“NBC Universal took a deep plunge into digital downloads, offering 11 past and present shows for sale through Apple Computer’s iTunes,” Michael Learmonth reports for Variety. “Consumers will be offered current primetime shows the day after their original air date. Catalog shows are offered for the same price, a reflection, said NBC Universal TV President Jeff Zucker, of their scarcity. A discount is offered for consumers willing to buy entire seasons of past shows.”
Learmonth reports, “Since Apple began offering video downloads two months ago more than 3 million have been sold. About half of those have been shows offered by Disney, including ABC’s “‘Lost’ and ‘Desperate Housewives’ and Disney Channel’s ‘That’s So Raven.’ The NBC deal expands Apple’s TV offering to 300 episodes of 16 different series and Zucker said that number will expand quickly as NBC Uni fills the iTunes pipe with new shows. ‘You are going to see a series of announcements in the coming weeks,’ he said.”
Full article here.
Even though it’s from Amigos de Garcia and 20th Century Fox Television, we’d still like to see “My Name is Earl (airs on NBC),” ASAP via iTunes Music Store, please.
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NBC Universal & Apple offer new shows on U.S. iTunes Music Store, iTunes video sales top 3 million – December 06, 2005
Apple adds NBC-owned TV Shows to online iTunes Store – December 06, 2005
MDN Take, you are correct sir.
Sweet. This is great news. I look forward to the announcements.
The good news just keeps comin’ and comin’!
Earl, Catalina, and Randy need to be on my ipod
Whilst I’d love to see new shows, I think it would be an equally great move to just release all those old shows that don’t get repeated, aren’t on dvd or were just cancelled after a few episodes. From apple’s point of view it just gives them a bigger and bigger catalogue to promote themselves with, thus cementing their dominance in the future. From the networks point of view, any sales they make are a bonus and don’t even remotely infringe on their ad revenue – should that be a concern.
Regardless that there aren’t any iTMS TV shows outside the USA, how about let’s see some non-english language content in that thing.
And how come my MDN text editor keeps going from fat to skinny to fat again. It’s weirding me out. heh
Paying $2 an episode for free TV and watching it on a 2″ screen. Unbelievable!
Someone really needs to make an easy to use Personal Video Recorder.
Apple, are you listening?
Millions of video recorders out there and no one seems to know how to use one.
I want to be able to burn the shows to a DVD as we can now do with music purchased from iTMS to a CD. Come on, Apple – any chance of that happening?
Paradigm shifts are a rare thing. Rareer still is knowing that you are watching one happen. Enjoy the view.
I’m waiting for Fox to get on board so I can get the past seasons of “24” ! Love that show!
“May you live in interesting times.”
Actually, a Chinese curse.
i think i would like to buy computer, i like make drawing. fun time good. evryone mad at me for spilling juice on my computer. i like macs they look funny. yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah
And so it begins.
hey dumbass, itunes tv is a flat rip off. one season of crappy Quick time videos is 35$ or you could buy the DVD box set for 40$ makes no sense to me.
ps. 24 is a good show, not that good though
“And how come my MDN text editor keeps going from fat to skinny to fat again. It’s weirding me out. heh”
So you’re seeing that too? Oh good! I thought i had a bad batch of mushrooms on my pizza.
The byzantine legal arrangements of the entertainment industry is the main thing hampering more shows, sooner. Music composers, writers, directors, producers, actors and others will all want a share of the cut. Sorting rights out on 3rd party (not produced by the network) shows will be more complex.
All of the ABC shows offered are owned by Disney and all of the NBC/USA shows are owned by NBC/Universal. My guess is that Viacom (CBS/UPN/Paramount Pictures/Comedy Central/MTV/VH1/CMT/SpikeTV/BET) will be the big fish. Fox and Time-Warner will follow after Viacom takes the plunge.
QuickTime will soon be the king of all media…
Movies will be announced at MWSF 2006
“”May you live in interesting times.”
Actually, a Chinese curse.”
Yeah, well here in the USA we have curses pretty well covered: We have a Shrub at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Car 54 where are you?
I want South Park. Now.
rainy day: so, you’d rather have a wanker in the white house?
WKRP In Cincinnati!
Bitches.
My name is Earl?????
More redneck bullshit…
This country is obsessed with idiocy, isn’t it?
Rainy Day: WTF?
I WANT THOSE SLUTS FROM PETTICOAT JUNCTION!
You know, the ones who pop up on that damn water tower!
Lotsa curves, you bet ‘N even more when you get to the Junction,
Petticoat Junction!
And that’s Uncle Joe, he’s a-movin’ kinda slow at the Junction,
Petticoat Junction!
Scha-WING!!!
Big Al wrote: “Paying $2 an episode for free TV and watching it on a 2″ screen. Unbelievable!”
Cable isn’t free dumbass.