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Shows from ABC Studios, Disney, MTV Networks, Nickelodeon and Paramount Comedy are now available for £1.89 per episode and include South Park, Lost, Grey's Anatomy and Ugly Betty as well as UK series such as MTV's Barrio 19, Nickelodeon's Genie in the House and Paramount Comedy's Comedy Blue.

iTunes currently offers 28 programmes for download which can be viewed on a PC or Mac, fifth generation iPod, or on a widescreen TV with Apple TV. Also among those 28 are Desperate Housewives, stand-up comedy in Jongleurs Unleashed and kids favourite SpongeBob SquarePants.

Apple began selling TV programmes in the US in March 2006, adding <

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movies six months later. There is as yet no indication when Apple will add movies to the UK store, though a recent report claimed that they would arrive at the same time as TV.

It also remains to be seen whether Apple will be able to get its hands on TV content from the UK's major broadcasters. Channel 4 has been "renting" its programming through its 4oD service for some time, but they are heavily laden with Windows Media DRM which means that you can't keep videos and you can only play them on a PC. The BBC's iPlayer is similarly restrictive, although it has committed to offering Mac support in the future. ITV has announced similar plans.

Programmes purchased through iTunes are for keeps, and can be played on up to five computers and iPods.

More information is available from apple.com/uk/itunes.