And it was.

And I enjoyed it while doing a little work Monday night. Nothing like streaming television, on your terms, with just a commercial per break.

This new media thing is starting to “take off.”

iTunes is offering the download of the 24 telemovie for $14.99 ($19.99 if you want HD).

Mind you, this is the same iTunes that sells 24 Episodes at $1.99 each. This was two episodes of 24. This normally retails for $3.98.

The DVD is $15.99 at Amazon and Best Buy.

The Amazon Video On Demand Service is selling it for $9.99.

When I watched it (again, less than 24 hours after it aired), I noted that not only were there PSAs in a few of the commercial slots (btw, Hulu doesn’t get paid for PSAs, that’s what PSAs are), but a few of the commercial slots were, well commercial less. It was liking watching the DVD.

And by the way, the commercials they did show were for an online project that started last September. I’ll bet you this is remnant advertising purchased extremely cheap.

In short, The $15 DVD is being streamed for free. Yes, I know the DVD contains a bunch of extra stuff (hey who doesn’t want cut video of Jack Bauer running around in the forest?). Yes, I realize there are DVD sales as a piece of the revenue pie but so is that whole advertising model that Hulu can’t seem to make work.

If you’re reading this in America (or have some clever proxies in place), you can enjoy the show embedded below (how many paying commercials to you count in this $15 DVD):

Hulu can’t be making anyone money.

I appreciate their desire to have a single commercial per break and I’ll enjoy the ride as long as it goes here but … streaming ain’t cheap (they’re evening doing it in HD now) and they’ve got nothing to show me that they have a long term plan - or that advertisers are actually buying into this. See, when advertisers “buy into” a concept, you see their add “buys” - that’s where the term comes from. You’ll see an occasional product on Hulu and there are some $$ coming in but getting me what I want on my terms is costing them less than they’re making in the deal.

There seems to be a really silly obsession with streaming at all costs. It’s expensive, bandwidth intensive, and darn it, isn’t making the sales they keep promising it will.

Downloads, not streaming, is the future of media delivery. It’s cheaper - much cheaper - and always ends with a better experience (for the customer at least).

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again.

But then again, they’re giving CEOs bailouts for making much dumber moves.

If we want to get anywhere in this industry, we need to do what makes sense, not what’s sexy.

Or are we all just waiting for the bailout?

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If you know anything about me, you know I came from the world of Microsoft FrontPage (you remember it, it was that simple WYSIWYG program for making Web sites). That world has gone away as the “powers that be” have tried to make Web Design harder and harder (and much harder than it needs to be). Yes, Microsoft actually killed the FrontPage product for another product that, well, I’m not impressed.

There have been three trends in the marketplace to respond to this simple fact.

• Many have chosen to Blog instead of create HTML pages. I understand this response and am somewhat guilty of it myself.
• Some have picked the product XSite Professional as a replacement for FrontPage. I don’t blame others for this and certainly own a copy too.
• Some have embraced the “Mini Site” teachings of my old friend Jim Edwards. Jim is KING of getting stuff done the fastest and easiest way possible.

Last time I chatted with Jim, I found out that he’s “updated” his whole Mini Site philosophy to what he calls “Mini Sites 2.0.” I, personally, think it deserves a 3.0 or even 4.0 upgrade myself - but that is another story all together …

Next Wednesday, Jim and I will be doing a (Free) Webinar where we’ll be chatting his new take on things. I made him give me an outline of what he wants to cover and here is what he’s promised …

First of all, we’re going to use a new tool to create a REAL mini-site LIVE on the webinar in 4 1/2 minutes. That should be fun!

Also promised (you know Jim likes to teach …)

• Specifically how “real” multi-million and multi-BILLION dollar companies use mini-sites to promote products (and you’ll even see a “sneaky trick” one multi-million dollar company is using to test which version of their mini-site is getting the best results so you can cash in too!)…
• The one-and-only “magic” formula (Jim’s phrase - not mine) for cashing in online (he claims everything else is just a more complicated version of this simple, POWERFUL formula you MUST know and understand).
• The “online funnel” business model that made Jim a millionaire — and why he’s ABANDONED that model forever! (You read that right… he took the business model that made him a millionaire and threw it in the trash! Find out WHY you should too!)
• The NEW “wagon wheel” business model and why it’s easier and faster than the old model (and a lot more fun too)!

Want access directions?

Send a blank email to minisitewebinar@aweber.com and we’ll get you the details and access information (it’s Aweber.com so you know you can unsubscribe at any time and it will be honored accordingly).

