CBS, NBC to Distribute Ad-free Shows on Comcast, DirecTV

Taking a cue from the ABC-iPod deal announced last month, CBS and NBC this week announced similar deals to distribute 99 cent ad-free primetime programming as video-on-demand content.

Comcast and CBS inked a deal to offer shows such as "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "NCIS," "Survivor" and "The Amazing Race" for 99 cents. The service kicks off in January. The on-demand programs will be available as early as midnight following their broadcast on CBS, and customers will be able to view the episodes countless times for up to 24 hours.

NBC announced a similar multi-year deal with DirecTV to offer primetime and syndicated shows like "Law & Order: SVU," "Law & Order: CI," "The Office," "Monk," "Surface," and "Battlestar Galactica" for 99 cents. The programs will be downloaded to subscribers of the satellite service's DirecTV Plus DVR service, which will be available from retailers by the end of November.