Time Warner Inc. (TWX) CEO Jeff Bewkes said Wednesday that the
early industry reaction to its "TV Everywhere" initiative - giving
cable subscribers access to "premium" television content via
broadband and eventually cellphone connections - has been
positive.
"People love it," he said. He added that shows viewed online
will be counted as part of Nielsen's "C3" ratings system, which
measures viewership of ads seen on digital video recorders up to
three days after a program airs on television.
For this reason, the existing TV ad model "continues, and
thrives," Bewkes said. "You don't have to build a new model. You've
already got it."
Bewkes also rejected the complaints of content providers who
want more money if their TV shows are distributed online via "TV
Everywhere."
"They're not the ones who are going to the effort and expense of
making this possible," he remarked. "The ones that are making this
possible are the distributors -- the telcos, the satellite
companies, the cable companies."
-David B. Wilkerson; 415-439-6400; AskNewswires@dowjones.com