Older TV shows moving online
Warner, Amazon Unbox, iTunes touting series not on DVD
By Jennifer Netherby -- Video Business, 4/28/2008
APRIL 28 | DVD may be where the revenue is, but a wave of TV shows, some never released on DVD, are starting to hit the Internet in bids to reach a migrating audience.
Warner Bros. will announce this afternoon the relaunch of its WB Network online as an ad-supported channel with new and old TV programming geared at the 16 to 24 age group. The WB already has new programs under development.
The site will launch in beta next month, with an official launch slated for August.
Meanwhile, Amazon Unbox last week began promoting “rare TV” downloads of shows that have not made it to DVD. In an e-mail sent to customers, Unbox hyped the availability of “TV rarities you can’t find on DVD.”
Shows include later seasons of such TV shows as Hunter Season 4, I Spy Season 3 as well as deeper library shows including Tremors and Lou Grant.
Also today, Stephen J. Cannell Productions and New Video announced a deal with Apple iTunes to make 21 Jump Street, Hunter, The Greatest American Hero, Wiseguy and other TV shows from the Cannell library available for download. Altogether, more than 1,000 hours of Cannell-produced series will be available through iTunes. Cannell already has a download deal with Amazon Unbox.
