A lot of mystery remains about Apple’s big iPod event next week. Will we see widescreen touch iPods (what were known as “true” video iPods before the iPhone showed up)? Nanos with video? A shuffle that can scramble your brain?
What is certain is that, for once, Steve Jobs won’t demonstrate a new iPod video with a clip from “The Office,” as NBC Universal has announced its withdrawal from the iTunes Music Store as of December, according to the New York Times. While it’s possible that existing content will remain or that NBC will offer new content on an as-chosen basis like Universal Music has, it’s more likely that NBC is packing up its toys for Hulu.com, the bizarre commercial video service that NBC and News Corp. promise to launch “real soon now.”
This is a huge blow — NBC makes up 40 percent of all video sales, and I can’t think of a recent iTunes event that didn’t feature an NBC show, which really says something, given Steve Jobs’s close ties to Disney and ABC. Not a sign of doom, but a clear sign that Apple isn’t as secure in video as it has been in music.
Via Apple 2.0.
6 responses to “NBC Pulling Out of iTunes Store”
Thank goodness Lost will still be available. I had to do a panicked Google after reading this to be sure that isn’t a NBC show.
I’m surprised that there are people who would pay to see any NBC show. Of the pathetic network offerings theirs is consistently the worst…but then that’s not saying much.
Actually Steve seems to be just playing hardball (as he usually does), this time maybe he went a bit too far, but although this will hit the sales figure, it won’t have such an impact on actual profits, it’s no secret that Apple doesn’t have a huge margin on the iTunes store in general, and music is still by far the largest chunk.
I think they’re betting NBC will come back with their tail between their legs as their own efforts to sell their wares digitally fail.