While some industry watchers are calling moves by NBC and others “a mistake,” NBC Universal spokesman Cory Shields is quoted in the piece by the Post as saying that his company’s programs are one of the primary factors that help drive sales of Apple hardware.

“The iPod is only as good as the content on it,” he said.

What Mr Shields fails to mention is that his “content” is really a commodity compared to the iPod. What music that iPod users can’t download from ITunes can be obtained from other sources: both legal and illegal. The user experience of the iPod and iTunes is for the most part unique. If users wish to download their music (and movies) from other source, it will not affect iPod sales nearly as the lost revenue Universal will experience by exiting from iTunes.