Disney to Offer ABC TV Shows Free on the Internet (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=ac.d5zcTjxzs&refer=top_world_news) -- Bloomberg.com, 2006-04-10
April 10 (Bloomberg) -- Walt Disney Co. will offer primetime ABC television shows including ``Lost'' and ``Desperate Housewives'' free on the Internet as it seeks new ways to boost advertising revenue.

Episodes of ``Commander in Chief'' and the entire current season of ``Alias'' will also be available online in a two-month experiment, Burbank, California-based Disney, the second-biggest U.S. media company, said today in an e-mailed statement.

The strategy is the first time a broadcast network will give away full-length TV shows online and illustrates the pressure on networks to increase their audience amid competition from cable and Internet services. Viewers won't be able to skip commercials and Disney said AT&T Inc. and Ford Motor Co. will advertise.

From article:

ABC's success will depend on the quality of the video and broadband streaming ability of people's computers, Robison at Palisades said.

"I'd don't know if anyone's going to sit through an hour of 'Lost' on the Internet yet,'" Robison said. "You've seen how jumpy it can get.''

I think that Mr. Robison may need that better computer and/or a faster ISP!

About a week ago AOL started up "In2TV" with free streaming videos of about 30 different old Warner Bros TV series (pilot episodes plus entire seasons on each). You can set your stream speed, but at it's 700 kbps max, it produces a great picture and sound in full screen mode or even S-Video'd out from my laptop to a traditional television monitor. And it's not "jumpy" at all. No stalls either. Smooth and clear as a baby's butt. :)

Even prior to that, there's been all sorts of video content available from AOL or direct from other web sites that's been steaming just great.

My home bandwidth is about 1500-1600 kbps with Verizon DSL, so I'm only using about half my capacity steaming at top speed.

I've been watching "F-Troop" and "Kung-Fu" episodes all week long and loving it! In fact...I haven't been able to get that F-Troop theme song outta my head all week. It's worse that "It's A Small World!" ;) I'll be going to "Pinky and the Brain" episodes next.

Anyway...I think this is a smart thing for Disney to do, or at least experiment with. Apple's iTunes might not be too happy about this news however, as they are currently selling these ABC episodes for $1.99 a pop, commercial-free though.

I wonder how much business they'll lose to folks that would rather get them for free by just being forced to watch a few commercials?

I've been watching "F-Troop" and "Kung-Fu" episodes all week long and loving it! In fact...I haven't been able to get that F-Troop theme song outta my head all week.
Where the Hakawi, anyway? ;)

I wonder how much business they'll lose to folks that would rather get them for free by just being forced to watch a few commercials?
And therein lies the basis of this great experiment that will determine part of the future of Disney shows on the Internet....

The video iTunes thing has been a treasure trove of publicity but it hasn't really produced much in the way of revenue for anybody yet. So they may not care if iTunes is unhappy.

If you can't make much money selling it directly then they need to find a way to keep it advertiser supported.

The article didn't come up for me and I question.

Are we going to be able to view any lost episode during this test with commercials? Or only more recent ones?

The article didn't come up for me and I question.

Are we going to be able to view any lost episode during this test with commercials? Or only more recent ones?

The shows include "Desperate Housewives," "Lost," "Commander in Chief" and "Alias." The first two would become available in May, with the others starting in June.

The shows will be available on the Web the morning after they are broadcast on the ABC Network and will be archived so that viewers can eventually watch a whole season of shows. They will be available on the ABC and Disney Channel Web sites.

Above from:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/10/business/media/10cnd-disney.html?ex=1145332800&en=bd57d3fab7e946eb&ei=5087%0A

But that really doesn't say if they are going to retroactively go back and archive past seasons/shows.

Although those past shows of "Lost" are available right now via iTunes at $1.99 per episode, commercial-free.

Although those past shows of "Lost" are available right now via iTunes at $1.99 per episode, commercial-free.

It really adds up if you do this for all the episodes. I would rather just buy the real DVDs when they come out.

It really adds up if you do this for all the episodes. I would rather just buy the real DVDs when they come out.

Yes. But iTunes does offer a discount on the $1.99 per episode if you purchase a Season Pass for the current airing season, or purchase an entire previous season.

For example, to purchase a Season Pass for the current Season 2 of Lost (shows are downloaded one day after airing) or to purchase all 25 episodes from Season 1...the price is only $34.99 for each season. A substantial discount from the $1.99 per price, or the DVD suggested retail of $59 for currently on-the-shelves Season 1 (though granted the DVDs are probably heavily discounted too).

The advantage to downloading them of course is that you don't have to wait for the DVD release. You can have them for your repeated viewing enjoyment the day after they first air.

The disadvantages are that the iTunes versions are of a resolution that's fine for a small screen, but not so good on a bigger one. And DVDs are easily playable on traditional television set-ups at most homes. You could of course play them on your television from your computer. But that would take a bit more set-up and would depend on how your particular computer is equipped. Another disadvantage with iTunes seasons is that you don't get the "box" and any physical material that might come with it.

IMHO...iTunes television shows are mainly for either the person that missed an episode(s) and wants to "catch up"...and/or for the most uber fan that simply must have the shows the day after they air for their repeat viewing collections. And I would bet that most of those types of uber fans that have downloaded the iTunes seasons will still go out and purchase the boxed DVD sets when they are eventually released.

For most fans of the various television series that are sold via iTunes, I don't think iTunes replaces DVD sets. I think it provides the fans with a quick and easy "mobile fix" that simply augments their traditional viewing options and availability time-frames. :)

Of course...for those that are good and diligent at programming their VCR or Tivo...iTunes television probably only becomes interesting if they want a super small iPod option to carry around. Or perhaps for viewing TV shows on a laptop while traveling.

I didn't realize it until yesterday, but the backbone of AOL's new In2TV internet television service that I mention in Post #2 above, is a new venture that Michael Eisner is now involved with:

Eisner said he had made a recent investment in Veoh Networks, a company based in San Diego that delivers video and television programming over the Internet. Eisner, who will become a board member, declined to say how much money he invested. But according to the company, Veoh has raised $12.5 million in venture financing from Eisner, Spark Capital and Time Warner.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/04/18/business/eisner.php

Small world.