ABC is pushing ahead with its revised online video strategy in a deal to distribute its primetime shows for free on AOL (NYSE: TWX) starting Thursday, WSJ reported. As we noted last week, Disney (NYSE: DIS)-owned ABC said it was changing its online game plan; instead of primarily distributing its programs on its homepage, ABC is now embracing outside syndication, though it isn’t and probably won’t be part of NBC-News Corp. (NYSE: NWS)JV site Hulu.

SEE ALSO: Shifting Course, ABC Explores Syndicating Online Video; Similar To CBS, Hulu

The shift reflects the stepped up syndication moves from rivals CBS (NYSE: CBS), which created its online distribution network this past spring, and NBC Universal (NYSE: GE), which earlier countered its outside distribution deals by saying it would beta test its own desktop video download service called NBC Direct starting next month. Also in October, NBC and News Corp. will release the private beta for their online video jv Hulu.

Although specific terms were not disclosed, the ABC/AOL agreement calls for:

—Sharing of ad revenues.

—In a bid to protect its ABC affiliates who might have lost revenue from fewer TV broadcast viewers, the network will be geo-targeting ads, along with three national ads for each hour of programming (same as it does for ABC.com streams).

—ABC’s shows will be accessible on AOL a day after the initial broadcast airdate; about four episodes of each episode will be available for viewing at any one time.