Rich Fiscus
4 Sep 2007 17:18
NBC Universal has made a deal with Amazon.com to sell television show downloads on the online retailer's website.
The move comes just days after the latest round of NBC Universal's very public fight with Apple over iTunes pricing. Universal wants Apple to adopt a variable pricing model while Apple says they want to keep things as simple as possible for consumers. Last Thursday the two sides failed to come to terms on a new contract with Apple to distribute content.
Amazon's deal, which will allow them to sell downloads of NBC television shows through their Unbox download service, includes such shows as "The Office", "Heroes", and "30 Rock". The price will be the same $1.99 they sold for on iTunes.
Last week Apple claimed that a new contract from Universal would have required them to pay twice as much (wholesale) as their previous agreement, and forced them to raise prices. NBC has denied these claims since they became public last week.
Regarding the Amazon.com deal, Jean-Briac Perrette, president, NBC Universal Digital Distribution said "We're excited to be working with a partner that understands the wholesale and retail relationship and will work with us on creative packaging of content."
Source: Reuters