The Whys of iPod Video
If you’re a sports fan, make sure you read this. It could change your life . . . well, I don’t think this entry will necessarily, but if the predictions come true it could.
Why video?
Why not? That’s the beauty of the move. By making video standard as part of the iPod and not raising the price Apple has absolutely nothing to lose. Steve Jobs has said in the past that video is not an interesting market to him and that he didn’t think a portable video player was a good idea because watching must be a primary activity (versus listening, which can be secondary). So what does he do? Make an iPod that just happens to play video. People are going to buy iPods because they are the best MP3 player on the market. Now, they just happen to play video as well. It’s a can’t lose situation and those are always good.
Why Disney?
Because Disney’s the only entertainment company out there who wants something Jobs has. He could never waltz into Viacom or News Corporation and ask them to let him sell their shows for $1.99, they’d never go for it. Not with a single song selling on iTunes for $.99. So what Jobs does is approach Robert Iger, new chief of Disney, whose major goal is to re-up their distribution deal with Jobs’ Pixar. Jobs holds all the cards and gets Iger to sign up ABC and two of America’s most popular television shows (Lost and Desperate Housewives). Now, assuming it does well, Apple has set the price themselves and other companies will have no choice but to jump onboard at $1.99.
That’s it?
Nope. There’s much more to the Disney story, and this is where it gets really interesting. Disney also owns ESPN, the be-all-and-end-all of sports broadcasting who is looking to extend their brand. Sports is where mobile video really makes sense. Imagine this scenario: You’re a commuter and a sports fan (as many American men are). Every morning you get on the train and hit play on SportsCenter, ESPN’s hugely popular daily sports highlight show. One hour train rides have never been so good. What would you pay for this? I say $20 easy. I mean, if I had an hour commute and an opportunity to watch SportsCenter on it, commercial free, every morning I’d jump at it. I expect there are a lot of other sports fans who would agree. It’s a cash cow. It’d be reason enough to buy an iPod (which I don’t own, by the way). And it doesn’t seem that unreasonable, does it?
Hi, I'm 
My question is this, why not a wide screen iPod video, or is that something too different from the original?
I think you’re right, that’s too far from the original. If it’s successful you can bet your ass they will go widescreen. But if they were to go widescreen now and it flopped it would be a big deal.
That’s my guess at least.
I know for myself every video screen I buy from here on out is wide screen, so I hope they eventually do make one.
Would you buy a portable video player? I don’t personally feel like I have any use for one (though I’d buy a new iPod, just because it happens to have it).
Right now, no. Like you said, watching something is a primary activity and right now in my life there really isn’t a time when I am away from my computer or TV where I want to watch something. The idea of watching SportCenter everyday during a commute is very intriguing to me, but i don’t commute currently. Also, there are times where I don’t even want to listen to music (where normally I would listen), I’d rather just listen to whats around me so I can’t see myself wanting to ignore the sights around me as well.
In order for me to get a personal video player I would have to either commute by public transportation daily, or go on frequent plane trips.
Better yet, they could give away iPods with a 1-year subscription to SportsCenter iPod Edition.
Ummmm . . . if they did that I would go out and buy one right now, despite the fact I’m completely satisfied with my current setup.