Warner Bros. exec says Apple’s 99-cent TV plan not a good value for studios
By APThursday, September 16, 2010
Warner Bros. exec dislikes Apple’s 99-cent TV plan
LOS ANGELES — Chief Executive Barry Meyer says Warner Bros. didn’t participate in Apple Inc.’s plan to offer TV show rentals for 99 cents because the price was too low and would have hurt sales of full seasons.
Meyer made the comments Thursday at an investor conference hosted by Merrill Lynch in Newport Beach, Calif.
Apple launched its 99-cent show rentals on iTunes at an event two weeks ago where it unveiled a cheaper version of its Apple TV set-top box. News Corp.’s Fox, The Walt Disney Co.’s ABC, ABC Family and Disney Channel, and BBC America participated.
Meyer said the deal was not a good value for the studio subsidiary of Time Warner Inc., which sells permanent downloads shows such as “Gossip Girl” on iTunes for $2.99 each.
