The Wall Street Journal’s Digits blog reports today that ABC – the only TV network with an iPad app that enables you to watch its shows for free – is pleased with the early download and viewing figures for the app. According to ABC, the app has been downloaded 205, 000 times since the iPad launch 10 days ago, which is nearly half of the iPads sold so far (going by Apple’s official figures). ABC also announced that users have watched at least part of 650,000 TV episodes via the app, resulting in “several million” ad hits. According to Digits, the most popular streamed show to date has been the March 31st episode of the Modern Family sitcom, which centred around a character who wanted an iPad.
With such a popular app, and so many episodes being purchased by users, it’s no surprise that ABC is refusing to reduce its price per episode to $99 from $1.99, despite strong urging from Apple.

[Source: wsj.com]

I see ABC is taking the short sighted route.

Actually, I suppose those are the prices if you must, just must, buy and 'own' that episode.

But that higher purchase price is strongly outweighed by the fact that you are able to watch most of their shows recent episodes FREE, through their ABC Go Player app, which is all most people want to be able to do.
("brought to you free, with limited commercial interruptions.")

So no. I don't think that providing both of those routes, is short-sighted.