Comcast and The Walt Disney Company have signed a series of long-term distribution agreements, which, among other things, will see a number of primetime series from the Disney-owned ABC broadcast network, as well as Disney m*ovies, and programs from Disney cable channels, offered on Comcast's VOD service (note: this marks the first time that ABC broadcast programs have been offered on a cable VOD service; the broadcaster does, however, offer programming on-demand on its Web site). Under the terms of the deals, the ABC primetime series will be offered on-demand free-of-charge in markets that are served by an ABC-owned TV station. "This agreement reflects our ability to distribute content on multiple platforms and signals another first for Comcast and Disney as we continue to explore the evolving possibilities of digital technology," Comcast chairman and CEO, Brian Roberts, said in a prepared statement. "We could not have gotten this deal done without Bob Iger's leadership and vision. Putting Disney, ESPN and ABC's extremely popular content on Comcast VOD is a watershed event for both of our companies. This is the first cable on- demand agreement for hit ABC primetime broadcast programs like 'Desperate Housewives' and 'Lost' and, when combined with Disney m*ovies and other ABC/Disney/ESPN television programs, gives Comcast access to the most Disney content available."
Under the terms of the deals, ABC network primetime and ABC News programs will be available on-demand, free-of-charge in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, San Francisco, Houston, Fresno (California) and Flint (Michigan); beginning with the Fall 2007 season, Comcast digital subscribers in those markets will be able to access on-demand episodes of "Desperate Housewives," "Lost," and two as-yet-undetermined primetime series the day after their network broadcast. Comcast subscribers with HDTV service will be able to access HD versions of "Desperate Housewives" and "Lost." Other ABC programs that will be available on-demand under the terms of the deals include "World News with Charles Gibson," "Nightline" and "This Week with George Stephanopoulos." Disney-owned cable channels that will be offering programming on Comcast's VOD service as a result of the deals include Disney Channel, SOAPnet, Toon Disney and ESPN. Meanwhile, Disney m*ovies (from the company's Walt Disney p*ictures, Touchstone and Miramax subsidiaries) will be offered on Comcast's VOD service on a pay-per-view basis, as early as 15 days after their DVD release: new releases will be priced at $3.99 and library titles at $2.99.
(Note: BusinessWeek, citing sources at the companies, is reporting that, as a result of the deals, Comcast will shortly "announce a new TV portal, code-named C-TV, [which] Disney will help promote through the use of film and TV clips that Comcast would use online" and which may eventually feature programming from ABC, the Disney Channel, and other Disney Company sources.)
Originally Published: December 5, 2006 in [itvt] Issue 7.08 Part 3
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