NBC to pull shows from iTunes

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- NBC Universal has decided not to renew its contract to sell digital versions of its television shows on Apple's iTunes store, according to a report Friday.

The media conglomerate is the No. 1 provider of digital video content to the Apple (Charts, Fortune 500) iTunes store, said the New York Times.

But because NBC's current deal lasts through December 2007, the shows will remain available on the iTunes store at least until then, according to the piece.

Many media companies are unhappy with their deals with the iTunes store because they have so little control over the pricing of songs and videos, said the Times.

NBC had wanted Apple to implement better piracy controls and allow it to bundle shows together to increase sales, said a person familiar with the matter, according to the report.

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

Some of NBC's most popular shows on iTunes are "Battlestar Galactica," "The Office" and "Heroes," said the Times.

In July, Vivendi's (Charts) Universal Music Group told Apple that it wouldn't renew its long-term contract with the iTunes store, opting instead to market music to Apple on a shorter-term basis, allowing it to pull songs out of the store more quickly.

NBC Universal and Apple could still come to an agreement before the end of their current contract, said the report.

NBC Universal is a division of General Electric (Charts, Fortune 500).