother NBC or Amazon at all.

One of the likely package deals offered is a 30% discount if you buy the complete season of a tv show. This discount is of course given on the sum that all single episodes would cost and NBC made it very clear that they could go as high as $4.99 for one single episode download.

So, to keep it short. NBC ditches Apple iTunes to work with Amazon Unbox instead which offers them more flexibility in pricing. You did not read about the people anywhere in this article ? That’s easy to explain, the people – aka the consumers – don’t matter at all.

I suppose NBC thinks that they will switch to Unbox because they want the shows so badly. I would suggest you show them otherwise.

When I heard the figure $4.99 for the first time I was wondering who came up with it. Who at NBC thought that people would actually buy one episode of a tv show for that amount of money ? If you would buy all episodes of a show which usually has about 12-20 in each season you would pay about $60 – $100 for a season which is way more than buying the season on DVD which offers much more value for a lesser price.

The only advantage of the online purchase is the ability to download the episode earlier which is not a huge advantage if you ask me considering the fact that you can watch it on television as well. (tape it there for instance)

I strongly support that every content owner may assign the prices that he likes for his products. Heck, they could raise that amount to $100 if they want. I would not care because I do not buy music or videos online. I don’t like DRM, I don’t like the fact that I have to burn them – if possible – to be able to view them on my television.

I would say that a price of about $10 for a complete season would be nice. That is my price of course and others might disagree. this amount would be my personal maximum for a full season of a tv show – if I would buy them online, that is.

Back to NBC and Apple. It remains to be seen what will happen in the future. My guess is that they will come to an agreement in the end because both probably need each other.