• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, July 1, 2013

In another sign that broadcast TV is moving away from the free model, ABC will make live streams of its owned stations available to customers who pay for a TV subscription. The “Watch ABC” service, offering access on digital platforms on the go, is being offered to customers of AT&T U-Verse, Comcast, Charter and other providers.

Viewers in New York and Philadelphia that have had access for free for several months, will now move to access via an authenticated basis. The same goes for new markets launching now: Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Raleigh-Durham. Launch by ABC in Houston and Fresno is scheduled for or before September.

Thirteen Hearst-owned stations will make the service available in markets such as Boston, Pittsburgh and Kansas City soon. Other stations groups are expected to join the service offering.

The app is available on iOS and Kindle Fire devices, as well as some Android tablets, including Samsung Galaxy products.  

Besides simulcasting, “Watch ABC” will offer access to on-demand episodes of ABC daytime and prime-time programming. Episodes will continue to be available for free via ABC.com.

But there is a shift in broadcasting’s traditional free model that has existed for decades. While viewers can still get local stations freeover-the-air, consumers with pay-TV subscriptions are effectively paying for local stations. Operators pay ABC retrans consent fees and then look to recoup those costs from their customers.

Also, “Watch ABC” will function just as authenticated services for cable networks, like ESPN and the Disney Channel, do. ABC Family should be added to the list next year.