WSJ: Kauf-Musikvideos und iPod video ab September? [Update_3]

Das Wall Street Journal berichtet in einem (kostenpflichtigen) Artikel von Gesprächen zwischen Apple und den vier Majors über eine Musikvideo-Lizenzierung für den iTunes store, die möglicherweise ab September für 1,99$ das Stück dort erhältlich sein sollen. Damit einhergehend könnte die Vorstellung eines iPod video stattfinden: "The negotiations are a possible prelude to a version of Apple’s hit iPod that would play video, a widely expected gadget that Apple has told some entertainment-industry executives that it could announce by September", so das WSJ. Ebenfalls verhandelt wird angeblich mit diversen Medienunternehmen über einen Vertrieb von TV-Shows (und möglicherweise Filmen), "though securing rights to sell television shows over the Internet is highly complex and is likely to take longer than other forms of video". Neu ist das alles auf den ersten Blick nicht, aber immerhin stammt es vom WSJ, die mit ihrer Apple-Intel-Geschichte unlängst auffallend richtig lagen. Leider liegt mir momentan der aktuelle WSJ-Artikel selbst nicht vor, insofern ist alles unter Vorbehalt (obige Zitate stammen von iPodlounge). Der Intel-Switch-Artikel des WSJ wurde damals im Stille-Post-System teilweise grotesk verzerrt wiedergegeben.

Update: Kleiner Ausschnitt des WSJ-Artikels bei TIO: "Apple has approached the four major music companies, Warner Music Group Corp., EMI Group PLC, Vivendi Universal SA's Universal Music Group and Sony BMG, a joint venture between Sony Corp. and Bertelsmann AG, to license music videos for sale through iTunes, according to people in the media industry," WSJ reported. "The videos, which could go on sale as early as September, would likely be sold for $1.99 each, with the possibility of a discount if consumers buy a music video and a song at the same time, these people said."

Update_2: Der Artikel ist nun frei verfügbar: "Speculation about Apple's product moves is rampant, and frequently wide of the mark. Yet many analysts consider a video iPod a virtual certainty, in part because of Apple's strength in video software, including the Quicktime movie format and Macintosh video-editing software such as Final Cut Pro and iMovie. In one potential clue about the company's plans, Apple recently licensed a chip from a subsidiary of Broadcom Corp. that could be used to display video on portable devices, though it can also be used to power more sophisticated graphics, a person familiar with the matter said."
Hannibal übt sich derweil bei Ars.technica in heuristischen Analogien: "The iTMS video section will initially be limited to music videos in QuickTime format, as well as some Pixar content (shorts, and maybe a few films). All downloadable video will come wrapped in proprietary Apple DRM, and (as is the case with AAC) this QT + DRM format will be the only DRM-enabled video format that the video iPod will be capable of playing. Video iPod owners will be able to use the device to play a few non-DRM types of video, like MP4, DIVX, etc., and they may be able to rip DVDs and play them on the iPod, but they won't be able to play DRM'd video downloaded from competing online video services."

Update_3: Disney-Inhalte stehen wohl angeblich auf Jobs Wunschliste: "Steve Jobs has spoken with Disney President and soon-to-be CEO Bob Iger about ways to license various Disney content for a video iPod, according to an internal Disney email I have obtained. That could include anything from clips from ESPN and ABC News to short cartoons", so das Business2.0 Blog. Bill Gates hat sich ebenfalls bereits auf den Weg nach Hollywood gemacht, um die iTunes-Schande zu tilgen, wie die LA Times in einem langen Artikel berichtet: "Even if they stick together, the content creators may stand pat, place their bets with multiple technology partners or choose someone other than Gates. In particular, few in Hollywood would be shocked to see Apple founder Steve Jobs pull another rabbit out of his hat, unveiling a perfectly thought-out system for moving paid video to computers and portable devices."