By Michael Santo
Executive Editor, RealTechNews
NBC Universal is the number one supplier of digital video that is distributed on iTunes, with 40% of the downloads, yet it was unable to come to terms with Apple – over what else, money. Because of this, it will not be renewing its distribution contract with Apple.
The company’s contract to sell more than 1,500 hours of news, sports and entertainment programming on iTunes expires at the end of December. NBC was required to inform Apple by Friday if the contract would not renewed, said Amy Zelvin, spokeswoman for NBC Universal Digital. Source: Forbes
We Say: Note that non-NBC shows such as Battlestar Galactica (sob, this is the last season!) and Psych would also be affected. This is another example of the trouble many media companies are having with iTunes’ pricing policies. Many companies have been outspoken about wanted “more” in terms of pricing, as well as different tiers of pricing. Additionally, let’s not forget that NBC Universal will be launching a private beta of its own video service, Hulu, in October.
Update: iTunes upped the ante by saying they would drop Universal before their contract expires, just prior to the fall season.
Off to thepiratebay.org then.
They have the best selection anyway!
I agree with Woot. The internet wins. Hence this internet comic:
http://www.itgumbo.com/mumbogumbo/2007/08/apple_takes_ball_goes_home.php
[...] On August 31st NBC Universal (NBCU) announced it would not renew its video distribution deal with iTunes, after a dispute over pricing. That same day Apple fired back, saying it would pull NBCU content from iTunes prior to the fall season. I speculated at the time that it might have something to do with the new online video joint venture that NBCU and News Corp. have named “Hulu.” It seems, for now, this is not the case. [...]
[...] On August 31st NBC Universal (NBCU) announced it would not renew its video distribution deal with iTunes, after a dispute over pricing. That same day Apple fired back, saying it would pull NBCU content from iTunes prior to the fall season. I speculated at the time that it might have something to do with the new online video joint venture that NBCU and News Corp. have named “Hulu.” It seems, for now, this is not the case. [...]
[...] On August 31st NBC Universal (NBCU) announced it would not renew its video distribution deal with iTunes, after a dispute over pricing. That same day Apple fired back, saying it would pull NBCU content from iTunes prior to the fall season. I speculated at the time that it might have something to do with the new online video joint venture that NBCU and News Corp. have named “Hulu.” It seems, for now, this is not the case. [...]
[...] “On Thursday, NBC announced a new service, “NBC Direct.†NBC Direct will allow users to download and view many popular NBC shows — for free. The shows will require a special player, and they will have a license that expires one week after the original airing — note carefully, not one week after you download it, but one week after the show originally aired. This announcement comes only three weeks after NBC Universal dropped out of the iTunes service and two weeks after it moved its television content to Amazon Unbox. [...]
[...] On Thursday, NBC announced a new service, “NBC Direct.” NBC Direct will allow users to download and view many popular NBC shows — for free. The shows will require a special player, and they will have a license that expires one week after the original airing — note carefully, not one week after you download it, but one week after the show originally aired. This announcement comes only three weeks after NBC Universal dropped out of the iTunes service and two weeks after it moved its television content to Amazon Unbox. [...]
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