In an attempt to placate its affiliates, who are growing particularly restless in the midst of a digital revolution that looks certain to leave them behind,
Business Week reports that Fox
Television has signed a deal that will give its nearly 150 affiliates a piece of the new media pie. The terms were undisclosed, but such a deal could quickly translate to other TV networks, like
Disney's ABC, which released a digital strategy shift just this week. That move has sparked an outcry among Disney's many left-behind affiliates, who argue that they should have a slice of all
revenues since they help publicize the network's shows--even if that's only in one medium. Analysts say this is a good move and was probably inevitable, as affiliates would likely strike during the
next round of negotiations anyway. Fox's digital strategy of 99 cent on-demand downloads is not nearly as heavy as Disney's new deal, but perhaps the network is serving to placate affiliates before
rolling out something new? As it is,
Business Week says the 99 cent downloads of hit show "
24" that the media giant offers on DirectTV infuriated affiliates, who presumably would share
in any revenues from those deals under the new agreement.
Read the whole story at Business Week »
