How are cable providers reacting to the threat posed by online streaming of shows? Forget bandwidth caps for now—how about online access to cable programs, limited to cable subscribers?

Comcast and Time Warner Cable are working to bring this to you, starting with Turner Broadcasting programs. BusinesWeek has the details:

Here’s how the trial will work: Starting in July, 5,000 Comcast subscribers will be able to see shows online from Turner Broadcasting’s TNT and TBS channels, like The Closer and Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns. But first, they each will have to demonstrate that they’re a Comcast cable-TV subscriber through a screening called authentication. That most likely will entail a user name and password. Comcast will offer the shows on Comcast.net and Fancast.com, and Turner on TNT.tv and TBS.com.

Cable companies hope to stop users from giving up cable entirely through evil plans such as cable subscriber authentication and charging for sites like Hulu. Will media companies succeed in breaking younger consumers’ belief that content should be free?

Time Warner, Comcast Plan to Wall Off Online TV [BusinessWeek]

(Photo: LAYeiser)

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