NBC Content Will Disappear From iTunes

In a move that could hurt both companies, NBC Universal has decided to pull its popular digital videos from Apple’s iTunes store. NBC, Apple’s top supplier of digital video, said it wanted more control over the pricing of its products and greater piracy protection, echoing complaints from other media companies—but Apple won’t budge, the Times reports.

PC World says Apple plans to remove NBC content next month, ahead of the deal’s December expiration. The breakup could complicate Apple’s plans to focus more on video content for its electronics. But NBC, which analysts say may look to Microsoft or Wal-Mart to sell its digital goods, will lose the backing of the industry leader and risk alienating consumers. (More NBC stories.)