Discovery Distribution - Questions for Experienced CBS All Access Users and Download

[Bones]

Out of curiosity I purchased a month of CBS All Access and installed the Android app so I can experiment with it before DSC comes out.

As I expected, I can view all the CBS Episodes I want (which is 0 except for DSC), and can use Chromecast. What I'm disappointed about is that CBSAA doesn't seem to provide the capability to download the episodes for viewing later on. I also noticed that CBS provides the capability to purchase episodes of the current and past seasons for download via Google Play. It looks like I don't have to subscribe to All Access to purchase episodes.

So my questions for experienced users:

• Is there a way to download episodes ahead of time in the App which I have missed?
• Do we expect CBS to distribute current episodes of DSC for purchase via download without having to subscribe to All Access? Is this the policy for all their series or do they pick and choose? My expectation is that they won't since they're trying to drive subscriptions to All Access, but who knows.

My main use case is to download DSC ahead of time and watch on my boat on weekends. I don't want to burn expensive mobile bandwidth by live streaming it thru the app. If I can't download ahead of time, I'll still subscribe to CBSAA but watching would be a little inconvenient.

 

[KennyB]

Don't we already have multiple threads on this?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I doubt CBSAA will ever allow permanent downloads, because then people would subscribe, download, then cancel. Removing the ability to download, ensures that people will always have to stay subscribed in order to see anything on CBSAA.

 

[Balok's Decoy]

My understanding is that downloading episodes or movies from a streaming site is a relatively new concept that Netflix is leading. I'd be surprised if CBSAA followed this model.

As for purchasing episodes in the Google Play Store that are also available on CBSAA -- that could be related to licensing agreements. You'll also see some shows that are on CBSAA on other sites like Hulu. But whether CBSAA exclusives like The Good Fight are available for purchase elsewhere? I doubt it.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

As for DSC, I'm convinced it will eventually make it to iTunes. All other Trek series have, so I don't see why this one wouldn't. CBSAA may have a lock on it for a time, but that won't last forever.

 

[EnderAKH]

No, currently you cannot download episodes. As for Google Play? If we use the Good Fight as our model, it had its season finale a week ago, and it is currently not on Google Play for purchase. I would imagine to goose numbers the CBSAA exclusive shows will remain exclusive to the platform for a little while to promote subscriptions. Just a guess.

 

[Apparition B5]

Most likely like Netflix. Netflix's shows tend to stay exclusive for about a year.

 

[Bones]

Thanks these were the answers I was looking for regarding the app's/download capabilities.

 

[jamestyler]

My understanding is that downloading episodes or movies from a streaming site is a relatively new concept that Netflix is leading. I'd be surprised if CBSAA followed this model.

Not sure about anywhere in the US - but the BBC did this years back with iPlayer. You could stream a show directly on their website or download it on a PC. I'd always download and then stream to the XBox 360 through Media Player as at the time there was no apps for such services.

Not sure how long ago that was Maybe 6-7 years ago? But the files were timed - not sure the technical shenanigans behind it, but the files were time locked and would only work for about a week. I believe they still use that system and could be adapted to CBS. But I'm also sure them doing this was how Doctor Who is one of the easiest to pirate TV shows.

 

[KennyB]

Not sure about anywhere in the US - but the BBC did this years back with iPlayer. You could stream a show directly on their website or download it on a PC. I'd always download and then stream to the XBox 360 through Media Player as at the time there was no apps for such services.

Not sure how long ago that was Maybe 6-7 years ago? But the files were timed - not sure the technical shenanigans behind it, but the files were time locked and would only work for about a week. I believe they still use that system and could be adapted to CBS. But I'm also sure them doing this was how Doctor Who is one of the easiest to pirate TV shows.

Yeah but BBC is funded by the TV Tax.........American's are already screaming about $5.99 a month. Tell them you're gonna charge them $200 a year to watch TV and they would rebel..........

 

[USS Triumphant]

But I'm also sure them doing this was how Doctor Who is one of the easiest to pirate TV shows.

Honestly, pretty much any TV show is easy to pirate if the analog hole is open. (The analog hole being that our eyes and ears are analog, so they have to convert to analog at the endpoint in order for us to watch/listen to them.) It's why THEY want to put computers in our brains, you see.