In addition to its new iPod nano on Tuesday, Apple revealed the company has sold over 12 million videos on the iTunes Music Store. To further spur sales, Apple and Showtime announced a deal that brings television programming from the premium cable’s network to the iTunes Music Store.
“When we first introduced video we didn’t know what would happen,” Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of worldwide product marketing for iPod, told Macworld. “What we were pleased to find out is that people were very interested in buying videos.”
The addition of Showtime to the iTunes Music Store gives Apple more than 50 television shows for viewers to choose from, according to the company. New programming from Showtime includes “Sleeper Cell,” the first season of “Weeds,” and the first season of “Fat Actress.” Each episode will cost $1.99, the same price as other shows on the store.
1 Billion Song Counter
The iTunes Music Store has begun the countdown to its 1 billionth song sold. Currently, the counter is at just over 951 million and is moving rapidly toward its goal. As with most Apple iTunes promotion, the company has made it lucrative to be the lucky 1 billion song buyer.
If you do buy the 1 billionth song, Apple will give you a 20-inch iMac; 10 60GB iPods (5 white/5 black) and a $10,000 iTunes Music Card (good for any media type).
The company is also giving away prizes for every 100,000 songs sold up to the 1 billion mark. Those prizes include a 4GB black iPod nano and a $100 iTunes Music Card (good for any media type).