AfterDawn: News

CBS adds classic TV shows to streaming lineup

Visitors to the American CBS website are now able to stream not just a current shows on the network, but also a selection of classic shows including the first season of 'MacGyver,' 'Melrose Place' and 'Hawaii Five-0', the first two seasons of 'The Twilight Zone', and all three seasons of the original 'Star Trek'. While it's not the first time older TV shows have been available for Streaming, they've generally been distributed by third parties like Joost or the NBC and News Corp. owned Hulu.

The move seems to make particular sense for CBS. Due to the terms of their split with former corporate parent Viacom, CBS has a particularly large catalog of TV titles. With the rising popularity of streaming video for more recent programming it only makes sense that they'd want to make it part of their online identity.



In order to watch the shows online you'll need to have the latest version of Flash installed. You'll also be required to watch a 15 or 30 second commercial before each episode.

In addition to the episodes you'll also find links to sites ranging from TV.com to Wikipedia where information about particular series can be located. Unfortunately there doesn't appear to be any option for full screen viewing as of now.

You can check out the videos yourself on the CBS website.



Written by: Rich Fiscus @ 23 Feb 2008 3:54

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• 5 comments

• H_Seldon

  Too bad about the lack of full-screen. That's an interest-breaker for me. Whoever makes these decisions for CBS probably doesn't surf.

  23.2.2008 19:28 #1

• H0bbes

  Originally posted by H_Seldon: Too bad about the lack of full-screen. That's an interest-breaker for me. Whoever makes these decisions for CBS probably doesn't surf.
  I agree. I have not yet been to the site, and after finding this out, it will stay that way.

  24.2.2008 08:48 #2

• Gorgoroth

  It's kinda funny, because they already stream full screen versions of many of their shows, like Guiding Light, CSI, etc, and they update daily... WOnder why no full screen???

  24.2.2008 14:29 #3

• H_Seldon

  I see NBC is doing the same thing, but the article doesn't say if they're in full-screen.
  http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/13024.cfm
  I don't mind watching a short commercial at the beginning, but I prefer it if they just rely on banners and side-ads. Really no point in doing it if you can't have full screen. The suits shouldn't make these decisions.

  24.2.2008 18:35 #4

• borhan9

  I have always been a big fan of online streaming video. I would love to see Mac again back in the day it was like mission impossible and 007 all in one :)

  10.4.2008 16:56 #5