Would you pay to watch TV on broadband internet?
July 24, 2009
That's the question content companies are struggling with right now as cable providers and TV networks face growing competition from free videos available on broadband internet sites like Hulu, YouTube and others. Would you pay for it?
Disney CEO Bob Iger said Wednesday that he believes people will one day pay for content on Hulu, the free site part-owned by Disney where viewers can watch full episodes of popular TV programs, along with some advertising.
Iger announced that Disney is working on developing a broadband internet platform that would charge users for movies, TV shows and games, according to reports.
Cable and high speed internet provider Comcast is launching a trial program called On Demand Online, with partners including Time Warner Cable and CBS, which will offer Comcast subscribers episodes of cable and broadcast programs over the web for no extra charge.
Media industry observers seem to think the idea of charging for online content is a no-go.
But it's a question worth asking, especially since TV and broadband internet are merging as TV tries to become more like the web and the web tries to get more content like TV.
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