Incompetents R Us - iTunes

[wraithfodder]

In the latest screwup with Stargate Atlantis (the first being 'screener copies' of "Adrift" and "Lifeline" getting leaked out), now iTunes (aieee!) released "Doppelganger" instead of "Adrift." While a number of fans got their hands on it, the vast majority can't see it (iTunes apparently yanked it after probably informed by MGM - I'd love to have heard that phone conversation, or email (all in caps, I'm sure). I can sure see why NBC doesn't want anything to with iTunes as heck, they'd probably release HEROES out of order! ;) NBC was sooo right to sever ties with iTunes as this could conceivably harm SGA ratings for this episode. I mean, why watch it if you've got it on download? Sigh.

So, now must avoid certain forumsthreads until October 19th as some folk give away too much even in what they consider to be 'vague' comments. Sigh.

Comments

[kristen999.livejournal.com]

I'm hoping that only a few diehard got it and now that its yanked that it'll just create buzz. But I fear a I-tunes version will just hit the net anyways.....gawd when we need ratings so badly to have 3 out of 4 leaked.

We'll know Monday about the premire.

Avoid GW, even the whump thread. I was floored by so many posts that it was so hard to avoid clicking on anything.

Sigh, I read some stuff, now I'm just avoiding things all together. I don't mind mild spoilers, but full blown is soooo hard to have the will power to just close your eyes. So, no visits to GW thread for a while.


Can't wait till Friday though!!

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the whump thread is getting too riddled with Doppelganger stuff right now I'm afraid someone might forget a spoiler tag or, actually, it's nothing but spoiler tags so there's not much you can read! ;)

[x-erikah-x.livejournal.com]

True. But so far I didn't click anything. I was spoiled for one thing, but it was here on LiveJournal... Grrrr. I just won't go out from the safety of the whump thread.

[tipper-green.livejournal.com]

Curiously, I read about this on Joe M's blog (I don't usually read it, for fear of spoilers usually, but...his pictures were so cute and I was skimming to see what they were and...anyhoo...I ended up reading about this). It's not actually iTunes fault. Doppelganger was the first episode produced, so it had 4.0.1. on it when it was delivered to the iTunes folks. In other words, the problem was at the production end, mislabeling the episodes. In other words, it was a totally honest mistake.

I also don't blame iTunes over the whole fight thing, mostly because I think the whole kerfuffle with NBC Universal isn't about timing or quality, but about money -- about NBC Universal wanting to earn more profit and iTunes not willing to bend on its pricing to accomodate them. It's just a shame all around.

[tipper-green.livejournal.com]

And, apparently, I like to use the phrase "in other words" a lot. Heh.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

If this had been the first time iTunes had misdelivered a show, it would be different, but they've done it before. I read some articles on iTunes and I DO agree with NBC that iTunes pushing of its proprietary software is a huge pain in the butt to many people. I don't want to be forced to buy just iTune/iPod whatever, to view a show. If you buy a DVD, you can play it on any DVD player, not just one MGM suggests ;)

[tipper-green.livejournal.com]

But iTunes is free. Still, I can see your point--I can't just watch it on my TV without buying the TV thingy. Of course, I can't watch anything I downloaded off the net on my TV, regardless of source, because I don't have any of that software/hardware that you need. So, I guess, it doesn't matter to me. Yet. It may in the future, if I ever get more techy. I'm still trying to get a Tivo. Man, I wish I wasn't so lazy! I'd love to download eps straight to TV!

Anyway, the funny thing about the statement that Apple is "pushing proprietary software" is that, in general, that's the opposite of what Apple is about. It's the opposite of everything they do or have ever done. In fact, now that they've got clout, they're actually trying to get the music companies to get *rid* of the licensing stricture that they place on the music, so that you *can* play music downloaded from iTunes on any computer, any device, anywhere. It's much better for Apple if that happens, because it makes iTunes and even more profitable source of music and other media. To be honest, if NBC is saying that iTunes is pushing proprietary media, then something has been seriously screwed up in the translation in the print media. I'm guessing NBC is pushing to *stop* Apple from allowing whatever is downloaded from being broadcast to other media (which I believe is the case right now). Also, from what I read in the NYT (and, I'll admit, the only articles I read were NYT and CNN, so I haven't read all that broadly), it *is* about money, not about software.

[anjak-j.livejournal.com]

I have no patience for NBCU or Apple. If TV companies want more money for this stuff they should distribute it themselves. It's not like the tech isn't there. Hell, it's not like the tech isn't there for free downloading and serving up intermission adverts to support it. The entertainment industry just took the path of least resistance and then has the audacity to whine about illegal downloading.

As for Apple, my opinions of the stranglehold on this market and the proprietary crap between their iTunes downloads and the players are not a big secret. It smacks of monopolization - which just humours me considering they exist in an industry that is perpetually smacking Microsoft for the exact same.

