NBC Universal has agreed to release a wide catalog of its videos on Amazon's Unbox download service after it failed to reach a deal with Apple's iTunes.
Amazon.com and NBC Universal have reached a deal that will allow the latter greater flexibility in setting prices for its shows. Episodes of shows like "Heroes" and "The Office" will be available on Unbox for $1.99 each.
The companies also announced that episodes will be available for download one day after they are aired. Additionally there will be free pilot episodes on NBC's new shows "Chuck" and "Bionic Woman" available from September 10.
NBC fell out with Apple last week saying the pricing on iTunes was too low and that it would not renew its contract with iTunes. Apple said that it would stop adding NBC shows to its inventory. Therefore NBC shifted to Amazon as it offered greater flexibility in pricing.
“Amazon is a company that understands the value we provide as content owners to its business,” said Jean-Briac Perrette, president of NBC Universal Digital Distribution.
Amazon's Unbox was unveiled in September last year and is still in the making. Currently most episodes are charged at $2, the same price as on iTunes.
