Apple and MTV put dent in Microsoft's media downloads plans

Stan Beer
Friday, 30 June 2006 14:20

Your IT - Home IT

Last month news of a collaboration called URGE between cable entertainment giant MTV and Microsoft was presented as offering real competition to Apple iTunes. However, a new collaborative announcement between MTV and Apple has put paid to any impression that Microsoft and MTV is an inseparable team fighting a common foe.
Under a new deal between Apple and MTV Networks, reruns of MTV cable TV shows will be available for download from iTunes for US$1.99 per episode. However, the iTunes deal does not include music videos and internet radio stations which will be exclusive to the Microsoft and MTV Urge service.

The collaboration with Apple indicates that MTV intends not to put all its eggs in one basket. As for Microsoft, it looks like it will have to look further afield to find video programming partners.