[pisces227.livejournal.com]

I'm trying to be good and stay away from spoilers. I wished I had done that last year with Sunday, I would have enjoyed so much more.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I agree that "Sunday" is one episode you should walk into spoiler-free, otherwise you sit there just waiting for "it" to happen.

[anjak-j.livejournal.com]

Firstly - SUBJECT LINE LUFF! =D

Conversions and DRM removals are going to be in the pipe, and to be honest, at this point there are probably only two options - take it when it's served - which in my defence is neither here nor there since my viewing wouldn't count being outside of the US. Or leave the internet for the next 19 days.

It was a very stupid mistake for iTunes to make, despite the fact I understand how and why it came about - Doppelganger was 401 in the production order and episodes provided are numbered via their production number rather than the air order numbers we get. If I were TPTB, I'd be seeking damages. This is the last thing SGA really needed, and if Skiffy had any decency, a low rating for this ep would be disregarded in consideration of a new season and pinned on Apple's ass.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

That's the trouble. Some folk are stupidly going to spill the beans on this episode on Stargate forums. I'm already leery of entertaining certain GW threads. I don't mind a few screencaps but some people might inadvertantly give away key points (that otherwise you'd like to see as a surprise).

[benbenberi.livejournal.com]

What should TPTB seek damages for? They're the ones who made the stupid mistake -- They supplied a mislabeled episode. iTunes is just a distribution channel - it's up to TPTB to make sure they provide files that are appropriately identified according to whatever the iTunes standard is to make sure they go up in the correct order at the correct time. It's NOT iTunes' responsibility to double-check what they're told by the supplier, or to contemplate the distinction between production numbers and air order numbers. Once the bad file was reported to them, they took it down. That was the right thing to do.

(And if the ep. ends up with a low rating, I don't think that can be attributed to Apple either. They didn't make the mistake, and they're not responsible for the stupidity of either SciFi or the vanishingly small number (probably approaching zero) of Nielsen households that include illicitly downloading fans.)

[tjackson.livejournal.com]

i no teh spoilers.
this is bad for me.
now i must know all of dem.
dis means full out pursuit of dl'ing the eppie

and talking like a lolkat

[ditraveler.livejournal.com]

I don't know How I'm going to survive until a month from now to see Doppelganger.
I must say even if I did see it thru itunes I would steel tune in,just because, even though I don't have a rating box whatever the name of it is.

Am I a bad person for trying to find that episode online, or just a fan with little to none self control =(

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I know the feeling.....

[alyssa22.livejournal.com]

I can't believe they killed another character. And there are rumours about another one being offed after this. What the hell is this? Survivor: Atlantis?

I watch shows for the characters, not for the special effects, so I'm thinking this is definitely where SGA and I part company..

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I sure hope nobody else dies. I haven't heard of anybody dying past Beckett, but then the spoilers are (thankfully) incomplete. I don't want to know everything about the show.

[kaaatie.livejournal.com]

iTunes really are incompetent! I seem to remember them releasing the wrong episode last season too. I just hope that people in the US still watch it on TV, because SGA really needs the ratings this year.

[audreyscastle.livejournal.com]

I'll watch, but I don't have a Nielsen box, so I apparently don't count.

[audreyscastle.livejournal.com]

I know people like me make up a smaller percent of the population, but what about us second-shifters (3p-11:30p in my case) who can't watch it live? Probably a good thing I don't have a box.... ;-D Cause I always watch it on TV, even if I downloaded, because I want a taped copy....but it's usually Saturday morning I get to it. (This is not directed to you in particular, but the universe in general, because despite the changes, I love SGA and want to do what I can to keep it going...but all I hear from TPTB is "watch it live, watch it live".... ;-D)

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Yeah, this is going to dent the 'watch it live' numbers as some people won't care if they watch it on a little iPod compared to a TV. I want to see SGA keep going (as long as they don't kill off more major characters). The thing is that the Nielsen people need to get out of the dark ages (TV only) and realize that downloads make up a considerable amount of viewing. If they counted *cough* illegal downloads, SGA would be in the top 10 shows ;)

[ladybeth.livejournal.com]

Ihad that happen to me with SG-1 And SG-1. Went to buy "The Tao of Rodney" and got the Shroud instead. I was amused, but my sister wasn't. Got some free video credits though.

[iamrighthere.livejournal.com]

I love my show. I might fetch leaked eps online, but I'd still watch them live. I might be impatient but I'm very loyal and *definitely* willing to do anything to keep SGA on for a fifth season and beyond.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I still watch them live. I always laugh when I hear that as the opposite is what? watch it dead? It's like "you'll talk to a live psychic!" (back before the yanked all those ads). I want SGA to stay on the air as long as the quality is good. I'd want it dead if they suddenly decided that "Irresponsible" was the format for a season ;)