Free TV? Too good to be true!

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122213209024665825.html?mod=rss_E-Commerce/Media

Recently Netflix signed an agreement with CBS and Disney to allow Netflix users to stream television shows from the networks as part of their Netflix packages. While some may view this as positive, I am disappointed to see what has been a free service move in the direction of pay-per-view. I may be the lone hold-out but I still frequent my neighborhood video store and when I forget to tivo my favorite show I like being able to go online the next day and catch up on what I missed. I am spoiled by websites such as ABC and NBC that still post their content for free, and don’t like the idea of paying once for cable and then paying again through Netflix to watch popular shows (and yes, I know I could give up cable and watch everything on Netflix – but until all the major networks sign on board, it doesn’t make sense to do so.)

I guess it was only a matter of time until the major networks stopped streaming their popular shows for free, however I didn’t expect it to come so soon. Netflix is smart to move in at this juncture – especially as more and more of its business becomes web-based.With the competition in this market, I wonder if companies like Apple and Amazon will move to strike exclusivity agreements with the major networks and movie distributors (if they haven't already). If that happens, will I need to have an iPod, an X-Box and a computer just to see my "must see TV" each week?

(On a related note, I spoke with my grandfather this past weekend and asked him about his plans. He was planning on staying in and watching the two Netflix movies that had just arrived in the mail. If NetFlix can get my 86 year old grandfather on board, it might convert me as well (especially now if I want to get my Disney fix)!