The New York Times is reporting that TV networks are still resisting Apple’s planned push to cut prices of TV shows from the current $1.99(standard definition) to $.99. The report suggest that networks continue to display skepticism in the this plan, even thought there have been rumblings that some networks are participating in a trial of lower priced content the will launch alongside the iPad.

Television production is expensive, and the networks are wary of selling shows for less. They are equally wary of harming their far more lucrative deals with affiliates and cable distributors, who may feel threatened by online storefronts like Apple’s and those operated by Amazon, Microsoft and Sony.

But the networks do not want to ignore the 125 million customers with credit cards who have iTunes accounts, either. “We’re willing to try anything, but the key word is ‘try,’ ” said a TV network executive who requested anonymity because his company had declined to comment publicly on talks with Apple.

CBS CEO Leslie Moonves has made comments that hint at CBS’s participation in the trial. PBS is currently running at three-week dry run, offering some of their children’s shows at $.99.

It is also worth mentioning that Apple has been rumored to be working on an “all you can eat” TV content subscription service.

Apple has launched a promotional giveaway called “Countdown to 10 Billion Songs“, which offers the winner a $10,000 iTunes Gift Card. The counter on Apple’s home page at the time of this writing pegs the current number of downloads around 9.8 billion.

Apple’s official rules state that participants can have 25 entries per day either by iTunes Store music purchases or by filling out an entry form on Apple’s site. The contest has already begun and will end when the 10 billionth download is reached.

The prize will be awarded for the entry (either through a song download or through the non-purchase online entry) sent immediately following the download of the 9,999,999,999th song. The potential winner will be determined by the order of the entries received. In the event that more than one entrant would be a winner based on the simultaneous timing of entries, one entrant will be randomly selected from those entrants as the winner. Each entrant?s chances of winning are dependent upon the number of eligible entries received.

Apple has had similar contests in the past. You may remember the One Billion App contest last year, or even the One Billion Song contest of 2006.

Apple has posted a prominent link on the iTunes Store main page that allows users to donate to the American Red Cross to support relief efforts in Haiti after the devastating earthquake they had early last week. You can make donations in six amounts ranging from $5 to $200, this is handled just like any other iTunes purchase, and all of the proceeds go directly to the Red Cross.

On January 12, a series of earthquakes measuring 6.5 to 7.3 on the Richter scale devastated Haiti. The American Red Cross is working with its partners in the global Red Cross and Red Crescent network, including the Haitian Red Cross, and other partners to assist those affected by this disaster.

Your gift to the American Red Cross will support emergency relief efforts to help those affected by this earthquake. Assistance provided by the American Red Cross may include sending relief supplies, mobilizing relief workers and providing financial resources.

Also worth noting is the massive Indie+Relief program being held on January 20, where some 100+ indie Mac developers are donating that day’s proceeds to Haiti. Indie+Relief is the brain child of my friend and fellow Evansville resident, Justin Williams. Great job guy.

So, I highly encourage each and every one of our readers to donate to this cause. It’s times like these that prove that we can all get along in the world, if only for a moment, and that should make each and every one of us proud.