A call to Apple was not immediately returned.
NBC has lobbied for "variable pricing," and Apple's unwillingness to grant it led to a breakdown in negotiations. The network pulled its shows from the iTunes store last year.
Late last week, NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker told FT.com: "We think there should be a difference between an episode today of "The Office" and a library episode of something, whether it be "The Office" or something that was made 20 years ago."
Zucker said he remains hopeful that NBC will be able to reach a "variable-pricing" deal, adding that it was curious why Apple is allowing tiered-pricing for NBC Universal's films but holding to the $1.99 per episode for the TV content.
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Before the network's shows were yanked, episodes of "The Office" were routinely among the most purchased of all iTunes content. It's not clear whether NBC would accept $2.99 for episodes of top shows or would seek a higher price. NBC did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
To be determined: whether the HBO deal may give NBCU--and for that matter, other programmers--leverage in looking to alter pricing structures.
In regard to other HBO programming on iTunes, episodes of "The Wire" and "Flight of the Conchords" are going for $1.99 each. "Deadwood" and "Rome" are $2.99 each.
Unlike NBC's deal--in which an episode of "The Office" was made available just after it ran on the network--going forward, HBO's deal calls for its shows to be made available after (or the same day as) they become available on DVD.