Movies on iTunes is Next

For weeks, Apple Computer has been talking with executives at all the major studios — including the Walt Disney Company, 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers and Universal Studios — about adding movies to its popular iTunes music store, several people involved in the negotiations said.

Mr. Jobs, who is Apple’s chief executive, has been participating in the negotiations and telling studio executives in Los Angeles that he wants to have a deal in place by the fall, people involved in the negotiations said.

Disney, which was the first studio to put some TV shows (like “Lost” and “Desperate Housewives”) on iTunes, is also expected to be the first to put some movies on Apple’s online service, the people involved in the talks said.

An Apple spokeswoman said that the company would not comment on what she called rumors. The individuals asked not to be identified because the negotiations were confidential. News of a possible deal was reported yesterday in Daily Variety.

via New York Times