
Internet Video Magazine News and Press Releases
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DISNEY-ABC
TELEVISION GROUP AND AOL SIGN UNPRECEDENTED
DEAL TO BRING ABC'S PRIMETIME LINE-UP TO AOL
VIDEO
SHOWS
AVAILABLE ON AOL THROUGH
ABC.COM'S EMMY-WINNING FULL
EPISODE BROADBAND PLAYER THE DAY
AFTER THEY AIR
AGREEMENT
MARKS THE FIRST TIME THAT A FULL
FEATURE VERSION OF A BROADCAST
NETWORK'S ONLINE VIDEO PLAYER
HAS BEEN MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH
AN ONLINE PORTAL
Burbank, CA and
Dulles, VA -- (September 20,
2007) Dedicated to expanding
its network and channel brands
across multiple platforms and
connecting viewers with their
favorite shows anytime and
anywhere, Disney-ABC Television
Group and AOL today announced
the availability of full-length
episodes of popular primetime
shows on AOL Video. Delivered
via a co-branded version of
ABC.com's Emmy-winning broadband
player, full episodes of ABC
programs are available today at
http://video.aol.com and
beginning next week will feature
ABC's new fall lineup of
programming. The agreement marks
the first time ABC's primetime
programming has been made
available on a major portal and
is also the first time a major
portal has offered a full
feature version of a broadcast
network's online video player.
Additionally,
the two companies will team to
offer select short form
programming from ABC via an
embedded short-form player,
which will debut on AOL later
this year. The short-form
programming featured on the
embedded player will include
both original and derivative
content from ABC.
”We're excited
to partner with AOL on this
groundbreaking agreement which
not only expands the reach of
our quality programming, but
ensures the finest online
viewing experience available
through our own broadband
player,” said Anne Sweeney,
co-chair, Disney Media Networks
and president, Disney-ABC
Television Group. "As we
experiment with new ways to grow
our digital business, we remain
focused on finding smart, new
methods to connect viewers to
the content they want and brands
they love on the platforms they
choose. This deal not only
provides additional viewing
opportunities for our consumers,
but also gives our affiliates
and advertisers another way to
reach our audience and associate
with our powerful network
brands.”
"We're excited
to be working with ABC to make
their Emmy-winning programming
available on AOL in time for the
start of the fall season,” said
Randy Falco, Chairman and CEO of
AOL. "AOL is committed to
connecting consumers with the
widest selection of high quality
video on the web and with the
addition of ABC, AOL Video is
the only destination with
agreements to offer free
streaming primetime programming
from all four major television
networks.”
New episodes of
ABC series offered free to
consumers on AOL the day after
their broadcast premieres
include: "The Bachelor”
(premieres online Tuesday,
September 25); "Big Shots”
(premieres online Friday,
September 28); "Brothers &
Sisters” (premieres online
Monday, October 1); "Carpoolers”
(premieres online Wednesday,
October 3); "Cavemen”
(premieres online Wednesday,
October 3); "Dancing with the
Stars” (premieres online
Tuesday, September 25);
"Desperate Housewives”
(premieres online Monday,
October 1); "Dirty Sexy Money”
(premieres online Thursday,
September 27); "Eli Stone”
(online premiere TBD); "Grey's
Anatomy” (premieres online
Friday, September 28); "Lost”
(online premiere TBD); "MEN IN
TREES” (premieres online
Saturday, October 13); "October
Road” (online premiere TBD)
"Private Practice” (premieres
online Thursday, September 27);
"Pushing Daisies” (premieres
online Thursday, October 4);
"Samantha Who?” (premieres
online Tuesday, October 16) and
"Ugly Betty” (premieres online
Friday, September 28).
Generally, four episodes per
series will be available at any
given time.
Combining sleek,
modern design and user-friendly
functionality with geo-targeting
ability, the ABC.com broadband
player on AOL will be co-branded
with an "ABC.com on AOL" message
alongside the local ABC
affiliate's station ID based on
the individual user's geographic
location. Individual episodes
viewed online will feature up to
three interactive advertisements
from one national sponsor, as
well as an additional local ad
insertion. ABC will continue to
sell national advertising for
the broadband player and local
affiliates will continue to be
responsible for local ad sales.
Since the broadband player
launched on ABC.com in September
2006, over 140 million episodes
of ABC primetime series have
been initiated by users, and to
date, ABC affiliates covering
80% of the country have launched
or are committed to launch the
players on their own websites.
"Based on the
success ABC affiliates have had
online in the past year since
launching the broadband video
player on their own sites, we
believe this initiative with AOL
offers tremendous potential for
increased exposure and
promotional opportunities for
local stations," said Ray Cole,
chairman, ABC Television
Affiliates Association. "We
look forward to working together
with ABC and AOL to break new
ground in the digital
distribution arena.”
Disney-ABC
Television Group is home to all
of The Walt Disney Company's
worldwide entertainment and news
television properties. The Group
includes the ABC Television
Network, Disney Channel's
worldwide portfolio of kids'
channels, ABC Family and SOAPnet;
as well as television production
and syndication divisions ABC
Studios, Disney-ABC Domestic
Television and Disney-ABC
International Television.
Disney-ABC Television Group also
manages the Radio Disney Network
in addition to the Company's
equity interest in Lifetime
Entertainment Services and A&E
Television Networks.
AOL is a global
Web services company that
operates some of the most
popular Web destinations, offers
a comprehensive suite of free
software and services, runs one
of the country's largest
Internet access businesses, and
provides a full set of
advertising solutions. A
majority-owned subsidiary of
Time Warner Inc., AOL LLC is
based in Dulles, Virginia. AOL
and its subsidiaries also have
operations in Europe, Canada and
Asia. Learn more at AOL.com.
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