Posted on 04/10/2006 4:24:42 AM PDT by abb
ABC's Prime-Time Hits And Zap-Proof Commercials Are Pillars of Bold Strategy
Walt Disney Co. plans to make much of its newest and most popular programming on ABC and other channels available free anytime on the Web, in a move that could speed the transformation of television viewing habits and help revive the struggling TV advertising business.
On April 30, ABC will unveil a revamped Web site that will include a "theater" where people with broadband connections can watch free episodes of "Desperate Housewives," "Lost" and other hit shows on their computers. Episodes will be available the morning after they air and will be archived so people can eventually view a whole season. A Disney Channel version with five shows will start in June, and an ABC Family version is also planned. Disney's Soapnet cable channel will start offering programs free on its Web site, Soapnetic, on April 17.
Episodes of the ABC shows -- which can be paused, rewound and fast-forwarded -- will contain commercial breaks that viewers can't skip, making Disney hopeful it has figured out a way to turn the delivery of programs over the Web into a profit-generating business. Ten advertisers, including Ford Motor Co., Procter & Gamble, Universal Pictures and Unilever, already have signed up.
The initiative, to be announced today by Anne Sweeney, president of the Disney-ABC Television Group, marks a watershed: the first time a TV company is offering major prime-time shows free online without restriction. Until now, networks have brokered limited piecemeal deals in a bid to keep business partners happy and their traditional business models intact. CBS Corp. has come the closest to what Disney is planning, offering rentals of "Survivor" episodes on CBS.com for 99 cents.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
What about the "real " Walt Disney ? The classic Walt Disney ?
This is about advertising revenue. If the commercials are part of the package when you watch on the net, advertisers will look more favorably on their product, particularly since I don't think there is a Tivo for the internet, yet.
Wow, imagine watching tv shows any time you want. Even fast forward and reverse. Oh, wait, didn't beta have such a concept about 20 years ago?
I try to avoid most of the garbage on TV as it is now. Should be a slam dunk to avoid watching it on the 'Net.
Disney used to mean innovation and good, reliable family programming. Today, it is just another outlet for leftist propaganda and Hollyweird crapola (thank you, Michael Eisner).
Who needs'em?
And THE SIMPSONS?
And SOUTH PARK?
OK...I'll be wuiet now. But I'm serious.
Well, yeah, if you don't want to watch commercials.
All I want to see is Donald Duck and Chip and Dale.
Remember last year when Comcast threatened to buy Disney. Disney's stock was down and Comcast just about was able to pull it off. Comcast has a product called On Demand that contains literally weeks worth of free programming that you can stop, pause, and fast forward. There are tons of movies, old tv shows, cartoons, anime, odd bizarre film festival type shorts, just about anything you want to see, and it is all free. They tried to get Disney product to add to their library, and when they were turned down, tried to buy Disney. By the way, on demand stuff is either commercial free, or you can fast forward through the commercials. As a Disney fan, I would much rather watch their stuff on Comcast's on demand service.
There won'tbe a whole lot of work being done in those cubicles any more.
100,000 channels and nothing on.
That could literally make it possible to have home media server machines where you program the server to do high-speed video downloads to your local computer. At 40+ mbps download speed, in less than an hour of download time could bring down several hours of 720p/1080i quality video compressed using next-generation video compression codecs. This will literally make the whole idea of prime time obselete, since instead of waiting for the show at a certain time a single daily download will allow you to watch the show many days after the download.
Wonder how this will jive with the folks who pay $1.99 to download episodes onto their Ipod's?
file sharing writ large?
This should be an Apple / Mac ping (and iPod, but I don't recall who runs that list) as these are some of the shows offered as iPod downloads. Interestingly, and perhaps related, Apple stock fell in price (so did Sandisk, but that's probably unrelated); MicroSoft and Intel rose; Bill and Belinda (Melinda?) Gates are speaking out for higher education quality in the US.
Disney to Sell ABC Radio Stations, Network
AP | 2-6-2006 | GARY GENTILE
Posted on 02/06/2006 8:33:35 PM EST by Cagey
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1573162/posts
Disney to Sell ABC Radio Stations, Network
NEWSRADIO 620 WTMJ | 02-07-2006 | GARY GENTILE - AP
Posted on 02/07/2006 2:46:57 AM EST by Extremely Extreme Extremist
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1573330/posts
Disney offers movies on demand (Dinosaur Media Extinction Alert)
Marketwatch.com | Feb 14, 2006 | Paul B. Farrell
Posted on 02/14/2006 5:37:26 PM EST by abb
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1578533/posts
Disney Unit to Beam Movies Into Homes
Newsday | 02/15/2006 | Richard J. Dalton, Jr.
Posted on 02/16/2006 5:44:15 AM EST by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1579568/posts
When will Disney start showing their old movies and classic features like they used to?
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