And Finally, We'd Like to Thank the Academy, Whose Total Lack of Foresight Made All This Possible

Not only is iTunes the world’s largest music retailer, it’s apparently also the world’s most popular online TV store. This according to proprietor Apple (AAPL), which said today that iTunes has sold some 200 million TV episodes.

To repeat: 200 million. Not bad, considering that Apple tossed NBC’s fall TV lineup off iTunes last year. And sales are certain to grow, now that all four of the major TV networks–ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC–are offering HD versions of its programs through iTunes. Which means Apple is well-positioned to take advantage of an online video market that In-Stat expects to hit $4.5 billion in sales by 2012.