The decision to make NBC Universal’s (NYSE: GE) films available for Apple’s iTunes’ rental program is consistent with NBCU’s decision not to renew its contract for TV show sales, CEO Jeff Zucker told the FT. The difference? Variable pricing for the films. Zucker: “We want to be in business with Apple (NSDQ: AAPL). We never said that we did not want to be in business with Apple. But we want to do it on terms we feel comfortable with.” And that is quite consistent with NBCU’s stance all along.

Meanwhile, Zucker continues to walk that fine line between bragging about digital accomplishments and keeping ideas of financial sugarplums from dancing in striking writers’ heads: “It’s not a mature business by any stretch. I think we’re making progress, but the business model is still not developed.”

International: NBCU is meeting in London this week to emphasize its international interests. Zucker: “Entertainment is growing faster outside the United States than it is inside the United States. So if you want to grow, you have to go outside the United States.” The goal: increase international revenues to 30 percent. (Our site ContentSutra reported late last year that NBCU is taking a major stake in India’s NDTV; that has yet to be announced.)

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