iTunes video sales double

American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu has said his proprietary checks with industry sources indicate that iTunes video sales from music videos, ABC TV shows, and Pixar short films continue to come in ahead of expectations. Apple is also reportedly planning a major update to its video services that includes possible new partners, set to launch as early as January. Wu said "Apple disclosed that it sold one million videos on October 31st, 2005. We are picking up indications that sales have more than doubled since then and that this strength is attracting attention from other content providers including NBC, CBS, and Fox eager to participate in this new market opportunity." The analyst said he would not be surprised to see Apple announce new content partners over the next few quarters, even as early as Apple's CEO Steve Jobs' keynote at Macworld Expo during the second week of January.

Rumors have begun to spread that Apple is preparing to add a host of new video content to its service as early next year. Rumors that Apple is working on a broadband video service have been re-ignited as well, and appear to coincide with similar reports that surfaced following Apple's hiring of Julia Miller in March, according to a report from AppleInsider.

Miller, who was responsible for the worldwide marketing and sales programs for Microsoft's Xbox Live--a subscription-based online gaming service--, accepted a position at Apple that included the exploration of a video subscription service, either for a portable video player or a desktop device, according to the report.

Filed under: industry
Other story tags: digital music/video