NBC has finally returned to its senses and is coming back to iTunes. NBC left iTunes, the number one online music retailer, after a dispute over pricing, packaging, and DRM options. Steve Jobs announced NBC’s return to iTunes at the recent Lets Rock event.

The year 2007 was an impressive one for NBC on iTunes. NBC accounted for 40% of all video downloads on iTunes. With that type of power, perhaps NBC decided that it could demand a different price for the selections that were being featured. Well that didn’t fly with Apple. After its dispute, NBC left iTunes and began to market TV online.

Obviously, the demand for its shows was high, however, NBC’s “go at it alone approach” was challenging. NBC had problems attempting to sell describer ad-sponsored content for free. Also, the interest generated from partner sites was lackluster. Many critics thought that NBC leaving would be the death of iTunes attempt to break into television distribution. They were wrong. Apple iTunes now boasts 65 million account holders. Apple iTunes is the largest source of paid television downloads.

NBC decision to kiss and make up with Apple was a great one. iTunes 8.0 promises to be better than ever with the new HD TV content, which of course will bump some of the shows prices up a little bit. Expect to pay $2.99 for HD shows; the standard definition shows will remain at $1.99.

NBC returns to the iTunes store with a basket of goodies for its fans including a free download from many of its top television shows in standard or HD over the next two weeks.

Users will be able to catch a free show from series such as; Eureka, Life, Bad to Done, Lipstick Jungle, Pilot, Top Design, The Rachel Zoe Project, and the Office. Vintage NBC lovers will be happy to note that they will be able to watch a slew of vintage television shows like “Alfred Hitchcock,” “A Team,” “Kojack,” “Miami Vice, and “Battlestar Glactica “.

If you want to catch an NBC episode log onto iTunes, NBC has a prominent spot in the top left hand corner of the screen. You won’t miss it. You can also search for NBC episodes by clicking on TV shows and typing NBC in the search bar.

If you don’t have iTunes log onto the Apple website and download iTunes 8.0. It’s free to Mac and Windows users. I logged onto iTunes earlier and downloaded my favorite episodes of “Alfred Hitchcock” and “A Team” onto my MacPro and MacBook Pro. I’ll also be downloading a few to my iPod touch. Log on, check out the free and paid NBC shows, download, and enjoy.

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Entry was posted on Friday, September 12th, 2008 at 3:03 am under Announcements, Apple, iTunes.  Print This Post

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