The recently released video-enabled iPod and its sibling iTunes, which you can now download television shows from, is simply scaring television advertisers. As televsion stations such as ABC and Viacom try to deliver their programming outside of the television box, the advertisers feel left out. The programming available on iTunes has no commercials because Apple would not allow it but the feeling is that one day that policy will change as there is revenue to be had. But till then, atleast through Halloween, they continue to scare the advertisers. "It's a great concern to advertisers," said Jason Maltby, co-president of national broadcast for media buyer Mindshare, part of WPP. "Why spend a couple of hundred thousand dollars for an ad unit on Desperate Housewives? The value keeps eroding." But others believe that putting the shows on iTunes will only pick up more of an audience. Don't tell them that! It is fun to watch them squirm.

Also: TV downloads may undercut ABC Stations