Future of Stargate on iTunes unclear

Following Univeral Music Group’s lead after a rift with Apple over issues on pricing and packaging matters, media conglomerate — and SCI FI Channel parent company — NBC Universal announced on August 30th that it will not be renewing its contract with iTunes, Apple’s online store for music and video in digital format.

As reported by The New York Times’ Web site, the full article states the effect of the contract cancellation will not be noticed until after December of 2007, once the current agreement has expired. The decision is further proof of tension between Apple and other media companies who feel they don’t have enough control over the pricing of the songs and videos they supply iTunes with.

How this will affect your ability to purchase episodes of Stargate Atlantis through iTunes remains uncertain. The article does mention specific series that NBC Universal owns in full, such as The Office, Heroes, and Battlestar Galactica. It is clear that the ability to purchase episodes of those series, as well as others fully owned by NBC Universal, will be affected.

In the case of Stargate Atlantis, however, ownership of the series lies with MGM Studios. Although the series is broadcast on television in the United States by the NBC Universal network, it may not necessarily be subject to the same restrictions as the other series mentioned above, and may be able to remain on iTunes after the contract expires.

Spokesmen for both Apple and NBC Universal declined to comment on the decision.

Keep watching GateWorld for more updates on this situation as we receive them, and as we seek further clarification from MGM on how this decision may affect your ability to watch Stargate the way you choose to in the future!

(Thanks to The_spaceman1 for the tip!)