Free TV shows online next month...

Disney plans to offer four ABC prime-time shows, including "Desperate Housewives" and "Lost," online for free beginning next month. The entertainment conglomerate said current episodes of "Commander in Chief," as well as the entire season of "Alias," also will be available through June.

The Wall Street Journal said the shows would be available the morning after they air.

In addition, the TV group will launch a broadband channel -- called Soapnetic -- for soap opera viewers next week.

It will be available to Verizon consumer broadband customers.

The Wall Street Journal report said shows would be archived so viewers can eventually watch an entire season of shows from outlets including ABC and Disney Channel.

New technology would be aimed at preventing viewers from fast-forwarding through commercials, in an effort to keep advertisers happy.

All four of those shows are already available in Apple's iTunes Music store, but downloads cost $1.99 an episode. Article here.