The Problem with Season Pass:

[Walter-S_North_Carolina]

It is cool to get a current season of a marquee series like BBCs Orphan Black and be able to see episodes shortly after they are aired instead of having to wait for the EST/Packaged Media release date.

Generally, I sink my money into TV series that I would of been willing to purchase the packaged media for. Since my family's tastes are unique to us, I have purchased several season passes of children and nature series that are not marquee. Much more niche.

With a TV series that has already aired, you know exactly how many episodes you will be purchasing. Not so with a season pass purchase.

A case in point, Lego: The Legends of Chima. I bought season #2 in HDX for $41.72.

Season #1 had 20 episodes and cost the same. Season #2 seams to only have six. There is a current Wikipedia indicating the series will pick back up with Season #3 later this summer.

I have found that TV networks hold their cards close to their chests with respect to air dates and number of episodes. This is due to the highly competitive advertising market they live in.

As a result, buying a season pass leaves the owner having to wait and see what they end up actually having purchased until the TV network decides to let them know.

It is frustrating for me as a consumer and I feel there should be some expectation set when a season pass is purchased. If nothing else, the number of episodes should be known ahead of time.

[echopulse]

Re: The Problem with Season Pass:

That stings. I think this needs to be re-priced. You can buy all six episodes in HD for 18.00 or in SD for 12. Walter should get a refund and be able to buy them again at the new price.

[LuzRinggold]

Re: The Problem with Season Pass:

What is nice about Amazon Prime is that you are billed per episode as they become available. So if a show is cancelled mid-season or for some reason they don't air as many episodes as you expect it doesn't matter...you are paying a per episode price each week. I hope that Vudu will someday have this.

[Walter-S_North_Carolina]

Re: The Problem with Season Pass:

What is nice about Amazon Prime is that you are billed per episode as they become available. So if a show is cancelled mid-season or for some reason they don't air as many episodes as you expect it doesn't matter...you are paying a per episode price each week. I hope that Vudu will someday have this.

I do not like that feature. I like to make my purchases and be done. I hate how Amazon will charge your CC out of the clear blue sky. That really crinkles my britches.

That stings. I think this needs to be re-priced. You can buy all six episodes in HD for 18.00 or in SD for 12. Walter should get a refund and be able to buy them again at the new price.

IMDB is showing 20 episodes in season #2. For season #1, they aired three in the spring and then no more until July. That may be the case with this season too with the remaining 14 episodes Wikipedia is calling Season #3 will be apart of my season #2 Vudu purchase.

I guess the point I am making is not so much about the specific example, but the concept of buying a season pass and not knowing what you just purchased until the TV networks decide to let you know. It seems to be to be something that consumer advocacy mentality should come up with a solution for.

For instance, making public the number of episodes you will have as a result of your season pass purchase. That to me seems like a reasonable request.

[LuzRinggold]

Re: The Problem with Season Pass:

I do not like that feature. I like to make my purchases and be done. I hate how Amazon will charge your CC out of the clear blue sky. That really crinkles my britches.

When you purchase the season pass you agree to it, so it's not out of the clear blue sky. You make your purchase and you are done. After that Amazon will handle charging your card as the new episodes are made available and send you an email. And I think you can cancel it at any time. Anyway, I love this feature but I know that everyone is different.

Perhaps a better approach would be that we pay for say 20 episodes up front and if only 10 are actually made then we get credit for the difference at the end of the season.

[Walter-S_North_Carolina]

Re: The Problem with Season Pass:

Perhaps a better approach would be that we pay for say 20 episodes up front and if only 10 are actually made then we get credit for the difference at the end of the season.

That is a great idea!!!

Season Pass cost is determined by the number of expected episodes and if the TV network falls short, a credit is issued.

I do think the TV networks do not publish the number of episodes, air dates, and such to keep the knowledge from their competition. Also, if a series is getting low rating, they do not want to commit to keeping it in a slot when it can be replaced with something else that is getting higher ratings. This leaves the concept of a season pass product a bit difficult to work with, both on the consumer end and the service provider end.

[jjohns]

Re: The Problem with Season Pass:

That is a great idea!!!

Season Pass cost is determined by the number of expected episodes and if the TV network falls short, a credit is issued.

I do think the TV networks do not publish the number of episodes, air dates, and such to keep the knowledge from their competition. Also, if a series is getting low rating, they do not want to commit to keeping it in a slot when it can be replaced with something else that is getting higher ratings. This leaves the concept of a season pass product a bit difficult to work with, both on the consumer end and the service provider end.

Part of the problem is that the number of episodes is not necessarily known at the start. Sometimes a series will start with a short season order (say 10-13 episodes) and then, based on how successful it is, may get a full season pickup sometime after it's already started airing.

Or, at the other end of the spectrum, it could get cancelled before filming of the final episode(s) has completed.

On the one hand, I like how Amazon charges for the episodes as they become available. If you buy a lot of Season Passes each year, this method can definitely help spread out the cost so that you aren't spending a huge amount up front.

However, on the other hand, the way Vudu does it can result in better deals. With a Season Pass at Amazon, you only get a 5% discount. I've bought numerous Season Passes on Vudu that ended up being a lot more heavily discounted than that. But, as you say, there's then the risk that you can end up being grossly overcharged if the season gets cut short of expectations, for whatever reason.

[Walter-S_North_Carolina]

Re: The Problem with Season Pass:

I think, so far, we all agree that there is room for improvement with the season pass products.

[Guest]

Re: The Problem with Season Pass:

It is cool to get a current season of a marquee series like BBCs Orphan Black and be able to see episodes shortly after they are aired instead of having to wait for the EST/Packaged Media release date.

Generally, I sink my money into TV series that I would of been willing to purchase the packaged media for. Since my family's tastes are unique to us, I have purchased several season passes of children and nature series that are not marquee. Much more niche.

With a TV series that has already aired, you know exactly how many episodes you will be purchasing. Not so with a season pass purchase.

A case in point, Lego: The Legends of Chima. I bought season #2 in HDX for $41.72.

Season #1 had 20 episodes and cost the same. Season #2 seams to only have six. There is a current Wikipedia indicating the series will pick back up with Season #3 later this summer.

I have found that TV networks hold their cards close to their chests with respect to air dates and number of episodes. This is due to the highly competitive advertising market they live in.

As a result, buying a season pass leaves the owner having to wait and see what they end up actually having purchased until the TV network decides to let them know.

It is frustrating for me as a consumer and I feel there should be some expectation set when a season pass is purchased. If nothing else, the number of episodes should be known ahead of time.

We're gonna take a look at the Lego season. I'll be in contact with your shortly.

[Walter-S_North_Carolina]

Re: The Problem with Season Pass:

Oh, that would be great.