AOL Signs Deal With ABC To Air Fall Premieres On Web

AOL has just signed a deal with Disney’s ABC Television Group which will give viewers a chance to see ABC’s shows on the Web immediately after their premiere on the network, Variety reported. The deal includes both returning series, such as Lost, and new fall shows, like Pushing Daisies and Cavemen. The shows will be screening via a co-branded version of ABC’s broadband player. Up to four episodes of each series will be available at a time.

According to Disney and AOL, this is the first time ABC has placed its primetime fare on a major portal, and also the first time any portal has featured a full version of a broadcast network online video player. AOL will also launch an embedded short-form player later this year that features original programming vignettes and clips from ABC programming.