MTV targets music download market

Music channel MTV has teamed up with Microsoft to launch a new download service which will compete with Apple's iTunes.

Music channel MTV has teamed up with Microsoft to launch a new download service which will compete with Apple's iTunes.

It offers some two million songs for sale costing 99 cents (€0.78c) or via a monthly subscription from tomorrow.

Called Urge, the service goes live in the US only and will not initially be available to customers elsewhere. It uses Microsoft's Media Player and is not compatible with Apple's iPod music players.

Archive music and video from shows such as MTV Unplugged and the MTV video awards will also be on sale. Album download costs will vary.

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Subscriptions will cost either $9.95 (€7.71) per month or $14.95 dollars (€11.59) per month depending on the level of service included. Annual subscription packages will cost $99 dollars (€76.7) or 149 dollars (€115.5).

The higher priced versions allow unlimited transfer of songs to portable music players. An MTV spokeswoman said: "International roll-out will start soon but there are no dates or timelines yet."

Customers must have a US server and credit card in order to buy songs from the site after it launches tomorrow. A spokeswoman for Apple said the company did not wish to comment on the launch of Urge.