Burbank (CA) - NBC has announced that it will begin offering free ad-supported downloads of its TV shows next month.

The TV network will launch a service called NBC Direct, which gives users the opportunity to download full episodes from a select set of shows.  The catch is that it will contain commercial breaks just as if it was being broadcast on TV.

As should be expected, the service will carry some restrictions.  The videos can only be played back using NBC's proprietary software on a Windows-based PC, and they become inactive a week after being downloaded.

Other similar free video-viewing services are typically offered via streaming media, and in most cases users do not get to watch entire episodes.  Being able to download the full program means the quality will be better and can be viewed when the computer is offline.

NBC says it is working on a Mac version of the service as well as an option to transfer the videos to portable media players.  For now, though, the only date is for the PC software, which the network says will be available some time next month.

Eh

Sep 20, 2007 07:49     

Unless they offer Conan, I really don't give a hoot.
Revrant report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

GREAT IDEA!

Sep 20, 2007 07:59     

I have absolutely ZIPPO problem with that idea! If they get more marketing dollars because of it and because of it they will be able to fund better shows & perhaps give us 1080p quality downloads, heck yeah I'm down! I can just 'walk away' from my media center/TV just like the 'old days', lol, if I don't want to watch a commercial.
Dave B report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

WHoopie

Sep 20, 2007 08:28     

Good job NBC. You take away a for-pay service that allowed people to play it on the millions of better devices they already have (and can hook up to the TV) and change to a crap service that makes you only watch on a PC. I'll just keep downloading them like I always do.
Bryan report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Now if NBC could come up with shows besides Heros t...

Sep 20, 2007 09:24     

Now if NBC could come up with shows besides Heros that are worth watching they might have a network again.
RicRoe report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

captioning

Sep 20, 2007 09:25     

hopefully they'll have captioning included in the downloads as an option for us who are deaf or don't have speakers.
Ttam report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

This is step one...

Sep 20, 2007 09:27     

Broadcast TV is almost done.. Soon, I wont need cable TV, as much as a cable MODEM, so that I can subscribe to [only] the TV shows that I want to watch.. NBC also released their pilot episodes free on Amazon Unbox, which downloads to Tivo, and is AWESOME.. I wish ALL TV were this way, so I could get what I want, instead of what my "ComCastic" service provides.. Go NBC!! Stay on top of this!!
Steve Jones report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Outside US?

Sep 20, 2007 09:55     

Will this be available to viewers outside the US?
Jeff report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

WOOT! Way to go!

Sep 20, 2007 10:01     

Perfect. My PC is running my TV center now. This and Netflix on demaned we are set. If you want it on your IPOD, or MAC I guess you will have to pay the high prices from Itunes. (Apple got you to pay extra to buy the silly devices, why would they think you'd pay less to play the content?)
FORD report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

I like American commercials

Sep 20, 2007 10:14     

It is fine for me to watch commercials. I live outside America and would be greatful to NBC if I can watch American tv. Thanks NBC!
zzyzzy report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Lame

Sep 20, 2007 10:15     

This suckz. I hate nbc so much right now. Why not go with iTunes? iTunes worked great, the system was already in place, etc. I HATE THEM SO MUCH I COULD SPIT.
andrew report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Brilliant; Already on TiVo and Amazon Unbox

Sep 20, 2007 10:28     

We've already watched the pilots for Journeyman (which was great) and Bionic Woman, and have downloaded the pilot for Life. These are commercial free. I hope they keep it up. http://www.amazon.com/unbox
Greg report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

When is the Linux client coming?

Sep 20, 2007 10:31     

Get with the times NBC!
Brad report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

how long

Sep 20, 2007 10:36     

How long before someone figures out a way to (a) dump the commercials, (b) store episodes longer than a week, (c) play it on anything they choose, (d) get content from other suppliers/networks? Can't get rid of the commercials soon enough for me.
Erinye_fury report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Way to go, huh?

Sep 20, 2007 10:40     

Let's see: Commercials included, Amazing DRM (expires the show after a week? Huh?) Meanwhile, I can download whole seasons from iTunes, watch them on a PC, Mac, or iPod. Without commercials. Whenever I want. I'd prefer no DRM, but.... I'll happily pay a few bucks for what amounts to the convenience of a DVD. As for expensive, better look at those prices again - You get less from Dell than Apple at the same price. Plus you can run OS X and Windows *both*.

