Got a tip for us? Share it...

Apple to Offer 'Season Pass' for TV Shows

Apple's been busy with updates to their iTunes Music store model. Yesterday, Apple introduced a Multi-pass system to pre-purchase upcoming episodes of daily TV shows a month in advance. The new system will automatically download new shows as they are aired. (16 new episodes for one month at $9.99).

Now, Apple's iTunes site reveals that Apple will be introducing a "Season Pass" for weekly TV shows. This appears to be the natural progression of the Multi-Pass.

Buy a Season Pass and get a whole season of a TV show, past or present, at a discount.


The system doesn't appear to be in effect yet, as the current iTunes "Buy All Episodes" button still reflects the same pricing as buying each TV show individually.

Again, all of these systems still represent a buy-to-own model, which means that the podcasts/shows will continue to play after you are no longer an active subscriber.

Top Rated Comments

(View all)

78 months ago
That's awesome! I'd much rather get the whole season on iTunes for a discount than recod TV. This is really getting exciting ... once they discount it enough to make it feasible for people to dump their cable, downloading TV will become insanely popular.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
78 months ago
This may be foreshadowing the subscription service
being forced by Hollywood for full featured movie
downloads.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
78 months ago
This is exciting news for those who can access it. In australia we dont have it :(
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
78 months ago
Bring the price down around a dollar a show, let me avoid paying for cable (since there aren't that many shows on cable worth my money anyway), offer the shows I want (Galactica at least), and I'm there :) I'll stop worrying about quality and enjoy the ad-free viewing!

Rabbit ears for Lost and PBS + Netflix for movies + BSG on iTunes = all I need :)
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
78 months ago

This may be foreshadowing the subscription service
being forced by Hollywood for full featured movie
downloads.

Not really .. it's just a discounted "buy all" ... you still keep the shows after downloading .. subscriptions usually only give you a short-term licence for the shows/music/movies.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
78 months ago
Great news!! We need more content, but I am glad it is still a model where we own the content after we buy it. I can't wait!:cool:
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
78 months ago
People use "subscription" to mean just about anything--and iTunes "bulk purchasing in advance" DOES work much like a magazine subscription.

But for music and video, I'd define "subscription" as meaning that you pay a flat amount, and then you watch/listen to whatever you want, as long as you keep subscribing. Like Napster. Like Netflix.

I'd define "rental" as meaning you pay for a SPECIFIC video or music download, but you don't get to keep it forever. (That would be great for movies and TV I think, if it was cheap.)

These Apple passes are neither: you keep the download forever, you simply pay less by committing to a whole batch.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
78 months ago
Still not good enough quality. Once it's DVD quality, let me know. Until then, I don't care.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
78 months ago
It used to be one type of media and one price fits all. Now we have variety in products and it looks like Apple is going to try various pricing models. More flexibility, but more complexity. I hope they don't scare of skittish customers with too many choices.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
78 months ago
What's the difference between a season-pass and a multi-pass?

Season-pass for once a week shows (e.g. Lost), and multi-pass for daily shows (e.g. Daily Show)?
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives

[ Read All Comments ]