After a period of experimentation last year, the broadcast networks look to make some serious waves on the Internet starting this season.
The big four networks will be offering a plethora of free shows through an ad-supported model online.
They are starting to feel pretty good as significant revenue is starting to emerge from their Internet strategies.
Forrester Research analyst James McQuivey says online revenue for the networks concerning video streaming and downloads should reach about $800 million this year.
According to Adams Research, they believe by 2011 it could reach about $6 billion.
The basic model is to provide their shows on a network site and also have it distributed through Web portals and large social networking sites. They will also be offered through the growing number of smaller players in the field, like Joost and Sling Media.
This season should be the defining moment for the TV industry on the Internet. A lot of questions will be answered as consumers show their preferences through their actions.
I think it's going to be a big year online for the networks, and people will use streaming video in an increasingly big way.
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