A Shining example of Internet Marketing - US TV
I often wonder why the marketing and technology teams behind UK TV stations seem to be so bad. Channel 4 become the first UK TV station to launch a system that lets you watch the latest TV episodes online (although the BBC have been testing a similar service for the past 4 years). The site uses DRM and charges you for each program that you download and watch (DRM means that it only works for about a week of course).
No wonder TV Torrents are so popular.
Then look at NBC on the other side of the pond. I’m a bit fan of Heroes (have been for a number of months). Their website and marketing over there is amazing. There are forums (and good ones at that), there are character blogs, you can watch the whole show online (for free of course). Sounds good eh? Not finished yet; there is an online novel (a new comic book is put online after every episode) and there is even is a Wiki for gods sake!
I am utterly flabbergasted with the features that NBC have pilled into the site.
It’s not a one off either. Ugly Betty is another show that’s come over from the US. Channel 4’s site for it is basic and has little to offer. Then there is ABC in the US. Features galore. A Shop, Podcasts, Dedicated Websites for characters, Spin off online only TV shows; they even have a competition for people to design a dress to be features in the show!
So why on earth is the UK so behind the times? It’s 2007 and we can’t even watch our TV shows online!
Answers on a postcard please (or comment).
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Sky have a similar thing with a mix of free content and pay-for content.
The BBC wanted to launch a service that would show all the back catalogues of progs etc, it was deemend anti-competitive for some god knows why reason and they were stopped from releasing it! At least thats what I read somewhere.
With regards to the sites for tv shows, thats just down to the level of importance placed on websites by the tv networks. C4 obviously dont see it worth while doing something similar OR maybe they cant because they possibly dont own the rights to do that sort of thing, they only have the rights to broadcast the show OR they dont have the technical staff to be able to come up with these ideas OR they arent investing enough cash in the sites to allow these things to be implemented.
Which ever one of those reasons it is, it all points to the fact that we are still light-years behind the USA in terms of developing solid, interactive content!
All IMHO of course,
Ste