Fox VOD Shows Bow On Cox’s Boxes

By R.Thomas Umstead -- Multichannel News, 8/23/2010 12:01:00 AM

Fox Broadcasting Company hit shows Glee, The Simpsons and Fringe will make their cable video-on-demand debuts on most Cox Communications systems as part of a deal reached between the two companies, according to Cox officials.

Fox’s VOD service this week will launch on Cox’s MyPrimetime VOD lineup, providing Cox Advanced TV customers access to current-season episodes of such popular Fox shows as Family Guy, Human Target and The Cleveland Show, the MSO said.

“With the addition of FOX programming to our MyPrimetime lineup, Cox continues to offer the highest value broadcast television shows on a time-shifted basis without the need for a DVR and with no additional cost to our Advanced TV customers,” Bob Wilson, senior vice president of programming for Cox, said in a statement. “MyPrimetime is the best VOD model for consumers and networks.”

Representatives from Fox could not be reached for comment on the matter.

The deal marks the first time Fox has offered its top programming fare via a cable-based VOD platform. Broadcast competitors ABC and NBC currently off er primetime content through Cox’s MyPrimetime service, which delivers on-demand access to top shows within 12 hours of its linear broadcast.

Fox offers most of its primetime programming for online download including The Simpsons, Family Guy and The Cleveland Show via Hulu.com — of which it is part owner — as well as through Apple’s iTunes video store for a premium fee per episode.

It’s unclear whether Fox’s programming will be subject to the MyPrimetime service’s ability to stop viewers from skipping commercials. To retain ad impressions, fast-forwarding is disabled on most current programming under the MyPrimetime VOD service — which includes more than 20 different networks and hundreds of episodes from top broadcast and cable networks — Cox said.

Networks participating in MyPrimetime include Disney, Disney XD, ABC Family, SoapNet, USA Network, SyFy, Bravo, FX, TBS, TNT, Cartoon, Comedy, A&E, AMC, We, IFC and Travel Channel.

The MyPrimetime service is available in most of Cox’s markets markets, including San Diego, Orange County, and Santa Barbara, Calif.; New England; Kansas/Arkansas; Arizona; Macon, Ga.; Roanoke, Va.; Tulsa, Okla.; Greater Louisiana; and Omaha, Neb., the MSO said.

Last year Turner Broadcasting System reported that MyPrimetime increased views of eight top shows from TNT, TBS and Cartoon Network by almost 10% within three days of air.