Apple and NBC Universal battle it out

Author: Phil Cogar
Published: 3rd September 2007
Comments (9) Stumble
NBC Universal wants you to pay $4.99 per episode to download your favorite TV show.

NBC Universal wants you to pay $4.99 per episode to download your favorite TV show.

The first shot was fired from NBC Universal. Only instead of hitting its target right in the middle of the chest, it ended up being a flesh wound that just rightly pissed off the target. The target? Apple.

What sounds only oh so familiar, NBC Universal is following suit of its sister company Universal Music Group and refuses to renew its contract with Apple to sell TV shows through the iTunes video store. It seems that NBC is just really unhappy that Apple refuses to charge more then the current $1.99 flat rate for videos through the service and wants to up the price up to $4.99.

In response to keeping the video service alive (just who in their right mind would pay $5 for a single episode?), Apple brought out the big cannon and fired back. Now Apple is refusing to carry any new episodes of any NBC show for the upcoming fall season.

The contract, which expires in December, would only make half of the season available on the service.

This means that new episodes of the hit series "Heroes" and "The Office" won't be available from iTunes later this month when the season starts ramping up... or could they? Contractual obligations could actually force Apple to still sell the videos but details aren't available for the time being.

New contract negotiations are underway but with Apple unwilling to budge on its pricing model, it's highly unlikely that anything will transpire.

By a show of hands, how many people get their fix of Heroes from the iTunes store? Ok, now how many of you have other sources to fill your cravings? Is this move going to hurt Apple in the long run as other studios could potentially follow suit or is NBC Universal shooting itself in the foot? Tell us your thoughts on the whole situation over in the forums or in the comment section below.
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Quote C-Sniper 3rd September 2007, 04:52
Im just going to sit back and watch this fight. mainly because i could really care less about any of the before mentioned companies.
Quote tylerpestell 3rd September 2007, 06:42
I was thinking of getting Heroes through iTunes this season too ... seriously. But for 5$!?!? no way. I think $2 is kind of high ... personally $0.50 is the best price, I could afford that.
Quote Hiren 3rd September 2007, 11:37
Until the total price of a season is less than the cost of the DVD there is no reason to buy a show online.
Quote whisperwolf 3rd September 2007, 11:50
well the reason would be that you get it earlier, and this seems to be a new driving force in the market, people will pay lots to get anything sooner. Daft to me I'll wait a few weeks and save a few quid.
Quote DXR_13KE 3rd September 2007, 14:05
5$???? are these guys real? even at 2$ it is expensive.
Quote automagsrock 3rd September 2007, 14:40
The only reason I have iTUnes on my computer is because I have an iPod. NBC's new shows suck. I personally hope APple wins though. NBC wanting to charge more while other companies such as ABC were more then happy to leave the cost at $1.99.

NBC is gettin' greedy. I really wish the Late Show with Conan O'Brien would go to Comedy Central. With John Stewert, Steven Colbert and then Conan O'Brien all on one network I would be in comedy heaven (I really like the aforementioned shows that each one hosts :P).
Quote flabber 3rd September 2007, 14:45
@Hiren: So true... untill companies like NBC don't understand that consumers aren't stupid and won't buy episodes that are more expensive then a DVD/CD, I'll keep getting my episodes the "other" way.

NBC also blames Apple for not wanting to make money for NBC, but being more interested in selling iPods. Hello? Since when do companies want to make money for other companies?

NBC follows the footsteps of Universal Music by claiming they should get more money for their products. Both of them will feel like donkeys when they find out that people will never buy their products with the insane price that they ask for them.
Quote completemadness 3rd September 2007, 16:04
"New contract negotiations are underway but with Apple unwilling to budge on its pricing model, it's highly unlikely that anything will transpire."

this is the first time i think ive liked apple
Quote 2JSC 3rd September 2007, 22:11
The only reason I have iTunes on my PC is for sampling music. Then I go over to Amazon and buy whole CD's... like 5-6 at a time.
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