ABC to Limit New Episodes Online to Paying Subscribers for One Week

ABC starting Jan 6 will restrict next-day access to new episodes of TV shows to subscribers of participating pay-TV affiliates and Hulu Plus. Whereas ABC shows were available to anyone previously for free, under the new system only paying subscribers will have next-day access. The shows will be free without a subscription after one week. ABC follows Fox in restricting access to shows to paying subscribers -- clearly a move that will be unpopular for many consumers who have grown accustomed to free current TV shows online. Fox switched to the model in late 2011. When ABC announced the Watch ABC app in May, the network said it would eventually move Internet episodes to authenticated access. A representative said ABC started “doing some education about this to users on the ABC.com website and via the app” regarding the changes coming Jan 6 a few weeks ago.

[Dec 31]