FOX Limits How Soon You Can Watch Their Content Online After It Airs
posted Wednesday Jul 27, 2011 by Nicholas DiMeo
In less than a month, FOX Broadcasting will be launching a new campaign to go after the pirates (Davey Jones, Giant Squid). FOX is aiming to make sure cord-cutters aren't going to benefit from sites like Hulu and Fox.com anymore. Starting on August 15th, if you have DISH Network, you will be the first to be able to watch new episodes of FOX TV shows online. If you don't have DISH, you will have to wait 8 days after the episode airs on TV. This change will affect anywhere that hosts FOX TV shows on their site, legally, of course. This particularly affects Fox.com and Hulu.
We have more on the change and why after the break.
The new FOX page about the change in policy says that DISH is the first TV provider to run with this idea, but "more are coming soon". Members of Hulu Plus will also be an exception to this rule, as they are currently paying a premium as it is.
We've already seen paid-TV channels do this type of scenario where you have to log in and prove you are a member of a specific TV provider in order to get access to their content. ESPN and their list of sub-channels along with EPIX have adopted this method a while ago and it seems to be working for them, however FOX would be the first broadcast company to do the same.
Why the change? It all goes back to the fact that advertisers don't think the whole using the Internet for media consumption thing is going to work out. They think people aren't fast-forwarding their DVR's commercials, changing the live channels or getting up from the couch during breaks in TV shows. It is the exact reason Hulu has been having so much trouble getting the money and affiliations it needs to sustain itself and keep all content providers and customers alike, happy.
For broadcasters like FOX, they seem to really be afraid that everyone is going to cancel their cable and satellite services and run off to the Internet and never watch TV again. The problem here is that people are still buying TVs, but are just looking for a better way to specifically target the content they want to watch, pay for it, and have the best medium to stream it from. I can't tell you how many cable boxes I've gone through in the five years I've been a customer with my current cable provider, but I have yet to swap out my Xbox 360, other than to upgrade to the new S model, and the Xbox is where I watch my Netflix and Hulu Plus.
Do you think this move will backfire for FOX? Can you wait 8 days to watch the latest Family Guy or will you head over to the torrents or the long list of free-streaming websites to get your fill? Tell us in the comments!
The press release is below and hit the source link to see FOX's FAQ and how they "understand that this change to our site might be frustrating."
FOX BROADCASTING ANNOUNCES NEW WINDOW FOR FREE STREAMING OF NETWORK PROGRAMMING
New Initiative to Take Effect August 15, 2011
Participating Video Distributors to Have Exclusive 8-Day Window
DISH Network Subscribers First to Benefit from Authentication Service
LOS ANGELES – Fox Networks and Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX) today announced that beginning August 15, video distributors that participate in the company's online authentication service will have an exclusive 8-day window for new episodes of FOX programs. To watch new episodes of FOX shows the next day, viewers can visit Fox.com, Hulu.com, Dishonline.com or the online TV portals of any future participating distributors and log in with their subscriber usernames and passwords. Viewers who do not subscribe to a participating distributor will be able to watch new episodes online eight days following their initial air dates.
DISH Network will be the first to offer this service, allowing their verified subscribers to take advantage of the exclusive window and view new episodes of FOX shows the day after they air on broadcast television.
"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."
"DISH Network is proud to be the first pay-TV provider in America to give customers the opportunity to take full advantage of the new FOX.com viewing experience-at no additional cost," said Dave Shull, Senior Vice President of Programming for DISH Network. "Early access to FOX.com is a terrific addition to our expansive TV Everywhere platform, which gives DISH Network customers the ability to watch whatever they want anytime, anywhere."
FOX authentication only impacts online viewing. All other television viewing options remain unchanged. For more information about this service, or to make inquiries about future service, viewers should visit www.fox.com/watchnewepisodes.