Yahoo, CBS in streaming tie-up, to show sitcoms on Yahoo TV |
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Thu, 29 Dec 2005 02:05
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LOS ANGELES: Yahoo! Inc. and CBS Broadcasting Inc. have teamed up to feature "Comedy Bowl," a week of free streaming of CBS's Monday comedies -- "Two and a Half Men" and "How I Met Your Mother" -- on Yahoo TV.
Starting Tuesday through 2 January, Yahoo TV viewers will be able to view free two full previously aired episodes of both the series without commercials.
CBS has been working on streaming its primetime video content and it had already done three entire episodes of "Threshold" free and without advertising on its cbs.com.
CBS Paramount Network Television Entertainment Group president Nancy Tellem described the partnership as exclusive and said it will give the company a chance to target an expanded online audience for the two sitcoms at a time of the year when many potential viewers are at home on vacation and surfing the internet.
A Yahoo! spokesperson said, "We are always trying to offer exclusive content."
The agreement marks the Viacom company's entry into web-based distribution. Analysts described it as a model different from what other competitors are doing with their shows.
NBC and ABC have concluded distribution deals recently with Apple Computer Inc. for the $1.99 downloads of hit television shows, which included "Desperate Housewives," "Lost" and "Law and Order". The shows can be viewed on PCs or video-enabled iPods.
Even cable networks like ESPN and Comedy Central are offering video content over high-speed internet connections on cell phones. Google too is in the fray through its equity participation in America Online Inc., and plans to give video content from Time Warner on the website.
Yahoo, already leader in online traffic, with its free email, content, shopping, maps and other sections, is wanting to expand to video and entertainment sectors, mainly because of the scope these sectors offer to sell advertisements.
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