Cable companies working to curb free online TV

Posted Mar 30th 2009 6:00PM by Beth Gaston Moon
Filed under: Google (GOOG), Viacom (VIA), AT and T (T), Comcast Cl'A' (CMCSA), Verizon Communications (VZ), Time Warner Cable (TWC)

Right now, over at Hulu.com -- a joint project of News Corp. (NYSE: NWS) and General Electric Company's (NYSE: GE) NBC Universal, viewers can check out recent editions of, for example, The Daily Show or Man Caves, among many other programs normally viewed on cable networks such as Comedy Central or the DIY Network. Viewers need a computer and a high-speed Internet connection to catch these programs, but they don't need a cable subscription (or even a television!).

Cable providers are pushing for this to change. Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE: TWC), together with Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA), AT&T (NYSE: T), and others, are currently investigating a solution for online TV that would make programming available to subscribers only. Major cable channel companies such as Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA) -- parent of Comedy Central and MTV, and the BBC are being approached to help back the cause.

YouTube -- owned by Google, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) -- is also reportedly in talks with Time Warner to stream network shows from TNT, TBS, and other Time Warner stations. Currently, YouTube appears to be losing the battle as a destination for longer streaming video to Hulu and network sites.

While online programming fulfills a need for many (I watched the entire second season of Greek online - thanks, ABC Family!), it doesn't yet contribute to traditional ratings numbers or advertising dollars. In other words? It's a win for the consumer, but a perceived loss for the producers, the networks, and the cable providers. Media companies have seen profits decline in recent months, leading them to get creative about other revenue sources. Subscription-based online viewing could be the next step.

Beth Gaston Moon works for WeSeed.com, "The stock market for the rest of us." The above comments are not intended as trading or investment advice.

Tags: cable, comcast, hulu, inthenews, online television, OnlineTelevision, streaming video, StreamingVideo, television, time warner cable, TimeWarnerCable, viacom

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

3-31-2009 @ 3:57AM

Suzanne said...

The average people could sure use a break!

People are losing jobs and need a way to relax without breaking the bank.

3-31-2009 @ 6:34AM

al coholic said...

If I could get ESPN live and the Science, History, and Discovery channels it would be goodbye expanded cable.

3-31-2009 @ 1:06PM

Bog Down said...

Sites like 'Project Free TV' already provide the entire american canon of TV shows and movies in medium quality free, ad free, streaming using piracy. Piracy like this, unstoppable link piracy and hidden online video with anonymous links masked and updated all the time, will force tv to change its business model. In the end piracy is about to hot up big time with the advent of more and more bandwidth in the average home and as word spreads that there is no need to use hulu and watch the ads that come with it. I am happy about not watching ads, but piracy has killed Terminator Sarah Connor chronicles... so it is a concern.

4-14-2009 @ 12:35AM

vedabhatt123 said...

it is very useful. here we can watch online Daily Show for free.
Viewers need a computer and a high-speed Internet connection to catch these programs,i really enjoyed it.

http://cinemabusters.info

4-17-2009 @ 1:58AM

pavithra said...

Hi,

Found this site that is better that any movie site I have seen so far, I think you guys should add it to the list. I watch movie on this site all the time. The quality of the movie is the best online. I love the selection too, honestly it's one of the best I have seen so far.