Verizon this week
unveiled their plans to join the cable industry's "TV Everywhere" initiative -- which involves offering paying TV customers (only) the ability to watch some paywalled content online. The industry believes the idea will help them prevent "cord cutters" -- or those who turn to Internet video as an alternative to those now often bi-annual TV rate hikes. Verizon says their TV Everywhere offering will arrive in June, and will initially include access to all TNT and TBS shows -- assume you subscribe to both FiOS Internet
and TV:
FiOS customers who subscribe to both FiOS TV and FiOS Internet will be able to watch the programs on their personal computers or laptops - at home or away - using any broadband connection. Using their Verizon Online user names and passwords, FiOS customers will be able to access the online programming at either www.verizon.com/fiostvonline or soon-to-be launched TNT and TBS websites. After successfully completing their initial login, consumers do not need to sign in again for up to 30 days. Online programming from additional content providers also will be accessible via FiOS TV Online or the provider websites.
Of course Verizon doesn't want to offer this content to just their Internet customers -- lest they cannibalize their own TV revenues. According to the company, access to this content via mobile devices is something that's in the works.
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