MUMBAI: MTV Networks and Apple announced that hit television programming from MTV, MTV2, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and The N will now be available for purchase and download on the iTunes Music Store.
The new content features top-rated favourites such as Punk'd, South Park, Dora the Explorer, SpongeBob SquarePants and Laguna Beach.
Nickelodeon's Dora is the first preschool programme available on iTunes, while Comedy Central's Stand-Up is iTunes' first stand-up comedy programme, and MTV's Laguna Beach and Real World/Road Rules Challenge: Gauntlet 2 are the first reality-based titles available on iTunes.
With the addition of these 14 shows from MTV Networks, iTunes now offers over 40 TV shows for $1.99 per episode for viewing on a computer or iPod.
"The iTunes Music Store provides an innovative way for us to get our wide range of programming to our viewers. MTV Networks' brands feature some of the most popular programs in television today, and iTunes allows us to connect our content to even more audiences. We're committed to having our programming on multiple platforms as our audience's media consumption behavior evolves," said MTV Networks chief digital officer Jason Hirschhorn.
"Video has proven to be a smash hit on iTunes with over eight million videos sold. We're thrilled to add 14 new shows from MTV Networks which include such a wide range of programming from MTV, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central," said Apple iTunes vice president Eddy Cue.
The new programming spans MTV Networks' varied brands and includes full seasons of hits from:
-- MTV: Laguna Beach -- the first-ever reality drama exploring the lives of beautiful teenagers who lead glamorous lives. Gauntlet 2 -- the tropical island of Tobago is the setting for the latest showdown between Real World and Road Rules alumni. Beavis & Butt-Head -- the animated series following the adventures of Beavis, a blond guy in a Metallica shirt, and Butt-Head, a dark-haired guy in an AC/DC shirt. Jackass -- MTV's own cast of misfits leave common sense and sanity behind to perform some of the most unforgettable pranks on TV. Punk'd -- the breakout hit where Ashton Kutcher and Jason Goldberg set up elaborate pranks and take aim on scores of celebrities. My Super Sweet 16 -- documents the over-the-top birthday parties and coming-of-age celebrations of teens as they prepare for one of the biggest nights of their lives. And from MTV2: Wonder Showzen -- an absurd comedy/variety show spiked with a team of puppets, kids, cartoons, old educational films and political social satire.
-- Nickelodeon: Dora the Explorer -- the number one program on commercial TV with kids 2-5 years of age and the first preschool program on iTunes. SpongeBob SquarePants -- TV's overall top-rated kids' show. Zoey 101 -- the tween favorite for kids 9-14 years of age starring Jamie Lynn Spears.
-- Comedy Central: South Park -- the Emmy Award-winning series, soon to begin its tenth season, remains the network's highest-rated series. Comedy Central Standup -- performances from The Amazing Johnathan, Lewis Black, Dave Attell, Dane Cook, Mitch Hedberg, Vic Henley, Steve McGrew, Vince Morris, Godfrey and Patton Oswalt. Drawn Together -- presenting a world where cartoon characters from various genres of animation are brought together to live under one roof.
-- The N: South of Nowhere -- the critically acclaimed drama for teens about a contemporary American family that tackles the issues of identity and self-discovery.
With Apple's legendary ease of use, pioneering features such as integrated video and Podcasting support, iMix playlist sharing, seamless integration with iPod and groundbreaking personal use rights, the iTunes Music Store is the best way for Mac and PC users to legally discover, purchase and download music and videos online.
The iTunes Music Store features a selection of over 3,000 music videos, Pixar and Disney short films, a variety of hit TV shows, and more than two million songs from the major music companies and over 1,000 independent labels.
iTunes 6 for Mac and Windows includes the iTunes Music Store and is available as a free download from http://www.apple.com/itunes. Television shows are available in the US only, and video availability varies by country. Television shows are $1.99 per episode, and music videos and short films are $1.99 each.