Time Warner, Comcast to start online video trials

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Time Warner Inc. and Comcast Corp. on Wednesday took concrete steps to bring cable television shows to the Internet — but only for paying cable subscribers.

In a nod that migration of content viewing is rapidly moving online and to the mobile phone, Time Warner, one of the world’s largest entertainment companies, and Comcast, the nation’s largest cable operator, said they’ll start online video trials nationally in July.

“It’s clearly something demanded by consumers,” said Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes, at a press conference in New York. “If this approach gets adopted ... it will go past broadcast viewing (online), which is basically three networks on Hulu.”

The test will involve 5,000 Comcast customers who will get access to Turner Broadcasting System Inc.’s TNT and TBS cable networks. Turner is a unit of Time Warner. Time Warner Cable Inc., which separated from its parent this year, is not part of the trials.