SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Walt Disney Co.'s two big TV networks, ABC and ESPN, have struck a deal with cable operator Cox Communications Inc. to offer hit shows and football games on demand, but with the unusual condition that Cox disables the fast-forward feature that allows viewers to skip ads, according to a media report Tuesday.
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"Advertising is critical to the financial health of our business and this agreement marks the first time one of our cable-operator partners is acknowledging that," The Journal said it was told by Anne Sweeney, president of the Disney-ABC Television Group.
The agreement could also provide broadcast networks a way to give viewers an alternative to the convenience offered by digital video recorders , without allowing them to avoid the ads, according to the report. With DVRs now in almost 20% of U.S. households, the number of people watching television when it is broadcast has dipped noticeably so far this season, The Journal said.. End of Story
Maybe its time for them to look for better models. Commercials is one of the main reasons I don't watch TV. I might consider subscribing to a few shows, so long as there were no advertising and little to no DRM. I'd also be curious to see a non-commercial news service which is not c-span.
