Time Warner (News - Alert) and Comcast are launching a test of "On Demand Online," a system allowing Comcast customers to access programming from Turner Broadcasting free online and on demand.

 

The two firms also announced the principles that will guide development of the "TV Everywhere" concept both firms support. Ultimately, both firms hope to deploy systems allowing customers to watch all their cable programming online for no additional charge, over any broadband connection.

 

TV Everywhere is designed as an open and non-exclusive program for any programming entity, as one would expect.

 

The On Demand Online service allows Comcast (News - Alert) customers to access TNT and TBS content.  The shows will be initially accessible on Comcast.net, Fancast.com and will soon be available on TNT.tv and TBS.com.

 

The On Demand Online technical trial will involve premium long-form content with approximately 5,000 customers. The trial period will be dedicated to testing the new authentication technology on a national basis that will enable secured access to the content.

 

Separately, Verizon and AT&T (News - Alert) have been working on with satellite operators Echostar and DirectTV on similar features. Both initiatives, as well as separate initiatives major programmers are undertaking on their own, confirm both the growing need to support long-form online video as well as access bandwidth and methods of matching investment and usage to the greater expected demand.