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April 10, 2006

1:27 pm | 0 recommendations | 3 comments

Disney Vetting Video

| posted by Kevin Ohannessian

Disney announced that it would be offering videos of subsidiary ABC's television shows at the ABC.com Website as a two-month trial. This is in addition to the shows being sold on iTunes. Unlike on iTunes, where the shows cost $1.99 per episode, the ABC.com episodes will be free to viewers, supported by video advertising.

Disney continues to capitalize on the rise of online video, a strategy to compete with the other forms of entertainment vying for the public's attention. This move makes sense, even as a trial balloon. The Mouse House is diversifying the presentation of its media (selling episodes and having free videos with ads), and diversifying the outlets for its shows.

Many companies have been testing the online waters, but
Hollywood must move more aggressively to satisfy the public's desire for the customization and convenience of digital media. More television companies should open up their archives and offer entire seasons of television shows, new and old. And they should make it easy and cheap (or free, with ads). I think they would be surprised by the level of interest produced.

Tags: Work/Life, arts + entertainment
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Recent Comments | 3 Total

April 10, 2006 at 6:57pm

Alexandra Ronngren
I have been living the life of an ex-pat for the last few years. People like me, who live in a different country about every six months, would love an easy and legal way to get content from the US. Mainstream content is hard to find without going to a peer-to-peer file sharing site. Sites that offer online video rental downloads have zone restrictions, so I haven’t been able to use them either. There is a real opportunity here for companies to come in a fill a need. It’s good to see that Disney is at least testing the waters.
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April 10, 2006 at 11:59pm

John O'Laughlin
This is a sea change in distribution. Content is still king, but the power of the remote is now shifting to the keyboard as the customer is becoming the driver.
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April 11, 2006 at 12:09am

Lee Jones
ABC's decision to offer ad-supported content online could ultimately drive down the cost of cable. Consumers are gaining more and more power and choice and searchable internet video could prove to be the next best thing (certainly searchable content will destroy the network program grid). Personally, I think ABC should offer advertisers internet exposure as "added value" to their high six figure primetime :30 spot cost.
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