Analyst: NBC Universal iTunes Deal Sign of Things to Come

by , 1:15 PM EST, December 7th, 2005

American Technology Research analyst, Shaw Wu, sees NBC's addition of current and vintage television programs to the iTunes Music Store (iTMS) as only the beginning. More broadcasters are likely to announce deals with Apple before long.

Mr. Wu noted "We do not believe we are anywhere near the end for content partnership; we foresee future deals potentially from CBS, Fox, and others."

The addition of programs like The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Law & Order, The Office, and Battlestar Galactica is good news for consumers and Apple, but it caught analysts off guard. The addition of so many shows so quickly was unexpected.

Now that Apple's TV lineup has been boosted to 16 shows, Mr. Wu expects that downloads may accelerate to 80,000 a day, up from the 50,000 a day the iTMS experienced during the first month shows were available.

Mr. Wu predicts Apple will ship 9.7 million iPods this quarter, and is maintaining his buy rating with a target price of US$77. He is forecasting $4.9 billion in revenue for the quarter, with an estimated $0.54 in earnings per share.

Apple stock is currently trading at $73.91, down 0.14 (0.19%).

If you are interested in Apple's stock, join our forum members in the Apple Finance Boards, a moderated forum for Apple Investors and people who are interested in Apple's financial dealings. For other stories regarding Apple's stock activity, visit our updated Apple Stock Watch Special Report.