Walt Disney Co. plans on rolling out a new addition to its Web site on April 30 where viewers can watch Disney and ABC shows for free. According to the Wall Street Journal (subscription required), The Disney theater will feature commercial-laden television shows like Desperate Housewives and Lost that you can watch online, but not download to your computer.

Viewers will be able to fast forward and rewind shows, but won't be able to skip past the commercials. The service will start with ABC programming available through the ABC Web site, and Disney Channel shows will be added to the Disney Web site some time in June. Disney's Soapnet channel will also start offering online shows on its Soapnetic Web site starting April 17.

Disney already offers ABC and Disney Channel programs on Apple's iTunes Music Store (iTMS), but this new venture isn't likely to impact sales there. Although Disney theater shows will be free, and cost US$1.99 each at the iTMS, the free programming can't be downloaded and played on an iPod. Viewers on-the-go will still have to purchase their shows.