Come August 15th, if you miss a favorite show on Fox and didn’t record it on a DVR, you won’t be able to watch it the next day on the Internet. Fox is becoming the first network to restrict online streaming to paying subscribers for an eight-day window after the broadcast.
Dish Network (dishonline.com) will be the first to offer the service, with verified subscribers being able to take advantage of the exclusive window and watch Fox shows on the Internet a day after they air. The subscriber-only window will also be expanded to Hulu Plus and Fox.com, although no timeframe was provided.
“We are continually looking at opportunities to provide our pay television distributors with content and products that enhance the value of pay television to subscribers,” said Michael Hopkins, President, Affiliate Sales and Marketing, Fox Networks. “Our new authentication service will continue to provide next-day access to Fox broadcast shows for our viewers who subscribe to participating pay television providers.”
RBR-TVBR observation: The business model for online streaming is still being developed. It will be interesting to watch how this new approach by Fox works.
