The Sci Fi Channel's Battelstar Galactica has proven to be a successful series, and show writer and executive producer Ron Moore credits some of that to alternate viewing styles including TiVo, DVD box sets, and Apple's iTunes Store. NBC's breakup with Apple and the iTunes Store took away one of those extra avenues for drawing in new viewers, and that's a loss that Mr. Moore regrets, according to Wired.

He said that in many cases, people that wouldn't otherwise consider watching Battelstar Galactica, or any other show on the Sci Fi Channel, would watch episodes on a friend's TiVo, or from borrowed DVDs. "They became fans. That happened a lot. People just put it on their iTunes," Mr. Moore said. "I bemoan the loss of NBC Universals relationship with iTunes for this show."

The series had been available at the iTunes Store until NBC Universal failed to reach a new contract agreement with Apple. NBC wanted to set some shows at higher prices and force customers to purchase other shows as parts of bundles, which Apple refused to allow. When NBC left the store, it took all of its shows, and the shows from affiliate properties including Sci Fi Channel with it.

NBC has since warmed up to Apple, at least in public, and could eventually come back to the online media store. If so, shows like Battlestar Galactica would likely return as well. NBC will, however, have to work fast because the final season in the series is almost half over.