Saw this post from cartographer, where she talks about spoilers and how she is getting more interested in good writing than:
trawl through hours of quite-good just for the big reveal at the end
(I know it’s nearly month ago, but I’m only catching up on some posts now).
Of course, she’s talking about Harry Potter, a series I’ve yet to go near. I thought I was just being peculiar in my book-buying habits but there is part of me that, in general, distrusts certain types of series. I’m not just talking about novels, but roleplaying books, TV shows and movies.
I came across “Sanctuary” on the weekend. It’s a sci-fi series that’s only being made available online.
“The First Broadcast Caliber Online Sci-Fi Series”
It’s about time someone actually tried this, selling television shows directly to the public instead of going through a broadcaster/network who may or may not cancel the show have way through a season and who are more concerned with advertisement and “viewer figures” than good television. I applaud the makers of Sanctuary, Stage 3 Media, for being bold enough to be the first.
The website is in sucky flash (why do people still create full websites in flash?) and it won’t play on my Wii. Arg. So I booted up my PC and had a look. The trailer is awesome, it’s kind of like a Gothic-X-Files-cum-League-of-Extraordinary-Gentlemen. I’m impressed. It’s got some recognisable actors too, Amanda Tapping (she plays “Colonel Samantha Carter” on Stargate), who is also one of the executive producers, and David Hewlett (he plays “Dr. Rodney McKay” on Stargate: Atlantis).
I bought a “bundle” for the first 4 “webisodes” (their term, not mine!). I didn’t realise initially that each “webisode” is only 15 to 20 minutes long and, so far, only one episode is available. So to get the first full 1 hour episode, I’m going to have to wait for the next 3 webisodes to be released. But the good thing is that you can download the webisode in WMA and/or MOV format. I wish they had a DIVX format as well. Still, it means I can watch the webisodes on my telly using the Wii.
I watched the first episode yesterday. I’m impressed. If it was on television, I’d be very excited about now…
Except… I paid approximately 9 euros for that bundle of 4 webisodes (thats about 6 GBP or so). Apparently, according to their blog, different regions have different pricing structures and they have made the pricing inline with the iTunes model.
We have modeled our pricing on a very successful competitor: iTunes. They set their prices based on what each market will bear, based on availability, economics, research etc. Simply put: Different economic regions dictate different prices. This is why some things are cheaper or more expensive depending on what part of the world you’re in.
And they justify the price such:
Sanctuary offers you a 15 minute-long standard definition “webisode” in your choice of format (Quicktime/ Windows Media/Flash Video) and for a slightly higher price you can upgrade to the HD version. These files are YOURS. You can do with them what you want. Drop them into iTunes. Convert them to DVD formats. Burn, rip, whatever. You bought ‘em, you decide how to enjoy ‘em. And right now they are available ONLY on the web. Unlike Lost or Stargate, it will be awhile before Sanctuary makes it on TV. So if you like the show, the Internet is the only place you’re gonna find it. And unlike iTunes TV and movie offerings — which are only available in the US — anyone, in any country, can pay for and watch Sanctuary.
Considering the level of content, it’s global availability, and its exclusivity, we feels it’s a fair price — and if you buy them in bundles, it drops the price per webisode even further.
Okay, but 9 euros for 1 hour? When I said this to my wife, her response was “that’s more expensive than porn!” (One might wonder why my wife knows how much porn would cost…) I’m not sure I can afford 9 euros per full (1-hour) episode. I’d rather wait till they release a DVD box set and get it for a reasonable price then pay be on the latest viewing-edge of the show.
I think they have really got the pricing wrong on this. It’s going to make viewers much more fickle. If one episode is really bad… why fork out so much for the next one? Sure the hard-core fans probably would but the average viewer wouldn’t, I don’t think. And when you put it as 9 euros for 1 hour… Jesus that’s enough to discourage anyone from buying it in the first place, unless the novelty of it turns you on.
In their latest blog post, they imply they are aware this is an issue.
First off I want you ALL to know we are taking all of your issues concerning pricing very seriously. It is a large and looming issue and we are aware of it. What I also want to make clear is that we ARE looking into the numbers and discussing the option of a flat pricing model. The company that makes Sanctuary - Stage 3 Media - has modelled its business plan in line with the iTunes pricing model and to change it means some serious bean counting. That said, not for a second do we want to alienate our customers and fans. In fact we strive to do the exact opposite.
