from Yahoo! News

Apple iTunes to sell monthly TV show subscription

Apple Computer Inc.’s iTunes music and video store on Wednesday took its first step toward a monthly subscription model with a new service called Multi-Pass that lets users buy TV shows on a monthly basis.

The service is being launched by iTunes in partnership with Viacom Inc.’s Comedy Central cable network, which is rolling out “The Daily Show with
Jon Stewart” and “The Colbert Report” on the service.

Fans will be able to buy the next month’s series of 16 new episodes via Multi-Pass for $9.99, or to pay $1.99 per episode. Four episodes air each week and viewers can download each episode after it’s been broadcast.

TV shows and other video have been available for sale on iTunes since late last year. Comedy Central announced a relationship with iTunes six weeks ago with shows including “South Park,” “Drawn Together” and “Comedy Central Stand-Up.”

Michele Ganeless, executive vice president at Comedy Central, said there would be no advertising on the service for the time being, similar to the network’s DVD business.

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