Mixed Messages: Time Warner’s Bewkes Calls iTunes Video Model “Relatively Ineffective;” Prefers Ad-S

Time Warner COO Jeff Bewkes doesn’t think enough people are willing to pay for major TV shows to make the video download model popularized by iTunes more than “relatively ineffective.” His preference, he told Daily Variety: ad-supported on-demand programming. Bewkes was focused on cable but the ad-supported on-demand model is well underway in other parts of TW like AOL and CNN.

Meanwhile, AOL also will mix pay downloads with its current ad-supported offerings in a new video store keying off the VOD section launched with the new AOL.com. Kevin Conroy, EVP-AOL Media Networks, told Reuters the new service will sell more than TW shows but didn’t identify any partners. This is in addition to ad-supported In2TV, the vintage TV network in collaboration with sibling Warner Brothers. The downloads will be Windows-based and will work on portable media centers as well as with upcoming Viiv.

By the way, Some In2TV shows are already online including “Chico and the Man.” “Punchlines” for In2TV are starting to show up in AOL video search, now enhanced by recent acquisition Truveo.

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