Yes, I admit it. I’ve watched America’s Next Top Model. I mean, its a series about beautiful girls wanting to be models where the biggest concern is if they are willing to do a naked photo shoot? Okay it’s got Tyra Bank’s wannable Talk-Show host constantly trying to get the contestants to “show us who you are” (i.e. cry or reveal some dirt about their past), which drives me up the wall… but thank god for Sky+ and fast forward.
Anyway, they are doing a Canadian version and Sophie, my wife, sat down to watch it on Saturday. Obviously there is no Tyra Banks. They have some Canadian Model. But do you know who it is? Tricia Helfer (her official site). Who’s Tricia Helfer? Well she plays the sexy Cylon “Number Six” in Battlestar Galaticia!
I was suddenly dizzy. Campy Fashion Reality TV show crashing with Serious Sci-Fi Drama! It was nearly Cthulhu-esque… two worlds colliding together, other alien dimensions shifting into ours. I kept expecting Tricia to explain how they would be trained to the ultimate sexy human-killing Cylon instead of how Tricia was first spotted by a talent scout, while waiting in a queue, and how she became an international super-model!
I’m a bit of Alice-in-Wonderland-o-phile, so imagine my joy when my daughter (called Alice) was given a DVD called “Alice through the looking glass”. Now it looks absolutely terrible from the cover. But then I looked at the voice actors… Mr. T as the Jabberwocky! Wow. (You know I don’t recall the Jabberwocky actually talking in the original books).
Anyway, last Saturday morning, Alice decides she’ll watch it and that it no longer has a scary cover. We sit down and start watching. It’s bad. Very bad. The songs are atrocity and the rewriting of the original story is so hacky and obviously designed to fit into some “good for kids” formula. The animation is on the lame side of the 80s. It’s so bad, I fall asleep within ten minutes after the introduction of the “fool” (a character certainly not in the books). I only woke up at the end credits. Darn, I never even got to hear Mr. T as the Jabberwocky.
But I’m not willing to sit through it again… (but I may have to…)
Well, lets get specific. What I mean is, I discovered that Vampire High was canned after one season and there is little or no chance of it being started up again. (see my previous post here!) (But it’s not all bad on the vampire front…)
And the Dresden FilesTV show sucks. I haven’t read the books or played the RPG (there is one by the way, done by the same folk who did Spirit of the Century). I’ve watched the first three episodes on Sky 1. Quite simply, unoriginal and boring. Read More…
I overheard a neighbouring cubicle worker talking about boys names for their new baby with someone else.
“We were thinking of Balthazar.”
I pipe in with:
“Wow. That’s a great geek name.”
“Geek?”
“You know, Baltar, from Battlestar Galacticia… the human with the cylons…”
“Eh, no. Balthazar was one of the wise kings.”
Doh!
Apparently Balthazar, which sounds very similar to “Baltar” which is the name of a character from the popular sci-fi show Battlestar Galacticia, is one of the wise kings from the story of Christmass.
(dubnordie will like this!) Since moving into our new house, we’ve got ourselves one of those Sky+ boxes and a Sky subscription to, well, way too many channels. Most of them are utter rubbish. However… there is a channel called “Zone Horror” and they show a Vampire series called “Vampire High” and thanks to the ease of recording, I watched a few episodes!
It’s about as bad as the 90s Vampire series Forever Knight… which makes it very good! I haven’t googled it yet, I don’t want to. I don’t want to know it’s been canned or that there are only one or two seasons. Ignorance is bliss they say.
Each episode is only 30 minutes long, which probably makes it more delicious for it’s bite-size delight. The back-story is a little vague, the elders put some young vampires under the guidance of head-master Dr. Murdock whose job is to humanise them. An experiment that must be kept secret from the “furies”. Anyway, it’s a bunch of Vampires, with all the funky powers and weakness and dress sense living in the basement of a boarding school.
I haven’t googled it yet, I don’t want to. I don’t want to know it’s been canned or that there are only one or two seasons. Ignorance is bliss they say.