I love doing Webinars with Jim - it should be a great time for all!

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This is going to be fun, and downright edumactional.

I’ll be presenting on Syndication Traffic at the Increase Sales With Social Media event in San Diego on December 5. I’ll be introducing a new model to that audience that will shape what I’m doing for the rest of 2009. Good times (and intense learning).

Tribe NMIC, don’t worry, as part of the deal I get to give you the video of my presentation.

I’m joined by a bunch of hotshots including (but not limited to) Mari Smith and Denise Wakeman.

Intense day of content - well worth your attention.

Options 2 and 3 work for those who can’t attend live (timeshift anyone?) and if you buy through the link above I’ll buy you dinner the night before with my commission.

I guess if you can’t attend live but buy a ticket through my link, we’ll work something out too

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I typically place the day to day stuff about the Zune over at ZuneLuv.com but today’s news deserves comment here as well (don’t worry, we wrote about this over there too).

As reported at Cnet and explained at the Zune Insider, Microsoft added something very cool to the Zune Pass program. The short explanation is this:

The Zune Pass music subscription program doesn’t leave you empty after each month of use. Now each month in the program includes 10 tracks that you get to own at the end of each month. Cancel, and the tracks are still yours. You can even burn them to CD if you want.

This changes everything, and then some.

First of all, the Zune Pass subscription program now can stay true to it’s claim of being a “music discovery” engine. Someone could spend a year in the engine, spend the money one might associate with 12 CDs and walk out with the ‘experience’ of having tried thousands of tracks - and still having 12 CDs worth of music in the end for their efforts.

It is truly the best of both worlds.

Secondly, the Zune (and Zune Pass) suddenly became a really good deal for music lovers. Instead of being the industry’s “solution to that pesky portable media player problem,” the Zune can now become part of the solution - in a way that’s “good” for both the industry and the end-user.

I’ve been a Zune Pass subscriber since the Zune came out. Microsoft has never paid a dime of my subscription fees yet I’ve loved the chance at listening to what I want, when I want it. Personally, the $15 a month seemed like a good deal. The ability to end each month with 10 tracks that are mine is but icing on the cake for me, but will cause a lot of people to finally give that cake a second look (and bite).

I’ve said in the past that Apple would have to respond to the music subscription options offered by Zune. Now they have no choice at all - and will be playing also-ran to Microsoft’s revolutionary first move in this space.

Smart move Redmond.

It’s been a long time since I’ve said that.

It feels good, don’t it?

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I’d love to deconstruct his sales process / model for you here.

Anyone looking to sell a “big ticket” product could learn from it.

Anyone who doesn’t think a “big ticket” product is within their reach could learn from it (and perhaps be inspired to act).

It starts with a free custom “Electronic Marketing Analysis.” The process starts way low - something of value for just a name and email address. Address ain’t abused, everything remains totally can-spam compliant (you’ll never buy a product from someone who abuses your email address).

From there the offer becomes the $20 preview call (this year, December 4th). Not only does the product come with a year-long money back guarantee but a lot is a stake here. Imagine how much content Alex has to deliver for $20 to convince you to pick up his very expensive training program. This is really as much a numbers game as it is a sales game.

And then, the Teleseminar Secrets full course. First class session is on December 8 and the “doors close” 2 days earlier. Why would anyone close a cash-cow like this? If anyone is going to spend the kind of money Alex asks them to spend, people need to know they are spending the money on someone who can be trusted. You’d be surprised how many people are taking the class this year because they didn’t believe Alex last year.

So clean this model, … give them good free content to show them the value, show them money spent on this path is money well spent, over-deliver and stay true to your word.

Thoughts?

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We have promised, and will stay true to the promise, of being a pitch free show. We want you to be able to listen without worrying about anyone selling you anything. It’s a good goal.

But a popular Podcast consumed by thousands has a few costs associated with it.

As a result, we are going to do a very simple commercial insertion during each show.

How would you like to be the voice of that commercial?

How would you like to start that commercial by saying “Hi, this is [your name] from [your website] …”

Here is what the commercial must contain

• [Greetings of your choice], this is [your name] from [your website]” at the very beginning.
• A statement that they can support this pitch-free show by grabbing two free audio books from Audible.com.
• An explanation that they can do this by clicking on the Audible graphic on any page at the www.InternetMarketingThisWeek.com site.
• A [thank you] for supporting the show.

Hint: BREVITY IS THE SOUL OF WIT

Do NOT MENTION the episode number as we are going to dynamically insert these into past episodes (and probably future) as well.

