Disney undercut iTunes by offering TV shows for free

The ABC television network (owned by Walt Disney Co) will offer a selection of its most popular shows free on the web. ABC already sell digital downloads for the popular iPod music and video player, the only catch with this latest proposal is that it will be supported by technically embedded advertising.

This latest venture for ABC, will start as a two-month trial in May, and will potentially bypass cable operators and bring the top shows straight to the consumer. Top programs such as ‘Commander in Chief’, ‘Alias’, ‘Desperate Housewives’ and ‘Lost’ (which iTunes currently host and charge for)will be available the day after they are first broadcast, and only available to users with a US internet address.

According to an analyst “Going direct over a broadband (Internet) connection is a very smart business and I think you’ll see other broadcasters follow suit” … already Google and MTV have issued a challenge to iTunes, but ABC has taken it that one-step further, and I am sure most will agree, this is definitely a good thing!

The ABC television network (owned by Walt Disney Co) will offer a selection of its most popular shows free on the web. ABC already sell digital downloads for the popular iPod music and video player, the only catch with this latest proposal is that it will be supported by technically embedded advertising.

This latest venture for ABC, will start as a two-month trial in May, and will potentially bypass cable operators and bring the top shows straight to the consumer. Top programs such as ‘Commander in Chief’, ‘Alias’, ‘Desperate Housewives’ and ‘Lost’ (which iTunes currently host and charge for)will be available the day after they are first broadcast, and only available to users with a US internet address.

According to an analyst “Going direct over a broadband (Internet) connection is a very smart business and I think you’ll see other broadcasters follow suit” … already Google and MTV have issued a challenge to iTunes, but ABC has taken it that one-step further, and I am sure most will agree, this is definitely a good thing!