Unless things change, NBC Universal will not renew its contract to sell television shows for download on Apple’s iTunes Store, according to a report published Friday by the New York Times (free registration required to view).
NBC Universal’s contract to offer content through the iTunes Store runs through December, 2007, so it’s expected that its programming will remain available for purchase on the iTunes Store at least until then. TV shows produced by NBC Universal include “Battlestar Galactica,” “The Office” and “Heroes.”
An anonymous source cited by the report said that NBC Universal and Apple continue to try to hammer out an agreement, but so far there’s been no movement on either side. NBC Universal reportedly wants more control over pricing of videos available for purchase and download on iTunes.
A spokesman for NBC Universal confirmed the news, but otherwise refused comment. Apple also declined to comment for the New York Times report. Later Friday, Apple confirmed that iTunes would stop selling NBC shows in September.