CBS puts 8 shows free on Comcast VOD

Steve Safran September 14th, 2006

CBS is going to offer eight of its programs on Comcast’s digital cable VOD, and the shows will be available for free. This is a big improvement, obviously, over the previous 99-cent, only available in O/O markets, pay-per-view model. The three “CSI” shows will be on, as will “Survivor,” “NCIS,” “Numb3rs,” “Jericho,” and “Big Brother.” The programs will have ads - so it will be interesting to see if you can still fast-forward through them. Restrictions? Episodes will only be put on VOD the day after they air, and will only be available for four weeks. I like how the press release refers to these shows as “primetime entertainment series.” With VOD there is no primetime. Or every time is primetime. (Usual disclosure: My client NECN is 1/2 owned by Comcast.)