NBC Universal says it has settled its dispute with Apple over pricing flexibility (NBC Universal wanted the option of pricing certain premium content higher than the standard price specified by Apple) that resulted in NBC Universal content being unavailable on Apple's iTunes sell-through service for a while. The company is now offering episodes of programs from its NBC, USA Network, Sci Fi, Bravo, Sleuth and NBC News channels on iTunes, including episodes of such primetime shows as "Heroes," "The Office," "Battlestar Galactica" and "30 Rock" (note: programs from the NBCU-owned Oxygen, Telemundo, Mun2 and NBC Sports channels are scheduled to be available on the service shortly). SD versions of the shows are still priced at $1.99 per episode, but HD versions are priced at $2.99. In addition, a selection of library content--including "The A-Team," "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour," "Miami Vice," "Kojak," and the original "Battlestar Galactica"--is available at $0.99 per episode. "We are thrilled that NBC is back on iTunes in time for the Fall TV season," Apple CEO, Steve Jobs, said in a prepared statement. "NBC has some of TV's most popular shows and now customers can purchase and download them from iTunes in SD or stunning HD."
iTunes customers have the option of purchasing a "season pass" that allows them to access an entire season of programming at a discounted price. In addition, NBCU is offering one free episode from each of its top series--in both SD and HD--on iTunes for a two-week period following the relaunch of its programming on iTunes. Also, this month and next, the programmer plans to offer the first episodes of a number of upcoming shows from the NBC broadcast network--including "Knight Rider," "My Own Worst Enemy" and "Kath & Kim"--on iTunes a week before their linear TV premieres, and plans to make subsequent episodes available the day after their broadcast. According to Apple, the iTunes service now offers over 30,000 TV episodes and over 2,500 films.
