iTune is in. After ABC, NBC goes iPod way. Be it ‘The Tonight Show with Jay Leno’ ‘Law and Order’, ‘Surface’ or ‘the Office’ NBC is selling its premium versions of its 11 shows through Apple’s iTune.
Viewers can get them on the latest generation of iPod portable players and Apple’s iTune enabled PC.
More than 300 episodes from prime time, late night, cable and classic TV shows will be available a la carte.
All yours, apiece, for $1.99.
Viewers are not complaining, they want to shell out money for the archived TV shows, teens of today are happy with movable tiny device. However, an influx of confusion and uncertainty grip production companies, content designers and creators, affiliate stations, cable networks and various other right holders.
It’s not sure how the advertising or royalty pie is going to be distributed. People are confused. Laws are not clear.
In a show of unity, five unions representing actors, writers and directors issued a joint call for talks to make sure their members get a cut of revenue generated by the sale of TV shows on Apple’s iTunes software.
The unions sent a clear message to TV producers.
“We have not yet heard from the responsible employers of our members,” their joint statement said. “But we look forward to a dialogue that ensures that our members are properly compensated for this exploitation of their work.”
OK, so much happening, Apple is richer by millions of pounds. Doesn’t Microsoft want a pastry from the party? There are also rumors that Microsoft may get away with all the royalty from every Apple iPod sold.
Apple Computer may be forced to pay royalties to Microsoft for every iPod it sells after it emerged that Bill Gates’s software giant beat Steve Jobs’ firm in the race to file a crucial patent on technology used in the popular portable music players. The total bill could run into hundreds of millions of dollars. Firstadopter says. Not sure we an link two of these events together.
God would be knowing.