Thog report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Why is not this painfully obvious to NBC

Sep 20, 2007 10:44     

They'll be crawling back to Apple within 6 months. All 4 of their flagship pilots are bombs this season and the number of users who will download their DRM laden windows only files will be few. Meanwhile Jobs is pushing for 99cent tv show downloads and already has a user base of millions. Who do you think is going to win this one?
Billy report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Such crap

Sep 20, 2007 11:15     

Just another company reinventing a lower quality more restricted version of the original wheel. I really hate how companies force their proprietary products on you to use another of their products. We just end up with more junk and clutter that does the same thing but has been crippled in some way so that it is not universally usable. I guess I won't be watching NBC because i'm not installing their adware. I have enough already. I run windows. :)

magicmushroom report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Re: This is step one...

Sep 20, 2007 11:37     

You say that as though paying only for what you want is somehow going to magically cost less than what you're paying now, when, in fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Be careful what you wish for. Admittedly, on-demand download services are the way of the future and will offer a more convenient, albeit more expensive, way to access content. To think otherwise is to deny the existence of "bean-counters" in the content-provider industry. Yeah, I realize you never said anything about cost - but you might want to consider it before jumping on the bandwagon. /Flash PS: But flash, it's a free service - how can that possibly be more expensive than what I'm paying today? Go look up "loss-leader" on the world-wide expanse some time. Groom now - rape later!

Flash Bazbo report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Bad move

Sep 20, 2007 11:42     

Time-limited content is next to useless. I want something I can refer to - so do others. If you have to review such media or use it as an educational tool..what do you do: bring it back from the dead? No, you won't bother..
William report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

The real agenda

Sep 20, 2007 11:44     

..get Americans to think on a day-to-day basis. Sheeple.
William report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Video Library vs Video Shop

Sep 20, 2007 17:57     

I think its wonderful to have free TV programming online. It provides a huge resource for everybody to use...for free...just how a library should be. NBC will make more money from everyone watching anything and everything...than if they set shop with itunes and people only ate what they were willing to pay for I dont think it has anything to do with Microsoft other than it has the largest user base in the universe.

penn report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

It'l never fly Orville!

Sep 20, 2007 18:35     

This is definitely a stinker. What's the point of downloading if it vaporizes in a week? I won't be partaking. I'll stick with backing up DVD's.
Greg Padilla report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

not quite there...

Sep 20, 2007 18:53     

At least they are thinking in the right direction. But why a proprietary client that ties it to a Windows PC? Just offer the torrents and an open format so all users, mac, linux whatever can download and play. Offer it free with commercials and charge a small fee if you get the commercial free version. Perhaps prices may vary over time. After a week or a month the show is cheaper.
MG report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Torrent idea is on the nose.

Sep 20, 2007 21:43     

I agree with the idea of using a torrent based delivery system for the shows, as it would limit the actual server load on their own servers, and the more people downloading it the more are sharing it. Perhaps offering the fee based commercial free version is a good idea, but at very least make it an open format, flv, mpg, avi, SOMETHING that can be played on all OS's, or at least the majority of them. The proprietary program is a VERY bad idea, and will be what sinks this boat.

Onoitsu2 report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Not a chance this will work.

Sep 21, 2007 04:56     

99 percent of NBC's shows stupid and unwatchable and TV ads these days are the most worthless spew mankind can create. Everyone I know torrents the few shows they still actually care about. Only stupid sheep watch TV anymore. I don't personally know anyone that does.
Noway report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Bad Move

Sep 21, 2007 07:36     

The future of television is in downloaded shows. Fine. But why should i got to a "channel" to do that? I want to get away from channels. NBC's approach is as if a publisher opened their own bookstore and only sold their books through it. Fine for them (short term) but bad for customers. I want iTunes to have competition and maybe Amazon can be it but they are going to be more than 5 years behind. I'll skip NBC shows. There is more than enough on iTunes as it is.

DJH report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Why do they need to do this

Sep 21, 2007 09:12     

This add more confusion now. If they really wanted to give it for free and with ads, why not signup with Apple and provide it through itunes. Come on NBC we are already so used to having a centralized location. Now we cannot watch these on any of the equipment we already spent on.
Nk report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

http://www.meta-fx.com

Sep 25, 2007 12:17     

http://www.meta-fx.com forex فارکس
jyg report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

free tv

Nov 25, 2007 09:50     

Yeah its better to get them for free at oliv3r.net tho, why would someone pay when its on tv for free anyway
Ben report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

No commercial tv

Feb 17, 2008 14:40     

Where can I purchase a device or a tv that elimates commercials, I hate commercials
michael Balogh report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -1