The Public Broadcasting System became the modish television web to offer its television receiver shows for sales event via the iTunes Store on Tuesday . That ’s for certain news , though barely a development of the earth - shaking mixture — it seems like the roll of TV capacity uncommitted through iTunes grow by the week . Whatisinteresting , however , is the cost set for one of PBS ’ iTunes offerings . Amid the stock $ 1.99 per episode monetary value for Thomas Kid ’ fare likeArthurand public television mainstays such asAntiques Roadshowis the pricing for the long - work science seriesNova—$7.99 for each instalment .

At first bloom , that seems like a mass , specially when equate to other telecasting fare available at iTunes . Then again , Novaisn’t like most other TV fare . While you might want to download an episode or two ofThe Officefor your next plane trip or get thatPrison Breakepisode you missed when it aerate on program video , you ’re unbelievable to approachNovathe same way . Rather , the signify audience would seem to be instructor looking for educational fare they can show in a schoolroom again and again . And $ 7.99 is a heck of a lot more attractive than the $ 19.95 you ’d pay for aNovaDVD fromthe PBS online store . Plus , you get a digital file cabinet you but store on your classroom electronic computer for showings in perpetuity or else of a DVD you have to keep track of . In that context , $ 7.99 does n’t seem too much to ask .

But I suppose the real tarradiddle here is the flexibility Apple is showing with pricing iTunes subject . When the online music service debut in 2003 , Apple took a very rigid position on pricing—99 cents for individual Sung dynasty and $ 9.99 ( in all but a few cases ) for intact albums . The same matter pass off when goggle box shows were stick in to the store a year ago — every individual episode was slapped with a $ 1.99 price tag .

However , things have begun to transfer with pricing , with the shift becoming increasingly noticeable in late week . The launch of a movie download service enclose a variety of pricing levels—$9.99 for honest-to-god “ Library ” offerings , $ 14.99 for new releases , and $ 12.99 for those same young button if you pre - order them or purchase them within the first week of their waiver . That ’s not exactly the most involved pricing structure , but it ’s a far cry from the one - price - fits - all day of the early iTunes Store .

And I consider that ’s a good change , specially if it helps Apple add a wider motley of message to iTunes . A few years ago , when iTunes was one of the few biz in town , Apple could dictate more fixed pricing to its contentedness suppliers . These days , there are more options , whether it ’s compete services or TV connection just make up one’s mind to make streams of their show ( and the attendant commercials ) free on their WWW sites . If Apple wants the iTunes Store to keep savor a position of prominence — and I ’m guessing that the company does — it ’s break to have to constantly develop . Right now , that intend adapt its stance on pricing . And who knows ? perhaps in the future , it means re - thinking the mental attitude toward picture rentals andsubscription services .