| Cable TV Races to Keep Up With Consumers |
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ATLANTA (AP) -- There's a big power shift in the world of paid
television, and it's not between the traditional rivals of cable and
satellite. Consumers are getting more control over what and how they
watch, and cable operators are doing everything they can to cater to
their rapidly evolving desires.
As the cable TV industry's annual trade show got under way in Atlanta
Monday, one of the hottest topics was finding ways to keep abreast of
consumers' TV viewing habits, which seem to change daily as shows
become available over the Internet, on portable devices, and on DVDs.
Underscoring just how quickly TV business models are evolving, Walt
Disney Co.'s ABC announced Monday that it would offer full-length
episodes of several of its hit shows, including "Desperate
Housewives" and "Lost," for free streaming over the Internet on the
day after they appear on ABC. The shows will be supported by
advertising that you can't skip through.
Disney described the effort as a two-month test, but if it's
successful it could pose problems for cable companies, which are
working hard to get more premium shows available on their
video-on-demand offerings, one of several promising new business
areas for cable.