ABC to Limit Online, Mobile Access to Next-Day Episodes

The network says the episodes will be available to select cable subscribers

ABC

Sorry, cord-cutters. The days of being able to watch your favorite ABC shows online for free the next morning are almost over.

The network announced on its website that effective Monday, only subscribers to select cable providers will be able to stream episodes the day after they air. They will need a username and password from their provider.

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For those who don’t subscribe to one of its listed subscribers, streaming episodes will be available for free a week after they air at WatchABC.com and on the network’s Watch ABC mobile app.

Additionally, the streaming episodes will be available the next day for purchase on iTunes, Hulu Plus and Amazon Instant Video. And, of course, there’s always on-demand viewing from your cable or satellite company.

Fox began limiting next-day streaming on Hulu and Fox.com back in 2011 with an eight-day delay. And some cable channels already limit online access.

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The limitations help keep service providers happy. They don’t like online viewers accessing shows for free, given that the companies pay big retransmission fees to air the programming.

Here’s ABC’s list of approved providers. The network said its working on more partnerships.

AT&T U-verse
Cablevision Optimum
Charter
Comcast XFINITY
Cox Communications
Google Fiber
Midcontinent
Verizon FiOS

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