ABC, Affiliates Reach ‘Landmark Agreement’ for Digital Rights Disabling Fast-Forwarding on DVRs

ABC is reporting a deal with its affiliates today that gives the network much more leeway for repurposing content across platforms and alleviates affiliate concerns about the network providing VOD to multichannel competitors. It centers on ABC’s “fast-forwarding disabled” VOD: ABC will supply network programming through a local ad-supported VOD service to cable, DBS, telco and land-line operators who agree to disable fast forwarding. Each affiliate will get one 30-second local avail within each half hour of programming. The deal also lifts the network’s repurposing restrictions, which should let ABC expand its multi-platform programming. The announcement includes the phrase “at any time” and calls out iTunes and Xbox as examples of download services.
http://www.paidcontent.org/entry/419-abc-affiliates-reach-landmark-agreement-to-lift-repurposing-limits-give/