@Michael, Excellent critique of Forrester’s argument. I bet you would score at least a 5.5 if not a 6.0 on the GRE exam’s critical writing section. Good job.

First, the fact that their content was on iTunes did little, if anything, to spur sales of the iPod. As many studies have shown, the vast majority of content on iPods is from the owners’ own CDs or downloded ‘freely’ from the Internet.

Second, offering their content for free in a number of different locations doesn’t help anyone. It just confuses things even more. Also, as it’s not moveable to iPods, the majority of those that would be interested in viewing it will never look at, or for it, again. If they can’t get it for viewing when and where they want it, they simply won’t bother with it.

As our economy moves further and further into being service-based, does it make sense to have dozen’s of different places to go to find what you need and want? Don’t they wonder why Wal*Mart is so successful?? Why are they so willing to give their content away for free–yes, they’ll get some ad revenue from the mandatory commercials, but that’ll dry up as soon as the number of viewers sinks–when they know that people are willing to pay for the convenience of accessing what is already free to them anyway? Just to spite Apple? That makes good business sense, all right.

They just don’t seem to realize that the industry has changed dramatically. Cable channels and the Internet are rapidly encroaching on their primary audience and all they can do is run to their advertisers trying to get more dollars for a smaller and smaller audience share. That, and produce TV shows that are inane and not entertaining, which shrinks their audience even further.

They should be much more worried about pleasing and not alienatiing their remaining audience.

Sure I can watch NBC shows online for free, but what about Bravo?

The loss of that might single handedly make me have to get the satellite back on and stop getting my television from Itunes.

I for one purchase 100% of my TV content from iTunes. I refuse to purchase TV shows on DVD because I don’t need a case and a booklet, and most of them come in boxed sets, which I don’t need cluttering my already over-filled DVD cabinet. Idiots….

I say, let them step out and take the chance. If it fails (which, from what I’ve seen and heard, it’s heading that way), then chalk it up to a learning experience. But if it succeeds, then it will just make for better product for us down the road…hopefully.

But that’s just my $.02