Tech & Biz

Apple to Launch Video Re-Download and Streaming Service

by davepmoll | August 3, 2011 at 08:14 am

208 views | 11 Recommendations | 4 comments

According to a report on AppAdvice, Apple will launch a service called iTunes Replay in the coming weeks. The service will allow purchased iTunes video content to be re-downloaded and possibly streamed to other devices. This service would be complementary to Apple's new iCloud wireless content management service coming this fall.

Content that is iTunes Replay available will be denoted by an arrow next to the title of the movie or TV show within the iTunes Store. Once purchased, the content than can be re-downloaded or possibly streamed to other devices such as a mobile phone or tablet. Consumers are moving away from hard-wired synching of their portable phones and tablets and toward streaming and on-demand content.

This was seen just a few weeks back when Netflix split their pricing plans into two camps: DVD/Blu Ray and streaming only. The demand for content on demand is increasing. Apple has been slow to adopt streaming media technology but with iCloud on the horizon, a new AppleTV designed for streaming and the announcement of the iTunes Replay service, the company appears poised to offer a wide variety of streaming content.

Apple was looking at this possibility back in 2009, but never made it past the rumor stage.

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Jordan Yerman

at 08:17 on August 3rd, 2011

Am I the only one who thinks it's simpler to just let users download an item, period? All these restrictions do is create opportunities for something to break, and lessen the value of the digital product. (It's not as if Apple is the copyright holder for any of this media anyway)

davepmoll

at 08:36 on August 3rd, 2011

I agree. Once you've bought the movie, TV show, song, etc., you should be able to do what you want with it. Problem is intellectual property is subject to distribution rights and the distributors of said content want to get paid. If consumers start streaming everything, it eliminates the distributors. So they are clinging on to that gravy train with whatever claw they can muster. Companies like Apple, Netflix, Hulu and others see the potential in streaming content but a lot of these services get tied up in legal process that it becomes more money than its worth.

Justiice (not verified)

at 10:48 on August 3rd, 2011

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michaelbrinkman

at 13:19 on September 16th, 2011

The way you win as an online company is definitely by controlling the flow of traffic. If Apple opens up the channels via its iCloud and allows users to purchase the rights to media that can be stored in the cloud, they are definitely setting themselves up to "Wal-Mart" the online media industry! Their risk is through one of the other online storage companies deciding to operate in the same fashion, for less! Apple charges for iCloud as well, whereas other storage operators will let you store for free (up to a limit of course, but once you get used to a particular service, you are probably most likely going to stick with it). Ultimately, it will be an exciting evolution in online media!