Fox Broadcasting Company hit shows Glee, The Simpsons and
Fringe will make their cable video-on-demand debuts on most Cox
Communications systems as part of a deal reached between the
two companies, according to Cox officials.
Fox’s VOD service this week will launch on Cox’s MyPrimetime
VOD lineup, providing Cox Advanced TV customers access to
current-season episodes of such popular Fox shows as Family Guy,
Human Target and The Cleveland Show, the MSO said.
“With the addition of
FOX programming to our
MyPrimetime lineup, Cox
continues to offer the highest
value broadcast television
shows on a time-shifted
basis without the need for a
DVR and with no additional
cost to our Advanced TV customers,”
Bob Wilson, senior
vice president of programming
for Cox, said in a statement.
“MyPrimetime is the
best VOD model for consumers
and networks.”
Representatives from Fox
could not be reached for comment
on the matter.
The deal marks the first
time Fox has offered its top
programming fare via a
cable-based VOD platform. Broadcast competitors ABC and NBC
currently off er primetime content through Cox’s MyPrimetime service,
which delivers on-demand access to top shows within 12 hours
of its linear broadcast.
Fox offers most of its primetime programming for online download
including The Simpsons, Family Guy and The Cleveland Show via
Hulu.com — of which it is part owner — as well as through Apple’s
iTunes video store for a premium fee per episode.
It’s unclear whether Fox’s programming will be subject to the
MyPrimetime service’s ability to stop viewers from skipping commercials.
To retain ad impressions, fast-forwarding is disabled on most current programming under the MyPrimetime VOD service — which
includes more than 20 different networks and hundreds of episodes
from top broadcast and cable networks — Cox said.
Networks participating in MyPrimetime include Disney, Disney
XD, ABC Family, SoapNet, USA Network, SyFy, Bravo, FX, TBS, TNT,
Cartoon, Comedy, A&E, AMC, We, IFC and Travel Channel.
The MyPrimetime service is available in most of Cox’s markets markets, including
San Diego, Orange County, and Santa Barbara, Calif.; New
England; Kansas/Arkansas; Arizona; Macon, Ga.; Roanoke, Va.; Tulsa,
Okla.; Greater Louisiana; and Omaha, Neb., the MSO said.
Last year Turner Broadcasting System reported that MyPrimetime
increased views of eight top shows from TNT, TBS and Cartoon Network
by almost 10% within three days of air.
