FOX and ABC are Apple Launch Partners for $.99 TV Show Rental Service?

Apple will reportedly announce FOX and ABC as launch partners for a $.99 TV Show rental service, according to the WSJ.

Fox agreed to participate in 99-cent rentals for a short period of time, and agreed to the lower-cost price only for broadcast shows it both produces and airs, such as “Glee,” “Bones” and “Lie to Me.” The Apple proposal won’t affect cable shows such as FX’s “Justified,” or Fox network shows, including “American Idol,” for which Fox doesn’t control the digital rights.

It's thought that News Corp, who owns FOX, agreed to the plan in hopes that Apple would help them make the iPad version of their newspaper a success.


Disney, who owns ABC, was widely expected to sign onto the plan given that Apple CEO Steve Jobs is its largest individual shareholder and a board member.

The other networks have reportedly opted out of the plan because they are worried about damaging their relationships with cable companies.

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