August 31st, 2007
Universal not renewing TV show distribution deal with iTunes
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.
woot says:
Off to thepiratebay.org then.
They have the best selection anyway!
August 31st, 2007 at 9:49 am
leah says:
I agree with Woot. The internet wins. Hence this internet comic:
http://www.itgumbo.com/mumbogumbo/2007/08/apple_takes_ball_goes_home.php
August 31st, 2007 at 3:00 pm
» NBC Universal TV content moves to Amazon Unbox » Blog Archive Alice Hill’s Real Tech News - Independent Tech says:
[…] 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. […]
September 5th, 2007 at 7:42 am
New Tech says:
[…] 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. […]
September 5th, 2007 at 10:48 am
FreewareVille says:
[…] 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. […]
September 5th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Dillykins Digest » NBC.com to Offer Free TV Episode Downloads says:
[…] “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. […]
September 20th, 2007 at 2:29 am
» NBC.COM to offer free downloads of TV shows » Blog Archive Alice Hill’s Real Tech News - Independent Tech says:
[…] 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. […]
September 20th, 2007 at 7:04 am