Apple has sold more than 3m video downloads since it began offering them through its iTunes Music Store some 55 days ago, the company revealed yesterday.

That translates into over 54,545 downloads a day, a 3.6 per cent gain on the 52,632 downloads a day average Apple established during the 19 days from 12 October it took to serve up ITMS' first 1m downloads.

At the end of October, Apple CEO Steve Jobs said the company's "next challenge" is to widen the range of content on offer. This week it did just that, adding TV show downloads from US channels NBC, Sci-FI and USA. Alas the downloads are only available to Apple's US-based customers.

Most episodes, which include up-to-date series and older, "vintage" shows, are priced at $1.99, though a few retail as high as $9.99. ®