Fox said that it will start streaming and selling its TV shows on the websites of its affiliates. Currently Fox has about 200 affiliates and this is the first time that local stations will offer network TV shows for viewing and for sale.

I’ve spent a few hours online watching TV shows on the web.  I watched the first six shows of Lost on ABC.com. Overall, my experience was good, but it wasn’t great. For starters, there were too many commercials–about three commercials every show. That doesn’t seem like a lot, but when you’re watching TV on your computer, 30 seconds is very slow.

I also had problems with streaming the shows a few times. Once, the stream from ABC.com just stopped in the middle of one episode of Lost. (Ugh, when does that ever happen with TVs? How about never.) So I had to re-load the page and fast forward to where I left off.

So this deal by Fox is interesting. It’s great that Fox is helping out its affiliates, but I’d rather go to Fox.com to watch a Fox show. Not my local Fox affiliate, whoever that is.
Apparently, affiliates will stream and sell local ads, as well as selling shows for download. Affiliates will share revenues with the Fox broadcast network.

Shows that will be sold include hits like 24, Prison Break, and Bones. Single episodes will cost $1.99 and full seasons for $30-40.

Previously, Fox sold “24″ on MySpace then switched to iTunes. Fox said it will start streaming to affiliate sites by the end of March.

Popularity: 69% [?]