• by Lydia Loizides , Op-Ed Contributor, October 29, 2007

Or so it would seem. Last May, I penned a Media & Technology Futures article entitled, "If I Were Steve Jobs For A Day." Check out number eight on the list -- "Launch original online programming channels in iTunes" -- and then try and tell me I wasn't right. Why? Because today marks the day that iTunes launches its first EXCLUSIVE film, "Purple Violets." Written by one of my favorite actor-writer-producers Ed Burns, this is a first for Apple and Burns alike.

So why am I so excited? Not only was I right, but this marks a turning point in the distribution market, signaling a pivotal moment in watching traditional windows shift -- and, more importantly, I was right! Sorry.

So, since I appear to be on a roll, I am going to throw the gauntlet down and offer up the following five more things that I would do if I were Steve Jobs for a day:

1. Create an independent set of channels for horror, comedy, drama and independent film.

2. Create an independent set of channels for horror, comedy, drama and independent television.

3. Buy whichever ad-serving or ad-networking player there is left out in the market.

4. Sign first-look development deals with up-and-coming writers, directors and actors.

5. Create some shelf space at all retail Apple stores for DVDs AFTER I have secured an exclusive partnership with a preeminent DVD distributor/partner.

Think I'm crazy? Consider the following:

A. According to a third-quarter-earnings press release, Apple shipped 2,164,000 Macintosh computers, representing 34% growth over the year-ago quarter and exceeding the previous quarterly record for Mac shipments by 400,000.

B. 10,200,000 iPods were sold during the quarter, representing 17% growth over the year-ago quarter.

C. iPhone sales for the quarter were 1,119,000, bringing cumulative fiscal 2007 sales to 1,389,000.

D. iTunes customers have purchased over 3 billion songs and 100 million TV shows.

E. NPD data indicates that Apple/iTunes is the third largest music retailer, surpassing Wal-Mart and Target.

Don't see a market for exclusive content to the Apple audience? Think again.

And yes, I am willing to relocate to Cupertino -- should anyone be asking.