ABC and Cox’s cable systems are rolling out a new video on demand service with free shows like Lost and Grey’s Anatomy. The shows will have shorter commercial breaks with local avails for ABC affiliates. But… it disables the fast-forward button during the commercial breaks. “This does counter the DVR,” said Anne Sweeney, the president of the Disney-ABC television group. “You don’t need TiVo if you have fast-forward-disabled video on demand. It gives you the same opportunity to catch up to your favorite shows.”
While I agree that a faster rollout of free VOD could’ve slowed but not stopped DVR growth, I have to say that the cat’s out of the bag. Sure, I would watch a fast-forward-disabled show on VOD if I wanted to A) sample it or B) my DVR screwed up the original recording. But to think this will “counter the DVR,” in my opinion, is not going to happen.
Update: Here are some details on how the ABC affiliates will participate
