A few weeks ago, we saw how, in the dispute between NBC and Apple, the word “attractive,” when it came to the price of NBC shows on iTunes, was a convenient synonym for “higher.” Back then, “flexible” was in the mix as well:

“Our negotiations were centered on our request for flexibility in wholesale pricing, including the ability to package shows together in ways that could make our content even more attractive for consumers.”

Emphasis added. That was an NBC flack, nattering on about how Steve Jobs wouldn’t budge from his uniform pricing policy on iTunes. My point at the time was that the press wasn’t challenging or reinterpreting those euphemisms.

Today, Variety, which should know better, is now incorporating the euphemisms into the reporter’s copy. Here’s Scott Kirsner, covering a Jeff Zucker appearance at the Harvard biz school:

He seemed chagrined at NBC U’s dealings with Apple. Last year, the Peacock pulled its TV shows from iTunes after a dispute over pricing — the company wanted the flexibility to offer hot shows at slightly higher prices than Apple’s standard, and library content at a discount.

The company didn’t want flexibility; it wanted to charge what the market would bear. Jobs’ argument is that that approach was short-sighted. Variety’s version is too Universal-friendly by half.