ABC To Offer Full Shows Online

vitaly.friedman writes to mention an Ars Technica story on the ABC's newest bid to stay relevant in the Information Age. As of the end of this month the network will be airing certain popular television shows on the ABC website, starting the morning after their first broadcast. From the article: "All programs will be shown in their entirety, including commercials which cannot be avoided. That's a smart move on ABC's part, as it ensures that advertisers will get another shot at hawking their wares to an audience that might otherwise change channels during commercial breaks or fast-forward through them if recorded. Aside from being unable to avoid commercials, watching the programs will be similar to watching timeshifted content in that viewers will be able to pause, fast forward, and rewind."

Comments

Re:No Commercial Skipping?

[generic-man]

You can skip chapters, but each chapter includes advertising in the middle. There are also lots of product placements that, with the help of Google, will dynamically place products you want to buy into key scenes.

"Say, Denise, would you pick up that Lite-On 8X dual-layer DVD burner with Linux drivers? I say, I don't feel like myself without a nice Lite-On 8X dual-layer DVD burner with Linux drivers any more."

Re:Commercial Skipping

[Anonymous Coward]

How many Super Bowls have had commercials better than the game?

I don't know. I use my TiVo to fast forward through them. The Superbowls that is.

Great

[Sludge]

This is an excellent step. I, for one, will be watching Lost in this manner. I cancelled cable TV earlier this year, because I'm a busy person who doesn't need the cost overhead in my day. However, this will rope me back in, guaranteed.

Re:Cannot?

[kfg]

What exactly does "Cannot be avoided" mean?

Your bathroom, fridge and microwave, each with their own ip, will autolock their doors whenever the commercials come on.

Oh, yeah, your fridge will also autoorder everything adverstised on your credit card, for "your convenience."

Welcome to the future, brother. Enjoy.

KFG

Re:Commercial Skipping

[Otter]

It can be done. How many Super Bowls have had commercials better than the game?

There ya go! Reunite the '85 Patriots and the '92 Bills, give them sitcoms and suddenly the commercials will look a lot better!

I'm thinking Everybody Loves Thurman Thomas...

Re:DING DING DING! About bloody time!

[dr_dank]

Forget the morons above when they complain about "oh, it's the day after? WAH WAH WAH" or "Can't skip the commercials WAH WAH WAH".

Proof positive that you can always drive your point home by inserting Eddie Van Halen guitar licks into your conversations.