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ABC.com Adds HD Video Streaming

By BetaNews Staff, BetaNews

July 26, 2007, 11:17 AM

ABC.com is now beta testing a player that will allow it to stream television shows in high-definition. The player is produced by Move Networks, and recommends a 2Mbps or faster broadband connection, 128MB of video RAM, 1 GB of RAM, and a resolution of at least 1300x770 pixels.

Only four episodes from four different shows are currently available from "Desperate Housewives," "Grey's Anatomy," "Lost," and "Ugly Betty." Other shows will be added soon, ABC says. All episodes are shown with what ABC calls "limited commercial interruptions," although viewers are not permitted to skip those commercials that do exist.

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By guru_v

posted Jul 26, 2007 - 6:13 PM

I certainly hope that the codec used works with something other than IE.

Score: 0

By kbsoftware

posted Jul 26, 2007 - 1:40 PM

Cool. Now if only ABC had any shows I would care to watch :)
I don't know if it's because I'm getting older, or there's just too much crap out there but I have satellite with an insane amount of channels and I only watch maybe 3 shows. UFC being the one I can't miss the others eh no biggie if I miss one or two episodes.

Score: 0

By lonechicken

posted Jul 26, 2007 - 2:08 PM

Must be you :)

I think it's kind of nice, this sort of major "scripted show backlash" against reality shows era. Sure, sitcoms continue to struggle, but sci-fi dramas have never been stronger.

Anyway, this is nice of ABC, but I'm not sure how necessary it is. People have DVRs if they miss an episode, and they also like watching on TVs larger than their monitors.

Score: 0

By swattz101

posted Jul 26, 2007 - 5:05 PM

I don't know about anyone else, buy my video card (ATI 1900) has both DVI and S-video output and an optional breakout box that you can plug in composite or regular RCA red white yellow for video / audio. My HDTV has HDMI (of course) and you can by a cable that has DVI at one end and HDMI at the other. Many HD tv's also support fire wire (the only way you will get HDCP (read encrypted) HD content. Of course my tv doesn't have firewire, though my cable box does, and I understand I can use the to get the DVR programing to my PC, though that is off topic. My motherboard has built in 7.1 surround sound and optical output for my stereo. I also added an ATI Theater 650 pro tv tuner card which can recieve OTA HD and possibly unencrypted HD content from my cable.

All in all, I like the idea that I can watch programs I like (none of the above available) without having to worry: did I remember to set the DVR? or do I have enough space (my GF records to many cartoons for the kids and reality cooking shows: ie: what in the world is extreme cake decorating?) I also like Comcast's ON Demand service, which is simular, but not available on my COX service; yet.

Anywho, this is just one more step in the direction that programing will eventualy be ON DEMAND instead of at a certain time.

Score: 0

By mrow

posted Jul 27, 2007 - 1:33 AM

I agree that that whole set up you have is pretty cool. But I can just go to ABC.com while I'm sitting in my backyard on my laptop and not worry about all that crap...

ABC will be adding most if not all of their shows later on, which I personally don't watch either, but it could lead to competition and get more networks to do it. FX, HBO and Showtime would be killer.

I must admit, for streaming video, the quality is surprisingly good.

Score: 0

By swattz101

edited Jul 27, 2007 - 1:50 AM

I also like that idea. All of the video's I 'DVR' to my 1.5TB harddrive array are also available to my network so I can do the same. It's great to have all my video's and mp3's in one place and able to play them while sitting in the back yard, or connect accross the internet and view them anywhere. Granted, the HD content from ABC is cool, and I like the idea that I don't have to remember to DVR it, but can they stream my home video's of my kids to my parents computer?

By the way, showtime is already streamed online, along with starz and probably some others. TBS also has some offerings. Granted, they are not in HD.

Disclaimer***If you already knew this and where refering that the above would follow suit by adding HD content, then this comment was for those that didn't know these were offered at all.*** :-)

Score: 0

By horsecharles

posted Jul 30, 2007 - 11:51 AM

err....I didn't, so thanks.

Score: 0

By pitdingo

posted Jul 26, 2007 - 12:44 PM

This is great and all but....how do i get it on my TV so i can sit my fat a** on the couch and eat popcorn?

Score: 0

By Natrunner

posted Jul 29, 2007 - 3:32 AM

It is very easy these days. Check out www.slingmedia.com. Stream your shows to your TV. And no, I don't work for the company but it is one of the best options out there at the moment. :)

Score: 0

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