Public Interest Groups Seek TV Everywhere Probe

WASHINGTON, D.C.: A number of public interest groups in the U.S. are calling on the Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department to investigate the TV Everywhere initiative, which will allow online access to several channels for pay-TV subscribers. 

Last month, cable giant Comcast launched Fancast XFINITY TV, a new on-demand online service that provides access to thousands of hours of cable shows, movies and independently produced content free of charge to its pay-TV customers. Time Warner Cable and other platforms are conducting their own trials to offer cable channels’ programming online to subscribers.

According to the Washington Post, Free Press and several other public advocacy groups maintain that TV Everywhere will grant major platforms, such as Comcast, Time Warner Cable and DIRECTV, unfair dominance over the online video industry, edging out competitors such as Hulu and Vuze.