Ordinary Gweilo

In the UK, the BBC’s iPlayer has been a huge success – if you miss a TV show, you can watch it again on your PC. 

Rather unexpectedly, TVB has just announced a similar service, though it will only cover a few shows (from ABC), starting with Dirty Sexy Money, which will be available on Friday (the day after it airs on TVB Pearl).  No sign of this news in the SCMP, but it has been reported elsewhere (TVB offers free Disney series online):

Hong Kong-based English-language channel TVB Pearl and Disney-ABC International Television have linked up to make a selection of US network series available on-demand for free.

The agreement, said to be the first of its kind for both companies in Hong Kong and Asia, will see series such as Lost, Desperate Housewives and Dirty Sexy Money available ad-supported on TVB’s CatchUp TV.

The first show to launch on the service will be Dirty Sexy Money, which premieres on Thursday July 17 at 22.35, with episodes of series such as Lost, Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters following soon.

Each episode will be available for free 12 hours after its TV broadcast at Pearl.tvb.com, where it will remain available for four weeks.
Rob Gilby, senior VP and MD at Disney-ABC International Television Asia Pacific, said: “Viewers today want complete flexibility and choice in how and when they watch their favourite shows. This deal is another step in our commitment to help them stay connected anytime.”

Cynics might point out that these shows are already available online (without ads), but at least TVB seem to understand what is happening.