NBC Universal content could return to iTunes

If Apple steps up piracy protection

17 April 2008 16:00 GMT / By Amy-Mae Elliott

NBC Universal would like to have its TV shows distributed through Apple's iTunes service again, an exec has said.

The entertainment company pulled their content from iTunes last year following a well publicised row with the computer manufacturer over pricing.

George Kliavkoff, chief digital officer at NBC Universal, suggested if Apple were to step up the anti-piracy measures on iTunes they would be interested in doing business.

"If you look at studies about MP3 players, especially leading MP3 players and what portion of that content is pirated, and think about how that content gets onto that device, it has to go through a gatekeeping piece of software, which would be a convenient place to put some antipiracy measures", Kliavkoff said.

"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."

Kliavkoff would not comment on NBC Universal were in any kind of negotiations, but said stated: "We'd love to be on iTunes. It has a great customer experience. We'd love to figure out a way to distribute our content on iTunes".