Disney Downloads Top 4 Million On iTunes

 
By Sherri March 21, 2006



If there was any question about the growing popularity of downloadable television content, Disney's latest numbers should clear up doubt. The media giant is reporting it has surpassed the 4 million mark for downloads on iTunes since it began with the company last October.

The news was announced by Disney CEO Bob Iger during a speech on Monday during the TelecomNext conference in Las Vegas.

That data point is indicative of the biggest change in the TV business, he said. "Technology has transformed authority from the distributor and creator to the consumer. Today's consumer is more tech-savvy and governs how and when and at what price content is sent to them," he said. ITunes also introduced the concept of new distribution windows, he said. Disney has been a proponent of re-evaluating distribution windows for content in general.

While content is seemingly the beneficiary of the trend toward multiple and diverse platforms for content, Mr. Iger believes the proliferation of platforms will actually separate the wheat from the chaff when it comes to programming. "You will see a larger disparity in this new world order between what is good and what is inferior," he said.

To succeed in this new world order, content providers and distributors must supply easy-to-use interfaces, he added.
TV Week