Hate to say it, but you'll probably have a taste of disgust in your mouth after reading this one. The
Wall Street Journal is reporting that top cable providers and TV networks are scheming to make large amounts of programming
available online only to pay-TV customers, effectively strong-arming content consumers into paying for cable in order to get access to the online portion. As it stands, loads of shows are available right now for free via
Hulu and
broadcast websites -- all you have to do is sit through ads. The problem here is that while content producers still get their ad royalties either way, cable companies are
losing out on customers. Regardless of what bigwigs from TWC and Comcast say, there's no doubt that this move (er, attempt at a move) is nothing more than a desperation heave to keep their business model viable in the face of changing demand. Oh, and the worst part? The network owners (Viacom, NBC Universal, etc.) are reportedly eating it up.
Filed under: Home Entertainment
Cable companies scheme to limit online content to pay-TV subscribers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Feb 2009 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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