E-Commerce Blog

The iTunes store has had various fits and coughs over the last few years as content providers from the music, movie and television industry battled it out with Apple over delivery and pricing quibbles. However, the fall network TV season is now intact — and in the full glory of high definition. All four of the major networks — ABC, CBS, NBC and now FOX — are offering prime time programs in high definition via iTunes downloads, Apple said. Most television shows that are broadcast in high definition are delivered in 720p, versus the even sharper 1080p.

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iTunes Ropes In All Four TV Nets for High-Def Downloads

A decision expected on Thursday from a three-person government panel could lead to the closure of Apple’s online music, movie and digital book store, iTunes. Or it could provide what many in the digital media industry have long wanted to see: Apple backing away from the line it drew in the sand on pricing. The Copyright Royalty Board is scheduled to rule on a music royalties increase of nine cents per track. Apple has said that if the cost of its online songs at iTunes were to rise above the 99 cent price point, it would not be able to operate the site profitably.

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Apple Holds iTunes Hostage Over Royalties

China has apparently blocked access to Apple iTunes, perhaps in response to the publicity surrounding a pro-Tibet album that was released about a month ago and just recently made its way onto the much-trafficked Web site. Produced by the Art of Peace Foundation, the album features songs from such artists as Moby, John Mayer and Alanis Morrisette, as well as a 15-minute talk by the Dalai Lama. Reports that 40 Olympic athletes had downloaded the album apparently galled the Chinese government; early this week the site went dark.

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China Takes Its Hammer to iTunes

Maybe the key to competing with iTunes isn’t doing things better, but differently. Online music service Rhapsody and mall-based retailer Hot Topic want to take a slice of the market from Apple’s iTunes. For the MP3 addicted, it means a more diverse marketplace with new options: Users of the Rhapsody MP3 Store can now preview full-length songs before they buy, compared to the 30-second samples iTunes offers; Hot Topic’s upcoming online store ShockHound will link fans to a band’s MP3s, merchandise and fellow fans.

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Rhapsody, Hot Topic Reach for Slice of iTunes’ Pie

If there were a reason to keep using Apple’s iTunes Store exclusively to buy music online, it escapes me. Do you buy CDs only from your neighborhood record store? Not unless your best pal owns the store. In the world of physical music sales — yes, CDs still exist — there is little reason to spend $14 for an album while another retailer offers it for $10. We shop around for price. So why spend more at an online store when a virtual competitor is a mouse click away? Moreover, why shop for music at a place where you can play that purchase on only one company’s line of digital music devices?

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iTunes’ Rivals Are Worth a Look