Apple blames record labels, movie studios for Australians paying higher prices on digital content

Apple took a rare stance in blaming record companies, movie studios and TV networks for higher prices on digital downloads in Australia, especially when compared to the U.S.

The words came out during an interview by a special Australian parliamentary committee that is investigating price gouging by Apple, Adobe, Microsoft and others.

Recent surveys showed that Australians paid, on average, 50 percent more than U.S. consumers did for the same games, songs, software and hardware.

For example, Justin Timberlake's brand new '20/20 Experience' sells for $10.99 in the U.S. iTunes Store, but $19.99 AUD, which is the equivalent of about $21 USD. Software is even worse.

Tony King, the vice president for Apple Australia, New Zealand and South Asia said digital content pricing was based solely on wholesale prices negotiated by the media companies. "The content industry still runs with perhaps old-fashioned notions of country borders or territories or markets," King added.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 23 Mar 2013 19:07

KillerBug

So, hardware costs more...and that is the fault of the studios too?

23.3.2013 19:45 #1

pensfan12

I don't use the Australian iTunes (I have had an American account for many years) buuuut,
In Australia you can ALWAYS get discounted iTunes cards at brick & mortar stores.

Usually 20%. $40 card for $30, 2 for 1, etc

You would have to be very stupid to pay full price.

23.3.2013 20:24 #2

KillerBug

Originally posted by pensfan12: You would have to be very stupid to pay full price. You could say that about anyone using iTunes instead of a good service like Amazon that costs less.

23.3.2013 21:54 #3

mukhis

Originally posted by KillerBug: You could say that about anyone using iTunes instead of a good service like Amazon that costs less.
using itunes itself is a bad idea since this stupid software does not allow you to load photo/video/ebook files from multiple folders. since itunes can sync only from a particular folder, the moment you sync from a different folder, the contents synced from the 1st folder will be erased from your idevice! therefore, no idevices for me.

24.3.2013 01:17 #4

21Q

It's true that everything cost more in Australia. I have a few friends from there and living there and anything from songs to gaming systems cost significantly more over there.

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24.3.2013 23:25 #5

xboxdvl2

Originally posted by 21Q: It's true that everything cost more in Australia. I have a few friends from there and living there and anything from songs to gaming systems cost significantly more over there. i live in australia and despite the fact things cost more we also get paid more so it kinda bounces out.

i have the big screen tv,a ps3 and 5.1 channel surround sound.car still runs smooth and computer still works but its a bit outdated.

25.3.2013 03:57 #6

Jemborg

Originally posted by KillerBug: So, hardware costs more...and that is the fault of the studios too? Bingo.

Originally posted by xboxdvl2: Originally posted by 21Q: It's true that everything cost more in Australia. I have a few friends from there and living there and anything from songs to gaming systems cost significantly more over there. i live in australia and despite the fact things cost more we also get paid more so it kinda bounces out. I disagree. I'm as capitalist as the next here and we are not running a charity for big business in Oz. Our dollar is only on parity with the USD. If it was really fair enough why is there a parliamentary investigation dealing with it? And why don't Apple and the rest use that as their reason then? "Well we figure you get paid more so...".

Its a lot easier being righteous than right.

25.3.2013 06:05 #7

xboxdvl2

apple and others cant use that as a reason as its discrimination.
other countries and overseas companys know australias have money and want it.

i have the big screen tv,a ps3 and 5.1 channel surround sound.car still runs smooth and computer still works but its a bit outdated.

25.3.2013 07:41 #8

megadunderhead

Actually it is there fault as well as the aus government as well. see let me explain if the goverment wouldn't censor games movies and change game and movie titles because they dont want there country to experience something they view as hateful or violent or too violent for there country it then costs company's 3 times as much to produce software in that country if they would just leave the companys product alone they would have had cheaper sales and make more money .

it really is sad !!!

25.3.2013 09:26 #9

xboxdvl2

Originally posted by megadunderhead: Actually it is there fault as well as the aus government as well. see let me explain if the goverment wouldn't censor games movies and change game and movie titles because they dont want there country to experience something they view as hateful or violent or too violent for there country it then costs company's 3 times as much to produce software in that country if they would just leave the companys product alone they would have had cheaper sales and make more money .

it really is sad !!! and i was under the impression uk and usa where stricter on cencorship than australia.

infact the only actually logical arguement as to why australians pay more that i have heard is taxes.

i have the big screen tv,a ps3 and 5.1 channel surround sound.car still runs smooth and computer still works but its a bit outdated.

25.3.2013 09:49 #10

Jemborg

Originally posted by megadunderhead: Actually it is there fault as well as the aus government as well. see let me explain if the goverment wouldn't censor games movies and change game and movie titles because they dont want there country to experience something they view as hateful or violent or too violent for there country it then costs company's 3 times as much to produce software in that country if they would just leave the companys product alone they would have had cheaper sales and make more money .

it really is sad !!! They've finally introduced an "R" (18+) rating in Oz for games so they don't have to modify them anymore.

Our free-to-air has a lot of uncut USA cable shows... albeit a year or two old.

Its a lot easier being righteous than right.

25.3.2013 11:35 #11

xtago

Originally posted by KillerBug: Originally posted by pensfan12: You would have to be very stupid to pay full price. You could say that about anyone using iTunes instead of a good service like Amazon that costs less. Amazon doesn't exist in Australia like it does in the USA or the UK and other countries.

So even if you buy something cheap on the US Amazon store you still need to pay high shipping costs.

26.3.2013 02:33 #12

xtago

Originally posted by xboxdvl2: Originally posted by 21Q: It's true that everything cost more in Australia. I have a few friends from there and living there and anything from songs to gaming systems cost significantly more over there. i live in australia and despite the fact things cost more we also get paid more so it kinda bounces out. Pretty much it.

A low paying job in Australia is around $18 an hour even MacDonalds still pay around $15 $16 for the kids just starting in the work force.

From the job ad on US radio a decent pay is around $10 to $12 an hour and has the medical benefits as an add on.

And what low being around $5 an hour in the US and require tips to boost the wage amount every week, as you can see the kids at MacDonalds would be raking it in.

Though it still doesn't excuse the fact that on Planet side 2 you need to spend $6AUD to get the same deal as the $5USD deal even though converted Sony is getting more money from Australian people than what US people pay them.

26.3.2013 02:44 #13

Jemborg

Originally posted by xboxdvl2: apple and others cant use that as a reason as its discrimination.
other countries and overseas companys know australias have money and want it. I guess I was being rhetorical when I posed that.

@Xtago Is it worth mentioning that Aussies are expected to organise our own medical benefits as we have the "Public Option" of Medicare so that sort of thing is not deducted from our wages?

Also, potentially getting tips is not an excuse for employers to underpay workers here... it's a genuine bonus for giving good service.

Still, it explains the flood of Americans immigrating to Oz.

Its a lot easier being righteous than right.

26.3.2013 03:15 #14

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