ITV to charge for on-demand?
ITV could charge users to watch TV shows on its ITV Player on-demand service, according to a top boss at the broadcaster, adopting a micropayment scheme rather than subscription so you’ll pay per click on Simon Cowell, rather than a monthly rate.
According to Carolyn Fairbairn, director of group development and strategy at ITV, the struggling network is looking at charging for its catch-up service, ITV Player.
“Micropayments are absolutely on our agenda. We are part-funding the Digital Britain research into the viability of this,” she said. “We will continue to look for ad-supported models, absolutely. However, the idea people will pay is something we should look at and do.”
ITV Player is currently free, but a micropayment system, where you might pay a few pennies every time you watch Kate & Peter, might be the way forward for a more profitable internet TV on-demand business model. ITV has no definite plans to charge just yet, but if it does, don’t rule out Channel 4 testing something similar with 4oD Catch-Up.
Out TBC | £TBC | ITV (Via The Telegraph)
