Apple iTunes dispute sends NBC to Amazon

By Ned Randolph -- Video Business, 9/4/2007

SEPT. 4 | Just days after breaking off its relationship with Apple, executives with NBC Universal announced that the studio's new fall lineup would be available on Amazon Unbox, the online retailer's digital video download service.

Television shows including The Office, 30 Rock and Heroes will be available for download onto computers or through TiVo the day after their initial broadcast, NBC said.

Beginning Sept. 10, Amazon customers also will be able to download for free in advance of their network premieres the pilot episodes of NBC's new shows Bionic Woman, Chuck, Journeyman and Life. These also will be in a promotional DVD available through a deal with Blockbuster.

Amazon Unbox and NBC Universal will offer customers a variety of packages including discounts of 30% when purchasing full seasons.

Amazon Unbox has offered movies from Universal Pictures, Rogue Pictures and Focus Features since September 2006.

The announcement follows just days after Friday's public fallout between NBC and Apple, which carries its current slate of titles on iTunes. The talks broke down over a distribution deal that ends in December.

Apple said NBC wanted too much money for its content. The studio countered that Apple's retail pricing strategy was designed to drive sales of Apple devices "at the expense of those who create the content that make these devices worth buying," NBC Universal executive VP of communications Cory Shields said.

NBC Universal’s networks include USA Network, Sci Fi Channel, Bravo, Telemundo, mun2, NBC Sports and NBC News.

“With the addition of NBC Universal TV content to Amazon Unbox, fans now have the ultimate convenience for enjoying their favorite shows whenever or wherever they want,” said Jean-Briac Perrette, president of NBC Universal Digital Distribution. “This further expands our longstanding relationship to bring a robust content offering to the marketplace in a variety of ways that will benefit the consumer and, at the same time, protects our content.”

“We are excited to bring NBC Universal shows like the award-winning The Office, 30 Rock and Battlestar Galactica to our Amazon Unbox customers,” said Bill Carr, Amazon.com VP of digital music and video. “Our customers can now enjoy their favorite NBC Universal shows either on their personal computer or on their TV through the Amazon Unbox on TiVo service.”