Since Bert is unable to prove he was streaming network TV shows via the
Internet in 2005, I did some additional searching...
First for Catch-up TV. It seems this term may have come from the other side of
the pond, as virtually all links talk about early developments in the UK, like
the link Bert provided about the development of iPlayer. Looks like the BBC was
out ahead of the U.S. networks on this one. But they did not have the same
business model to protect, as their content was already paid for via the TV
license.
Next, some proof that full episodes of Off-Network TV shows were streamed in
early 2006:
http://www.cnet.com/news/aol-says-welcome-back-to-old-tv-shows/
AOL says 'Welcome back' to old TV shows
America Online early next year will begin offering free access to popular
vintage television shows through video-on-demand under an agreement with Warner
Bros., another division of Time Warner.
The new In2TV broadband network service will include 15- and 30-second video
advertisements that will be limited to a total of one to two minutes within
each 30-minute episode, compared with eight minutes of ads on broadcast
television, AOL said in a statement.
The service will be offered in a new DVD-quality video format called AOL Hi-Q
that enables high resolution, full-screen viewing to any broadband user.
The on-demand deal, which involves about 300 shows including "Welcome Back
Kotter," "Kung Fu" and "Growing Pains," will feature six channels ranging from
comedy and drama to animation and science fiction. In2TV will also include
interactive features such as games, quizzes, polls and trivia contests.
"This service will bring an unprecedented collection of popular TV series to a
totally new platform, revolutionizing the distribution of television
programming," Eric Frankel, president of Warner Bros. domestic cable
distribution, said in a statement.
The move is the latest in a series of deals media companies have announced to
offer alternative sources of television programming.
A week ago, NBC and CBS unveiled separate plans to make prime-time shows
available commercial-free for 99 cents an episode.
In October, Disney said it would offer episodes of five popular television
shows from ABC and Disney's cable network and some animated short films and
music videos for $1.99 each for viewing on Apple Computer's iPod.
---------------
Note the two links at the end of the story, one confirming that Disney hooked
up with Apple to supply content for iTunes video. The other talks about plans
by NBC and CBS to sell episodes of current shows - unfortunately that link is
dead.
But searching further we find:
http://www.today.com/id/9958612/ns/today-today_entertainment/t/directv-sell-nbc-cbs-shows-demand/#.VlhHDXo8KrU
The article tells us that CBS would work with Comcast to offer replays of
current series via in-band on demand, and that NBC would do the same with
DirecTV via a new DVR service.
And this Wall Street Journal analysis of the CBS and NBC deals add a lot of
color to this discussion. For example:
Together, the deals mark a profound change of heart for the broadcastand
television industry, which from its earliest days has built its schedule
around the evening hours known as prime time. Executives have long resisted
efforts by cable operators to offer so-called on-demand viewing of popular TV
shows, worrying that it could cannibalize their existing businesses by
eroding their ability to sell advertising for programs and reap lucrative
profit by selling reruns.
Thus, for TV executives the latest agreements are less about making moneyAnd
than they are about trying to maintain some control over their content, by
offering people the chance to watch shows through an unconventional route.
They hope that this will eventually lead to a substantial new revenue stream.
Hollywood has gotten a clear view of the challenges in the rapidly shifting
landscape by watching the music industry grapple with Internet piracy.
Even the per-episode fee was an important concession to Hollywood. Comcast,
the biggest proponent of on-demand services, has pushed to make most
on-demand offerings available for free as a way to attract audiences. But
network executives, keen to offset the financial impact on their existing
businesses, want to charge for on-demand viewings.
