Checking Out Online Network TV (Page 2 of 2)

NBC: http://www.nbc.com/video/

Update: the last time I looked at NBC, I found that their "NBC Direct" viewer was difficult to install, and I never got it to work in on my PC. Let's try it again and see what happens.

Well, I can wrap this up quickly. After looking at NBC's end user license agreement, I can definitely say that NBC Direct is not worth installing.

From the EULA:

"The Service contains a library, storefront, and downloading manager to assist you in downloading Content for storage and/or viewing on your computer . . . YOU SPECIFICALLY AGREE THAT THE SOFTWARE MAY DELETE FILES AND CONTENT FROM YOUR HARD DRIVE(S) AND OTHER COMPUTER MEDIA."

And:

"The service uses peer to peer ("P2P") software to deliver Content files to your computer more quickly. P2P software works by using the processor and bandwidth function of computers in a network to deliver Content more quickly and efficiently . . . In order to use the Service, you hereby grant permission for the Software to utilize the processor and bandwidth of your computer for the limited purposes of (i) facilitating the transfer of digital files and communication between the users of the Software and the Services and (ii) pasting links to content in instant messages and RSS feeds."

And if that's not bad enough:

"Digital Rights Management: The service contains and enables digital right management technology that may be included with Content files provided to you via the Service, including technology owned by third parties such as Microsoft for Windows Media."

That's the worst EULA I've read since Google mangled the original Chrome browser EULA, which was quickly amended.

So NBC would like to put a storefront application on my PC to handle downloads that are encumbered with DRM and which sets up a P2P file sharing network that tells others what files reside on my PC by RSS feeds and instant messaging.

That's mighty precious of them, and I wonder how many folks are using this service without even knowing that their PC is talking with other PCs out the back door and that the NBC download/upload manager is sucking up the bandwidth that they pay for even when they are not using the application.

I suggest that you avoid NBC Direct like the plague.

Fox has graphic links for America’s Most Wanted, Bones, and House on the front page. I selected an episode of House, and it was led by a 15-second commercial. Selecting full screen opened smoothly and ran inside the browser. This is the best big image I’ve seen among these sites. Site help says it’s using the “Move Media Player” from Move Networks, Inc.

Update: I couldn't get the Fox viewer to work at all inside Firefox 3. It seemed to be a through-put problem, as the same video streamed fine to Internet Explorer. In IE, the Fox viewer still works great and the picture is fluid and detailed.

Update: Hulu now have a desktop application that runs in Windows without needing a web browser. It works great, and you can find a Bright Hub review of it, too. Hulu Desktop Full-Screen TV for Your PC.

Hulu: http://www.hulu.com/

Hulu is a joint venture between NBC and News Corp. The viewer is Flash based, and it started quickly. Hovering the mouse pointer over the sides of the image brings up additional menu items. An interesting one is “Lower the lights” which darkens the rest of the webpage. I watched the “Nutter” opening scene from Ice Age, and the performance was fine. Full-screen worked fine. I also tried the high-definition option, and it worked fine in 480p.

Update: I really wondered how Hulu was doing after trying and refusing NBC Direct.

No worries. Hulu still works fine in Firefox 3 and looks great in the browser, "popped out," and full-screen. They have added much more content since the last time we looked.

So what are my conclusions?

They're a little rearranged since this was first written, but the recommendation last time was to use Hulu.com to get your fix of NBC programming until they straightened out the NBC Direct beta.Since NBC seems intent on taking over the user's computer, setting up a storefront and download/upload manager, and sharing files from your PC, not to mention using instant messaging and RSS feeds to tell others what DRM-encumbered files are on your computer, the recommendation now is stronger. Don't use NBC Direct at all. It's not good for consumers.

CBS only rates an honorable mention this time. Their program selection appears only a little bit better, and the other players based on Move Networks actually work better now.

ABC once again gets the artful award. Their application looks nice, and it works fine.

Fox's viewer did not work in Firefox 3, although it worked fine in Internet Explorer 7. We'll give them some time to work on that as FF 3 is still relatively new.

Hulu.com gets the top prize this time. They have a terrific selection of movies and television in their vaults, it streams flawlessly, and it works smoothly in the browser, popped out of the browser, and full-screen.

We'll look again in a few months and revisit this topic then if needed.

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This article was updated on September 14, 2009.

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