Stop charging me more for high definition content!
Let me ask you a question. How long has high definition (HD) content been available? I'm talking about high definition channels on our televisions and digital devices and Blu-ray discs for our DVD players.
A couple of years? Maybe more?
So why am I still paying more for high definition content vs. the standard definition (SD) counterpart? Take a look at these examples:
DIRECTV Pay-per-view movie:
SD: $4.99
HD: $5.99
DIRECTV Live Event (UFC):
SD: $44.95
HD: $54.95
Redbox 1 night rental:
DVD: $1.00
Blu-ray: $1.50
iTunes Movie Rental:
SD: $3.99
HD: $4.99
iTunes Movie Purchase:
SD: $14.99
HD: $19.99
I understand that when high definition was first made available, companies like DIRECTV had to offset the cost of their new satellites by charging more for HD content. Not to mention, it was brand new technology so most early adopters didn't mind paying extra to be on the bleeding edge of technology.
And maaaaaaaybe I can see how high definition consumes more bandwidth, but c'mon, that's a lame excuse.
But time's up. High definition is no longer bleeding edge (or even leading edge) technology. I demand that the price difference between standard definition and high definition be obliterated.
Besides, these companies don't need the extra money. They are getting more than enough milking us for 3D content.
1 comment for this blog post so far...
September 27, 2011 at 10:22 am
Tia Nielsen
People are willing to pay more. Why? Marketing “rules.”
Maybe the target market thinks the technology is still new enough to cost more. (And it may. I don’t really know.) Maybe because a higher price implies a better quality in the minds of buyers. It is provable that folks will pay high dollar if something is perceived as extra special, and not merely good.
When buyers believe the hype or experience the reality that something is outstanding, they are more inclined to pay the price. Better discretion is now more evident in today’s economy, but ... not always.
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