Last week, Macworld’s Jim Dalrymple reported on Apple’s plans to credit iTunes Season Pass subscribers for episodes of shows whose seasons were cut short by the three-month-long writers strike. Specifically, Apple plans to offer two free download credits for Season Pass subscribers to be used to buy TV shows, music videos, or short films at the iTunes Store. Apple also said it would credit Season Pass holders with the number of unaired episodes.
Subscribers have started receiving e-mail notifications about the refunds. And since it sheds some light on the specifics of how Apple is implementing these rebates, we’re reprinting an e-mail passed along to us.
From: iTunes Store
Sent: Monday, March 24, 2008 03:01 PM
To: Name Deleted
Subject: Your Season Pass for Prison Break, Season 3
Dear Name Deleted,
The current season of “Prison Break” has come to a close. Because of the recently concluded writers’ strike there were fewer episodes in this season than were planned by the network at the time of your purchase. I have issued a partial refund in the amount of $16.36 to make up the difference. You will see this credit in three to five business days. If Store Credit was used for this purchase, the credit will be applied to your balance.
I have also granted two free video credits to your account which you can use to purchase any two TV episodes, music videos, or short films on the iTunes Store.
Your video credit balance should display in the upper-right corner of iTunes next to your account name. If it does not, please sign out and sign back in to refresh. The sign out/sign in functions are found under the Store menu of iTunes. I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and thank you for being an iTunes customer.
Sincerely,
Jen
iTunes Store Team
As you can see, the e-mail from Apple will be specifically tailored to whatever Season Pass you’ve subscribed to, with the specific amount credited to your account. And while it may take three to five days for the refund to show up, those two video credits appear immediately in your iTunes account, our e-mail correspondent confirms.
And we’ll let that be the last word on this situation involving the Writers Guild of America strike and its impact on iTunes Season Pass subscribers. The timing of Apple’s response is certainly open to debate, but the fairness of the response is not—Apple is doing the right thing for its iTunes customers.