Apple Movie Junkie

In Canada, Apple TV Junkies and Mad Men fans are at a crossroads. No one there is broadcasting Mad Men Season 3, however, it is available as a digital download from iTunes Canada. Could this be a trend towards download-only distribution?

I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand it shows that producers are willing to explore digital-only distribution in a particular market and cut out the middle man (i.e. cable TV providers) all together. I’d love to eliminate my cable bill and pay for only the quality programming I want. I like this trend. There are only a few shows I find worth watching anyways. Eliminating cable, I could purchase 16 to 48 episodes per month (depending on cable TV package). Unlike my cable service, I’d have something to show for it!

This brings us to the other hand. What am I left with? Protected video that can only be played via iTunes or Apple devices. Many of you may be an Apple TV Junkie and proclaim “So?” However, digital rights management (DRM) is evil and not cool. The Apple TV is still a hobby and I’m not prepared to lock myself into the technology “du jour”. The Apple TV hardware platform hasn’t seen any improvements (aside from storage) since it debuted over two years ago. As big as iTunes is now, it wont be around forever (see Yahoo! Music and MSN Music) and nor will the Apple TV.

I want to support digital distribution and purchase content, however, the built-in obsolescence costs of DRM are just too high. Alternate download sites are looking more attractive and it has everything to do with freedom of choice to use Apple TV, Boxee or any media player I want to.

Hi, my name is Brian Erdelyi and I’m an Apple TV Junkie based out of Toronto, Canada. There, I said it.

You may remember me from such places as the Boxee community forums, Boxee video tutorials I’ve created on Youtube, Clearware or any number of online projects I get involved with.

I happen to be an information security professional with interests that include digital media and it’s social implications (such as digital rights management, fair use and copyright legislation).

I’ve got a few ideas ripe for sharing and expect to see you all actively posting your comments.

This week’s 99 cent movie rentals in the Canadian iTunes store are:

• Material Girls (HD)
• Set it Off
• Leonard Cohen: I’m Your Man

Movies marked with (HD) are available for rent directly from your Apple TV for $1.99.

Some other highlights from the iTunes store:

• New release movies are now $14.99 (they have been $19.99 in Canada)
• “Back to School” movies are $4.99 (read: teen comedies)
• Canadian made movies are generally $9.99 to $14.99.

Below is the list of new HD Rentals that have been added to Apple TV.

The Last House On the Left
The Soloist

Below is the list of new HD TV Shows that have been recently added to iTunes and the Apple TV for purchase.

2 Months. 2 Million., Season 1
Kourtney & Khloe Take Miami, Season 1
Deadliest Warrior, Season 1
Afro Samurai, Season 1
Spectacle: Elvis Costello With…, Season 1

This week we have the 1987 thriller House of Games starring Lindsay Crouse. It is not available in HD.