I told you CES was going to be all about digital video and YV!
Walt Disney has now reinforced its line-up of video offerings for Apple iPod users with near-instant replays of the current “Bowl” series of American football games and news from its ABC television network.
Programmes from the group’s ESPN sports division, feature animation and family entertainment arms will be made available in the coming weeks, the company said in a statement.
And it now looks as though the other networks are piling in as well, with announcements from CBS, Warner and Fox just around the corner.
Disney’s latest move makes it the first content provider to offer sports.
Disney said condensed versions of Monday’s college football games, the Fiesta Bowl and Sugar Bowl, were due to be available on Wednesday at $1.99 each. Today’s Rose Bowl – the national title game pitting the University of Texas against the University of Southern California – will go on sale on Thursday.
Apple has certainly been quick about securing the necessary content to get the video iPod flying. Good on them. This just proves that TV shows and video sales over the iPod and at iTunes was a huge success over Xmas.
Mind you the mobile phone companies are hot on their heels. This announcement follows the launch of Mobile ESPN, a branded cell phone equipped to deliver news, video, commentary and scores along with its telephone service.
One hugely relevant piece to note is that Disney is creating vital precedent by offering ABC news free on the iPod, supported by advertising. Now this is the way to go. Content companies have to crack free content supported by advertising for many more types of content if they want mobile and handheld content to go mainstream. We firmly believe that it is the lack of free content that is stifling data useage on mobile phones and will continue to.
Oh and btw Apple - when are you announcing the mobile phone iPod?
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