Comedy Central and parent company Viacom today released a brand new free app for all programming, meant to replace the cluttered show-specific apps currently available. This new app will offer episodes of programs like The Daily Show and The Colbert Report the day after they air, as well as the most recent season of South Park, free to everybody.
For those who subscribe to the network on TV through their cable or satellite provider, don't worry--you get more content on the Comedy Central app than those who aren't paying. Those who have the channel in their TV cable or satellite package get nearly 200 episodes of Comedy Central's programming, specials, shorts, and even the occasional advanced screening of content that hasn't yet aired.
This is a pretty good deal for everyone--getting last night's episodes of shows you can't watch on your TV for free on an app is a good gesture by the network, and the paying customers are getting a better deal (as it should be).
Networks are learning to loosen their hold on content in general, becoming more willing to expand their offerings beyond the traditional TV format. What started as wary treatment of internet streaming or app content has turned into the realization that people are moving on with or without them, and expanding to other platforms can actually mean increased viewership.
Nielsen (the go-to name for TV show ratings) doesn't measure online audiences, which increased skepticism over digital broadcasting. However, more viewers and digital advertising opportunities are slowly moving the needle on the perspectives of many networks.
Source: CNET
