Tuesday, March 25,2008 @ 1:45pm
Starz now in the iTunes Store
Starz has begun selling its television series' through the iTunes Store, joining Showtime as a premium network offering shows ala carte through Apple's digital distribution system. Marc DeBevoise, Senior Vice President of business development and strategy for Starz, announced that Starz would be joining iTunes during the Future of Television West conference in Hollywood yesterday. Currently only two shows from Starz are offered through iTunes; Head Case and Hollywood residential.
Previous reports indicate that TV shows from the BBC may soon appear on the iTunes Store, reports claim. Cited is an anonymous source in the TV industry, who claims that BBC Worldwide will announce its plans on Tuesday. The source further suggests that Worldwide's digital media director, Simon Danker, has already contacted a number of third-party production companies to let them know of the new sales market. It is unclear whether shows would be available solely in the UK, or also on iTunes sites in Canada and the US; BBC Worldwide is said to be under pressure, however, to send more income from selling shows to the core of the BBC, given a dwindling benefit from TV license fees.