• by Wayne Friedman , February 2, 2006

CBS Corp. has upped the ante on the new world of programming on-demand--it is now offering its prime-time programming on a download basis for a fee off its own Web site.

CBS claims this is a first for any network. Other on-demand network deals allow consumers to download programs for a fee from non-network owned Internet sites or cable on-demand services such as iTunes Music Store, Google, Comcast, DirecTV, and AOL.

Following the Thursday night telecast of each "Survivor" episode, CBS.com will offer the show for $1.99 a download. It will be available after midnight on the East Coast and after midnight on the West Coast. CBS has also done deals for many of its prime-time shows, including "Survivor," with Comcast Corp. on-demand service (only in markets where CBS also owns stations), and Google, for $1.99. In the Comcast Corp. deal, the shows also include advertising.

This isn't the first time that CBS has offered programming on its Web site. Previously, viewers could access original programming that entailed spinoffs of original CBS prime-time shows. This includes "The Finish Line," an online talk show companion to "Amazing Race," "House Calls: The Big Brother Talk Show," and "CBS Soap Box," the weekly one-hour webcast and companion to CBS's hit daytime lineup.

CBS isn't rolling out a full schedule of its prime-time shows off its own Web site. "We just want to start with one show," says a CBS spokeswoman.

The current edition of "Survivor," "Survivor: Panama-Exile Island," will be available for downloading starting February 2.