Fox divvies up with affiliates for on-demand

Fox is building on the digital media revenue share deal it struck with local networks earlier this year by launching Fox on Demand, a service allowing them to stream shows like Prison Break direct from their own websites.

The initiative, from Fox Digital Media, will draw on the MyFox Local web platform and video player created by Fox Interactive Media, and will initially extent to nine of the broadcaster’s local affiliates.

The move means that Fox viewers in New York, Lost Angeles, Boston, Dallas, Washington DC, Tampa Bay, Orlando, Birmingham and Greensboro will be able to watch Prison Break, Bones and American Dad online for free after they have been broadcast.

Crucially for local station operators in these areas, the introduction of Fox on Demand means they will receive a cut of ad revenues that come from distributing programmes in this way.

When ABC first announced plans to test making top shows available on demand in May, it caused outrage in some quarters among the local TV stations that rely on it and the other US majors for their output.

Fox moved quickly to quell any discontent among its own broadcast partners, saying it would give them a share of revenues from programmes consumers view online and the introduction of Fox on Demand puts this pledge into action.

“We are pleased to work with our owned-and-operated broadcast station partners to distribute Fox content through their local websites,” said Fox Digital Media president Peter Levinsohn.

“It is the next logical step following our groundbreaking digital media agreement with Fox stations earlier this year, and we look forward to extending the Fox on Demand offering to our entire affiliate body.”

ABC is currently hammering out terms with its affiliates in advance of launching its own full-blown broadband video console in the autumn, having received 5.7 million viewing requests in its two-month trial.