A new CNET News article says that despite what Apple loyalists may think, iTunes needs NBC Universal more than the network needs iTunes, according to a report issued by Forrester Research.

James McQuivey, a Forrester analyst, warned Apple executives that it was in their best interest to "win NBC back," now that NBC shows are gone from the iTunes Store. McQuivey has a point when he asks what good is it that Apple sells video-capable iPods if there's nothing to watch.

"Don't let the Macgeeks posting angry blogs against NBC fool you," McQuivey wrote in a report issued Monday and relayed in the CNET News article. "The loser here is Apple, which relies on NBC Universal to deliver 30 (percent) of video download sales. Any supposed backlash against NBC will not materialize because NBC has made its content available, for free, on NBC.com and six other major portals sites."

Report: Apple should kiss and make up with NBC...fast [CNET News]