Days before the iPad was released, Apple had started to place iPad only and Universal iPad apps into the Apps Store. Many of them were free; however, some came with a price attached to them. Some of the prices were priced higher than the iPhone’s apps, which are commonly priced around the $0.99 to $2.99 range. Well, one of the Apps that’s making headlines is not a paid iPad app, but a free one. Which app am I talking about? I’m talking about the ABC Streaming app.
A Staff writer for Electronista is reporting that the ABC Streaming app has been download 205,000 times. Electronista, goes on to explain how ABC is pleased with the app:
“ABC’s TV President Anne Sweeney said the network was “pleased” with the results and characterized it as a validation of the company’s expansion into Internet video. While the company still plans to offer paid shows in iTunes and offers links to them from the iPad app, the new method gives users a legal way to view the same shows regardless of what they can afford while remaining successful for its creator.”
This is excellent news that a major TV network is embracing, instead of shunning, the Internet as a viable alternative for watching TV shows. For a long time Hollywood has been slow to adopt new mediums. Not only are they very skeptical, but they’re also always trying to see how they can make revenue from advertising. I guess they realize that there are enough people BitTorrenting their shows already, and releasing a free streaming application wouldn’t effect their revenue. For the uninitiated, BitTorrent is a way to download large amounts of data from multiple sources. In it’s native form BitTorrent is harmless; however, when used to download TV shows and movies, it is considered to be illegal. As I was saying, Hollywood has seen that there is a community of people out there that prefer to consume content over the Internet.
Those unfamiliar with the ABC Streaming app for the iPad should know that it allows you to watch ABC TV shows directly on your iPad. It mirrors the content on ABC’s site, so anything that’s accessible online will be available on your iPad. TV shows are available for a period of time, and then they are removed. Some might think that this will cut into iTunes TV Show sales; however, this is quite the opposite, because the TV shows are on there for a limited time. If you missed a show on ABC’s Streaming app, you’ll have to download it from the iTunes Store.
Personally I’m excited to see a major network like ABC come out with an app for the iPad. They are leading the way for other TV networks to join us in the 21st Century. Have you used the ABC Streaming app? If so, did you enjoy watching TV shows on your iPad? Let us know by leaving a comment in the comments section below.
Check out the Application below.
Photo Credit: ABC Logo
Article Via Electornista