How are we dynamically inserting commercials? Ask the fine folk over at LibSyn Pro. I’ve been more impressed with their system every day I use it and, gosh darn it, we’re gonna kick it up a notch.

How do you enter?

• Record the commercial in your own voice.
• Post the .MP3 at your site.
• If you used any sounds effects or music during the commercial, give them full props and prove rights next to the .mp3.
• Post a @IMTW to Twitter with the web address of your commercial.
• Listen to Episode #4 and see if we picked you.

We promise your add with your URL will be downloaded at least 3,000 times if we pick you.

Make it so! I can’t wait to hear what you come up with.

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After launching the New Media Webinar Series as a Podcast today, I’ve received a bunch of email from people asking me about the video player on that page.

On today’s New Media Matters Show, I disclosed that it was actually a custom player that plays, get this, YouTube.com files.

Here’s how I do it (with a fancy embedded video from YouTube - if it doesn’t appear in your RSS feed, click in the link below):

Here’s the YouTube.com Custom Video Player video at YouTube.com.

And, just to show that I have no prejudices, here is the same video at MySpace, Metacafe, Google, AOL Video, DailyMotion, Blip.tv, Veoh, Sclipo, Howcast and 5min

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As I mentioned in the last Blog post, I bought a new MacBook Pro yesterday (and not for the reasons Mike suggested). I’m finding more and more that the Apple angle on life, etc., is more to who I am and that, really, Windows is just another program for me to run on my Mac.

But that, funny enough, isn’t the topic of this post either.

At my home entertainment center, you’ll see an Apple TV. I’ve loved her for a long time and have done everything I can through that device. I’ve loved her through Hulu and Netflix online despite, well, you know.

Then along came Boxee. She’s installed on my Apple TV.

My Apple TV just hit puberty - I always saw her potential, she’s just now showing it to me.

One sub $200 box gives me television, movies, pay per view, streaming, music, Internet Radio, etc. I can’t tell you how thrilled I am.

But, Boxee.TV ain’t perfect (she’s closer than anything else I’ve seen). Here, not that you asked, is what I’d change:

• I’d put together a master database of all shows, Podcasts, etc. in one space so you don’t have to know that “The Unit” is under CBS while “24″ is a Hulu property (let alone, where in the heck to find Ask A Ninja). If we’re really going to “kill” the networks, let’s KILL ‘EM.
• I’d have some option between “your friends know nothing about what you watch” and “you friends know EVERYTHING you watch.” Some people don’t want the world knowing about their Hannah Montana addiction.
• Add a very simple “across the room” email and RSS experience to the program. A simple ticker of your latest email at the bottom of the screen while you’re watching a show could be really fun too.
• Let us change the background image (I know they’re working on that).
• Let users “subscribe” to individuals and find out not just the last 6 things that all your friends did - but their entire history as well. Suggest some thoughts leaders in different spaces too.
• Let content producers produce “channel” options on Boxee. For example, I decide I’m a big fan of Ask A Ninja, I click a button and now the “Ask A Ninja Channel” is there right next to the other Internet video options.
• Produce a $99 box that runs Boxee.

Played with Boxee yet? Your thoughts?

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Since I purchased a new MacBook Pro yesterday, I thought I’d tell you why:

There is a “secret” angle to all this that most people forget. Actually, it ain’t much of a secret at all but next to nobody is leveraging this thing. The new Macs all have Intel chips inside meaning that they can run Windows if/when needed. Now where to some “pure” Mac users, that might seem like putting lipstick on a pig, there is an element of GET OVER IT that needs to be examined.

I’ll be honest, 95% of my computer time on this thing will be in full Mac mode. But, …

If I need a “full PC” to do some “full PC” things that only “full PCs” can do (Ustream.tv via PC has higher quality options - did you know that?), I use Bootcamp and have a full PC. Nice.

If I just need some Windows action during a computing session, I can run VMware Fusion and run “Real” Windows right on my Mac. No more having to have a PC laptop around the house just in case.

So, when I need a Mac, I have a Mac.

When I need some Windows action, I got it.

When I need a “Full PC” for some serious work, I got it.

Sorry Mike, but it doesn’t sound like a “debate” to me at all.

What do you use?

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I posted this on Twitter, etc. earlier today and started getting some really fun responses. I figured we could/should learn from each other here so I issue this challenge …

Place your plans for getting ready for 2009 here. I’ll give (at least one of) my favorite response a free month in the New Media Inner Circle ($107 value). Least I can can do for you sharing your genius with us.

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