Disney: “TV everywhere difficult to embrace”
April 6, 2009
Walt Disney Co. CEO Robert Iger has told NCTA that cable must find an online model that works for both programmers and distributors, appearing to dismiss a subscription model proposal, TV Everywhere, made earlier this year by Time Warner.
"Cable television is vitally important to our company. It provides us with a crucial connection with consumers." But he added that the prevalence of online video cannot be ignored. While recognizing that operators have a problem with programmers who allow content to be watched over the internet while charging operators to carry it, he wouldn't endorse the 'multi screen sub' proposal of TW. "Preventing people from watching any shows online, unless they subscribe to some multi-channel service could be viewed as both anti-consumer, and anti-technology, and would be something we would find difficult to embrace,” Iger said.