iTunes to Offer FOX and FX Shows

 
By Stacy May 09, 2006





FOX and FX are finally fully invested in the online television market. At first it seemed like they were getting left behind by the other networks, but things have started to change pretty quickly. FOX was the first to make revenue sharing deals with their affiliates and now that looks like the other networks might follow suit. But still FOX seemed slow to the race until this week. FOX and FX have started to offer their shows for download on iTunes. This puts them firmly in line with rest of the networks.

Shows including 24 and Prison Break, as well as FX Network shows such as The Shield, were available on the download service on Tuesday morning, at $1.99 per episode.
iTunes has also started to sell episodes of older series, such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Lost in Space.

The three other major networks, including Walt Disney's ABC, General Electric's NBC, and CBS Corp. already sell shows on iTunes. They also redistribute some programming via other means over the Internet, including their own Web sites.

Source: Associated Press

All of these deals are the networks move to chase the 18-35 year old demographic, which they feel is moving away from traditional television viewing. The choice of getting entertainment from a variety of platforms makes the advertisers and networks want to capitalize before it's too late.

But the whole industry really has to thank iTunes, with a major share of the legal downloads business, for offering a convenient and useful service. I feel iTunes will continue to rule. Why, mainly because they have agreements with 41 countries and this will keep them going beyond the US market that the others are trying to carve up.

Related:
Apple Opens iTunes' Ad Door?