I Want My AOL TV

Whoa:

Time Warner Inc.'s AOL said on Monday it planned to launch a free Internet television service by early 2006, in one of the technology and media industry's most ambitious designs to reach TV viewers online.

Yahoo Inc. (Research) and Google Inc. (Research) threaten to bypass traditional media outlets by linking computer users with TV shows online, striking partnerships with programmers or creating content. What they lack AOL now possess in abundance -- the shows themselves.

In its first year, in an exclusive deal, the advertising-supported service, In2TV, will feature approximately 3,400 hours of programming from 4,800 episodes spanning 100 series of Warner Bros.-produced shows from the past. They include past prime time hits "Welcome Back Kotter," "Growing Pains" and "Kung Fu" organized under six channels divided by comedy, drama, animation, action, classic and superhero/villain genres. Two more channels may launch in 2006.

Think about it: All the Welcome Back Kotter you can eat! Vinnie Babarino lives!

Now, being that I am paid by AOL, I am not an unbiased observer here -- nevertheless I think this is a very smart move on the part of AOL (and its corporate parent). AOL's been making a lot of very aggressive moves in the online media sphere recently to get more eyeballs to their sites almost by any means necessary. This is definitely going to help with that.

As a personal note: An animation channel! Man, if AOL puts up an All "Looney Tunes" channel, I may never stop watching.

Your thoughts?

Written by johnmscalzi Blog about this entry

This entry has 14 comments: (Add your own)

#14 Comment from bestbill1
11/7/06 12:18 AM | Permalink

I ABSOLUTELY "LOVE" AOL's "FREE" TV. I love it so much that I decided for the 1st time in 10 years of AOL (Paying for Dial-up for the 1st 8) to provide AOL some "EXTREMELY POSITIVE" FEEDBACK!!! Having graduated from College in 1983, 80% of the mindless TV Shows are there for me. (Yea.. I meant "mindless" >> I miss "mindless, slightly amusing, escapist-endeared" 70s/80s sitcoms, etc.) I'll take the old TV any day over the redundant, depressing and violent crap copy-cat programming of the 21st century! When I get a brief moment to watch TV after one of my 12-15 hr days, I DON't WANT TO SIT DOWN and WATCH SHOW AFTER SHOW that dissects EXACTLY how a 3-yr old murder victim was raped by her step-father OR another LAW IN ORDER:SUV, LIO:ABC, etc.etc. GREAT JOB AOL >> PLEASE PLEASE DON't TAKE IT AWAY now that I'm back to AOL (hopefully for good)!!!
#13 Comment from psychfun
12/3/05 1:48 AM | Permalink

Free? Ya Right! It will have more ads than shows!
#12 Comment from happinessdreams
11/22/05 10:28 PM | Permalink

Interesting.
Elisa
#11 Comment from pam944271
11/16/05 12:32 PM | Permalink

I think it will be great as long as we aren't getting charged for it.
#10 Comment from lurkynat
11/15/05 9:54 PM | Permalink

interesting
nat

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I Want My AOL TV