Despite NBC's Return, Apple and NBC Still Disputing Claims

[MacRumors]

At the "Let's Rock" media event, Steve Jobs announced that NBC had returned to iTunes after being absent from the online store for almost a year. The removal of NBC shows from iTunes was the result of a very public dispute between the the two companies.

Apple announced in August of 2007 that they would no longer be selling NBC television shows because NBC wanted "double the wholesale price" for each episode. NBC later disputed this claim by saying that they simply wanted flexible pricing. In the end, Apple and NBC were unable to come to an agreement until this week.

After Tuesday's announcement, NBC executives claimed that Apple had conceded to its demands about pricing and packaging shows together. NBC is now offering some catalog titles for $0.99 as well as package deals that could offer customers a bulk discount. Apple's Eddie Cue, however, has since denied that these claims are true. According to Cue, lower prices have always been an option for networks.

"We've never told anyone they can't lower prices," Cue said.

Cue also pointed out that the higher $2.99 price introduced on Tuesday is simply their standard price for High Definition content.




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[lilstewart]

I guess we'll see what happens.. I don't see NBC going anywhere, though. Apple wants them.

[ryannel2003]

Luckily for me, NBC has absolutely nothing interesting for me to watch. So they're disappearance months ago had no effect on me.

[iSee]

Oh, brother. They sound like a couple of 3rd graders.

[zedsdead]

Apple wants the content to be as cheap as possible. iTunes exists to sell Apple devices, not the other way around. I don't believe NBC on this.

[alphaod]

It should be cheap in the first place. The shows are free on TV already, just charge for the bandwidth and the missing ads which does not add up to $1.99 in the first place. $.99 is definitely more suitable.

[MVApple]

Originally Posted by alphaod

It should be cheap in the first place. The shows are free on TV already, just charge for the bandwidth and the missing ads which does not add up to $1.99 in the first place. $.99 is definitely more suitable.

I'm curious to see some of your math worked out

[michaelsviews]

Just more GREEDY exec's padding there retirement and estates.

I for one do NOT care if they pull the plug, they were NOT missed when they left before and there Hulu site is crap.

Go ahead leave, and your leaving is going to effect my Mac, iPhone, iPod how? Oh I cant watch your shows on them , hmmm with Cable and Satellite , oh and lets not forget p2p and the newsgroups.

Yea right you'll be a big loss.

Suck it up exec's and go polish your imitation leather chairs with your boney little ass's

[Rocketman]

Originally Posted by Apple's Eddie Cue

. . . lower prices have always been an option for networks.

"We've never told anyone they can't lower prices,"

The app store shows that "free" apps are distributed at Apple's own expense to "support the platform".

Therefore I suggest NBC really spite Steve and offer all of their catalog of content ever broadcast for FREE.

Expose Apple to a bandwidth clog. The ultimate revenge!

I'm downloading the Bob Hope specials!

Rocketman

[AvSRoCkCO1067]

I'm pretty sure that Apple would never tell someone they COULDN'T lower their prices.

Every week their are loads of FREE TV shows on iTunes...that certainly seems like a lower price than $1.99 to me

[dizastor]

You can't fire me because I quit!

[Small White Car]

Either one or the other is lying.

Based on everything I've seen over the last year, it's always been NBC that's making stuff up and Apple that's telling the truth.

Every single time.

[Sun Baked]

Originally Posted by iSee

Oh, brother. They sound like a couple of 3rd graders.

Network fight, network fight ... oh oh watch out NBC's got the nunchucks.

[twoodcc]

this is just getting silly. why don't they just settle this for good

[Clayne]

dual? gun battle?

[ariel]

doesn't anyone at NBC realize that volume will bring more income? And volume comes with lower prices.

I watched the free HD version of "Life" thru iTunes and it is beautiful - much better than the SD version (both are free so you can check them both out). But i'll be damned if I'm gonna pay $2.99 for a 42 minute TV show regardless of the quality. Especially when i can see them for free on NBC's own site (with short commercials).

If the prices were $1 or $1.50, I'd be more likely to buy a whole season.

[donga]

i don't think we'll ever find out the truth until a tell all book or interview comes out years from now. for nbc: itunes is an incredible outlet for content = $$$$$$. for apple: nbc has content that people want to see and are willing to pay for = $$$$$$.

i'm glad they could see eye to eye on this

[Rocketman]

Originally Posted by Small White Car

Either one or the other is lying.

Based on everything I've seen over the last year, it's always been NBC that's making stuff up and Apple that's telling the truth.

Every single time.

Interestingly it was NBC (MSNBC) that recently, under pressure, changed political ANCHORS (Oberman and Matthews) and replaced them with one of the few remaining somewhat neutral people they still have after the professional journalist defections.

One of those politically one-sided shows was replaced with the Rachel Maddow show (Air America), hence out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Rocketman

[Small White Car]

Originally Posted by Rocketman

Interestingly it was NBC (MSNBC) that recently, under pressure, changed political ANCHORS (Oberman and Matthews) and replaced them with one of the few remaining somewhat neutral people they still have after the professional journalist defections.

One of those politically one-sided shows was replaced with the Rachel Maddow show (Air America), hence out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Rocketman

I fail to see how that's "interesting" since it's a completely separate part of the company which has absolutely nothing to do with this.

Does Bill O'Reilly have anything to do with the new Wolverine movie? They both work for Fox, but somehow I doubt it.

[heyjp]

Apple and NBC need to grow up and talk about their customers, not each other.

Jim

[DennisSc]

Yes, and speaking as a customer I'm especially grateful as my DVR chose not to record the season closer of the "The Office" this year and I'm not sure if it's still on Hulu....

[Rot'nApple]

Originally Posted by Small White Car

I fail to see how that's "interesting" since it's a completely separate part of the company which has absolutely nothing to do with this.

NBC News Election Coverage = FAIL
NBC Digital Entertainment Distribution Division = FAIL

What's the commonality?

NBC!

[mdriftmeyer]

Originally Posted by Rocketman

The app store shows that "free" apps are distributed at Apple's own expense to "support the platform".

Therefore I suggest NBC really spite Steve and offer all of their catalog of content ever broadcast for FREE.

Expose Apple to a bandwidth clog. The ultimate revenge!

I'm downloading the Bob Hope specials!

Rocketman

Seeing as Apple has a large investment in Akamai I'd imagine they'd welcome the extra traffic and demand.

[caliguy]

Originally Posted by Rot'nApple

NBC News Election Coverage = FAIL
NBC Digital Entertainment Distribution Division = FAIL

What's the commonality?

NBC!

Err... the Olympics were pretty good I thought. NBC offered a crapload of HD channels to cover it (at least with DirecTV).

[Doctor Q]

Who needs the Olympics? We can watch Apple spokespeople and NBC spokespeople battle it out for the gold medal PR victory!