Third Time’s the Charm for NBC Direct?
NBC’s NBC Direct download video service has gone through two maligned iterations, and now, as a tipster has pointed out to us, the peacock has quietly launched round three. NBC confirmed for us that the new version is out, but wouldn’t provide any further details.
NBC Direct is still PC-only, so we haven’t had a chance to download it for ourselves, but our tipster tells us that it’s gone through a pretty big overhaul, replacing much of the stack, including the Microsoft DRM that made installation such a bear the last go-round.
We’re scratching our heads as to why NBC still bothers with this download service when it offers streaming through its own site as well as through Hulu. If I’m on a plane or some other place with no Internet connection, I can’t imagine it would be worth the hassle of installing the app just to watch that episode of The Office I missed the night before. Hopefully NBC will give us some indication soon.
Have you tried the new version? Do you want to? Leave a comment and let us know.
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[...] Third Time’s the Charm for NBC Direct? I’ll always take downloads over streaming. Quality will (theoretically) be higher and video will be uninterrupted. Downloading from NBC is probably less work than offloading from a DVR and transcoding. I commuted by subway for 6 years (and have frequently traveled by plane for work). Went through all sorts of compact laptops, a 12″ ThinkPad, a 7″ Sharp import from Japan, etc. And a lot of what I did was via Windows Mobile PDAs. Which came in handy when the days or times I couldn’t get a seat. [...]
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[...] NBC has re-released the NBC Direct service for a third time. Even though NBC content is still available in a streaming form from HULU and the NBC site itself, NBD Direct changes it up by letting you download the video to your desktop or laptop. This is pretty handy for airplane or train travel, or anywhere else you may want to watch a show without an internet connection. Another bonus is the fact that NBC offers this programming in both HD and standard definition formats. Each video is wrapped with the traditional DRM limitations, the video only runs on the computer it was downloaded to, and at some date and time in the future the video will stop playing back. One more small hurdle for users of NBC Direct is the requirement to download and install the NBC Direct playback application. Unfortunately, this application currently only runs on the Windows platform. DRM or not, I’m just happy to see the major networks offering their content in HD for free. [via] [...]
NBC Direct Now Offering Free HD Video Downloads…
— 10:45 AM on February 16, 2009
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It’s a funny thing about NBC Direct; is the goal a solid user experience or a cheap way to distribute video ala. the iPlayer in the UK? Since NBC Direct has P2P, ridiculous limits on how content must be used, and in general doesn’t have a real use case anymore (even on planes, you can get wifi now on American/ Delta), who needs this product?
NBC needs this product, because they can send you HD files using YOUR internet connection at lower cost to them. What happens when the broadband caps roll out? Another nail in the coffin.
“If I’m on a plane or some other place with no Internet connection, I can’t imagine it would be worth the hassle of installing the app just to watch that episode of The Office I missed the night before”
Really? If you have a 45minute train commute, you wouldn’t want last night’s office on your ipod for free?
@Brian,
Nah. Not really. I don’t like watching stuff in crowds of people and prefer audio podcasts (iFanboy, KCRW’s The Business, Radio Lab) on my commute.
@Brian,
What about a verizon/ AT&T/ Sprint air card? Allows for streaming as well… at least Fox.com; Hulu barely works half the time!!
I’d always take downloads over streaming. Quality will (theoretically) be higher and video will be uninterrupted. I commuted by subway for 6 years (and have frequently traveled by plane for work). Downloading from NBC is probably less work than offloading from a DVR and transcoding.
@Dave,
I don’t like downloading personally much preferring on demand. What ABC.com has done w/ HD streaming is amazing. The subway use case? NBC Direct is for windows machines… do you really get your laptop out ON A SUBWAY? Geeky if so.
SomeoneElse, for ~2 years my subway commute was about 20-30 minutes which isn’t bad. But the next 4 years, it was about an hour and I would get work done on a notebook. Went through all sorts, a 12″ ThinkPad, a 7″ Sharp import from Japan, etc. And a lot of what I did was also via Windows Mobile PDA. Which came in handy when the days or times I couldn’t get a seat. (The DC subway system feels different in tone than say NYC.)
I did not install “NBC Direct,” since it uses P2P and I just don’t want to open up that kind of a security vulnerability on my computer. I’m glad I at least read enough of the license to see the P2P stuff!