Advertisment

MTV to intro music download service in ‘04

author-image
CIOL Bureau
New Update

NEW YORK: MTV Networks is preparing to launch a music download service with plans to go up against Apple Computer Inc.'s iTunes and other competitors, said MTV chief Tom Freston.

Freston, who addressed investors at the Harris Nesbitt Gerard Playtime conference, said the as-yet-unnamed service would debut within the first half of next year, but gave few details. "It will compete with iTunes and everyone else," he told Reuters in an interview.

Advertisment

The expected launch will mark yet another stab by MTV at courting its contingent of younger viewers with a music download offering. The Viacom Inc.-owned music television network had considered offering music streaming and the ability to download actual songs in 2000. The service was to be a cornerstone in its strategy to spin off the online division of MTV and other Viacom properties in the same year.

But the collapse of the Internet boom forced Viacom to scale back lofty ambitions and shelve the public offering.

While MTV.com currently lets users download some music tracks, they expire after about a month and cannot be burned to a compact disc or uploaded to a portable digital player.

Analysts said and MTV, with its global presence and ubiquity in the living rooms of teenagers young adults would have a leg up on established competitors but was slow in entering the market for music downloads.

Advertisment

Apple launched a Microsoft Windows-compatible version of its software in October and its online music store has sold approximately 13 million songs since its launch in April, analysts said.

"There's no doubt it's a strong brand, with a strong profile of viewers," said Phil Leigh, senior analyst at Inside Digital Media, about MTV's plans. "But they can't rely solely on their brand come next year ... After iTunes launched in April, MTV should have been like a hawk on a field mouse."

MTV will also be competing with a relaunched Napster and recently launched BuyMusic.com. Time Warner Inc. 's America Online is also bolstering its MusicNet service this year.

© Reuters

tech-news