Where are the FX and FOX downloads?

 
By Stacy April 08, 2006



I understand and enjoy (their free after all) the marketing ploy of providing internet only previews, usually streaming but there are some downloads. What gets me is after the show premieres the studios no longer offer, even for purchase, the shows in an online format. I think they are waiting for the show to gain some popularity before offering it from their own sites or making a deal with iTunes or Google. I don't really get this logic. So the networks want people to watch so they advertise and get some buzz, but don't continue the buzz once the show airs? FX, and parent company FOX, are the worst at this because they have yet to offer even their most popular shows for downloads even when using a huge amount of clips and previews from their own site to entice the viewers.

I don't remember when exactly, but FX offered a free preview episode for Andre Braugher's new show Thief. This is a good show and I would love to see more of it but it is not available anywhere for download. I'll grant it is a new show and they might not want to invest the time and money into downloads, but how do you explain The Shield, 24 or The OC not being available anywhere? Even as ABC, CBS and other networks scramble to get their content online FOX is missing the boat. Which is funny considering the size of the FOX media company and the fact that Rupert Murdoch just bought Myspace.com?
Anyway, I'm just hoping that all the networks aren't just jumping on the current tend (a recent article claims the networks are scrambling to make download deals) and will really offer more shows sooner than later.