Apple is not going to prevent standard format content from being used in iTunes, and with iPods. Besides the plethora of legitimate uses of the ability to use DRM-free standard format content, Apple's sales would plummet as soon as they would attempt such a move. Personally, the update that removes support for standard formats is the update I don't install. There's no way in h*** I'm buying any media playback device incapable of playing standard formats.

I don't know how an idiot like this becomes a CEO. He complains iTunes doesn't charge enough while giving all the shows away for free on streaming video. Which by the way ABC does too but STILL makes money selling the same shows on iTunes. He then says we doesn't want to sell his shows because people are already stealing them. Thats like a farmer saying he wont sell his corn because people are taking it for free...makes no sense at all.

Through the ages, the prowess of attackers always exceeded the defensive measures of the day. Magically, and contrary to the whole weight of history, and in the light of recent hacking successes upon leading companies, this techno-guru has a solution ... not.

I think previous posters have nailed it - NBC is publicly claiming to be "considering" a return to Apple/iTunes. They claim to want DRM, which Apple will never do. This is basically an admission that Hulu sucks, no one goes there, and the lack of NBC content is driving folks to torrent DVDs. This is all a play to save face while crawling back.

Meanwhile, I'm pretty sure Jobso's response will be to refer them to the reply given in the case of Arkell v. Pressdram

please release seasons 2 of stuff like Adam 12, Dragnet, and later seasons of other shows when TV had some decency. If not, fine. I'm surviving with no NBC just fine.

for purchase from iTunes was missing???

That's "news to me" (apologies to CNN)!

It seems to me the Episodes of Battlestar Galactica I purchased have DRM built in. It also seems to me that I am getting the new season without DRM by recording the shows.

What is this idiot blathering on about?

his statements, all I can say is...

What an idiot. It's no wonder NBC is in the state it is with "talent" like this piloting the ship!

First he says, "One of the big issues for NBC is piracy. We are financially harmed every day by piracy. It results in us not being able to invest as much money in the next generation of film and TV products.”

If piracy is still a concern after pulling your content off iTunes, then, even though the iPod was the leading player and iTunes a leading content provider, it was not the problem, was it?

Second he says "They can mark up the price and make a profit or use it as a loss leader to get people in the door”

Use it as a loss leader to get people in the door??? I never knew Apple was having problems getting people in the door. NBC and Hulu and whatever, now that may be a different story.

Finally he says, "The music industry guys would have something to say about how the pricing has affected their product over the last few years.”

With regards to the music side of iTunes, has it not been steadily climbing the ranks of digital music stores and on April 3, 2008 just recently beat out Amazon to become the #1 Music Retailer?! Somebody is buying the musicians stuff.

Didn't NBC have to PAY BACK advertisers because it wasn't holding it end of the bargain by promising them a minimum number of viewers as tallied by the Nielson Ratings regarding how many would be watching those commercials?

Maybe you are losing money to invest in "the next generation of film and TV products" because your programing has lost it's luster and viewer are switching in droves to other avenues than NBC?

You ever think of that? Would you even admit to that??

and I'll shut up after this...

Finally he says, “It’s really difficult for us to work with any distribution partner who says ‘Here’s the wholesale price and the retail price,’ especially when the price doesn’t reflect the full value of the product.”

How does someone like Howard Stern shcok jock radio personality demand his money? He gets a huge target audience that advertisers are willing to meet his pricing to be on his show. How is that any different from a highly popular digital content provider store with the leading digital player of music and video setting the price any different???

What value is of there of your so called "product" when it is not missed on a highly popular digital content provider store with the leading digital player of music and video. Don't go burning your candle at both ends.

Okay, I'll keep my word and shut up now. Good night everyone.

Seriously. I don't have cable and I wanted to see Battlestar and was planning on using iTunes to do so. Now, I am watching still, but won't say how.

...is how NBC likes to generalize the term "pirated"_

They deem anything not bought - and not still contained in the original form factor that was purchased is considered pirated_

This iincludes a consumer buying a legit DVD of something - ripping a copy for their iPod and then watching said ripped content on said iPod while traveling_

So that means "soccer moms" everywhere that the worst offense they've committed is to not smile as much as they normally do at someone are all pirates now 'cause they made portable copies of their home library for the family trip_

I want to see groveling! Crawling through broken glass on YouTube! And isn't USAnetwork part of that bunch, too? I assume so, since they rolled out a windows-only method of allowing their shows to be streamed for free. PREPARE THE GAUNTLET!

this is a top-down push from Universal in an attempt to s**** with Apple until Apple is so fed up with it they cave to what ever dip-s*** thing Universal wants.

Universal started all the whining about iTunes way back when after they realized Universal's music business model was failing and wanted to make up for it (++) by pushing Apple to allow Universal to determine pricing on iTunes, and to bundle worthless c*** in video on iTunes.

They have always presumed that most users of digital media were probably pirates and insisted on DRM. When competing non-DRM'd content was offered on iTunes they applied more pressure to Apple under the guise of pulling their c*** off iTunes and trying to start their own competing on-line store offerings (dare I say DRM free?).

Universal is still looking to place the blame on someone else, and resists changing it's outlook.

I predict more and harder times ahead for Universal (and sadly, their exclusive artists).

Lost, which is the only TV show I watch now, is on ABC- not NBC. For goodness sake do your homework.