Just for fun, tonight I tried for the first time to watch full-length TV episodes on the three networks’ web sites: abc.com, nbc.com, and cbs.com. Obviously, I’m trying this on Linux. Specifically, Firefox 2x on Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop (SLED).
Here are the results:
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nbc.com: bravo! Their playback works just fine on Firefox on SLED. The only complaint I have is that I couldn’t find a feedback link to send them a compliment! - cbs.com: bravo! Their playback works just fine on Firefox on SLED. The only complaint I have is that I couldn’t find a feedback link to send them a compliment!
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abc.com: boo-hiss. They boast their new high-quality player, but it works only on Windows and Mac. I’ll give them a half-hearted demi-kudo for supporting Firefox on Windows, but that’s just not enough anymore. I was able to find ABC’s Feedback link and log a polite complaint and request for Linux support. I then launched a virtual W2K machine and tried the site. The player is fine. The presentation of shows is no more or less clear than it is for the other two network sites. However, playback was choppy (stop-and-start) at each of the four playback sizes.
Now, if only any of them would put a decent show on TV that made it worth watching on line. . . . .
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Have you tried lately? A few of the networks have made some changes, AND, I’m very curious if you can run on Hulu.com (Hulu has episodes and clips from NBC, FOX, and Sci-Fi channels, as well as some independant-type media, they let you ‘subscribe’ to your favorite shows, and then watch them from your ‘queue’, I LOVE Hulu, and wish that ABC and CBS were on Hulu too), hopefully that works in FireFox on SLED.
Hulu does work very well. I enjoyed some of the Battlestar Galactica (SCI-FI) on their earlier in the summer.