Time Warner Inc. said it has paired up with Comcast Corp. to distribute some of its television shows online for cable-TV subscribers, while making it harder for non-subscribers to get shows free.

The deal between Time Warner and Comcast will make it possible for Comcast customers to access Turner Broadcasting programming. Meanwhile, Comcast also said it will begin a nationwide technical trial of its On Demand Online service in July carrying programming from Time Warner's TNT and TBS networks.

The On Demand Online trial will involve about 5,000 customers and will test the new authentication technology that will allow secured access to the content.

Comcast said it expects other networks to participate as the trial expands, and Time Warner said it expects to announce similar trials with other distributors.

Executives from major cable networks and distributors have been finding common ground around a plan designed to protect their subscription business from the rise of free online TV.

"TV Everywhere," a collaboration for the TV industry led by Time Warner Chief Executive Jeff Bewkes, aims to offer access to popular TV shows on demand over the Web as long as viewers can demonstrate they subscribe to a pay TV service, like cable or satellite.

Earlier this year, Comcast began working on Web services that would stream cable-TV shows, often not available online. Last year, Time Warner Cable began an experiment in Milwaukee where subscribers to its cable and Internet services and HBO could go to an HBO Web site and download content. These services would be available only to cable subscribers.

From:online.wsj.com