With the Showtime EBIF app already raking in dough on TV sets across the country, the cable network has decided to go mobile. Showtime launched its own iPhone app this week complete with teaser episodes, video extras, and broadcast schedules. Given that the EBIF version may not be available in your area, the iPhone application is a nice alternative for testing the Showtime waters. Personally, I’ve never been willing to pay the extra fees for premium cable channels, but maybe if I knew more about what I was missing, I’d dole out the cash. I’m not likely to buy a whole season on DVD, or even waste time on episodes in my Netflix queue, but if you put an episode right in front of me, I’ve got nothing to lose. And that’s what Showtime is counting on.
The iPhone app is, naturally, free. But if you’re still hesitant, check out the pics below. The application is powered by mobile ad specialist Transpera.
Showtime’s distribution strategy has been schizophrenical at best. They’ve embraced digital and electronic devices, but they’ve also held back. For example, you can download early Dexter seasons from Amazon, but they don’t let you watch it on TiVo and they’ve got seasons 1, 2 and the premier of season 4 on netflix watch now, but then leave season 3 for DVD only. It’s good that they are playing around with these apps, but I wish that they’d let us at least get a mini-subscription of all the shows in a more consistent way. I understand that the end goal is to sell a subscription to current content, but it’s hard to get excited about later seasons of shows when they don’t make it easy to get caught up.
Might I suggest learning to press the power button and the home button at the same time? The iPhone will make the screenshots for you. Looking at apps through camera photos of an iPhone is painful.
I forgive Mari, as I’m the one usually covering iPhone apps. She swiped this Touch from her husband. Then again, maybe some of the blame is on me – I didn’t even think twice when I hit publish.
Speaking of apps, downloaded the new Tweetie 2 and Photoshop today. Both are nicely done. Once I find a third worthy contender, I’ll get another roundup posted.
Sounds good Dave. Tweetie 2 is really excellent and deserves good press. The app store reviews are a sewer of bad reviews, immature commntary, and incorrect information.
I just don’t see the point of single-artist or single-channel iPhone apps. Would these same apps exist as stand-alone desktop programs? It’s not likely. Just make the content available on iTunes or put it on the web and format it for the iPhone.