A new age has begun to dawn: the TV networks are beginning to see the Internet as an opportunity rather than a threat. CBS just announced that they are dumping iTunes so that they can sell their own programming from their own web site:

CBS Corp. has spoken: When it comes to making its reality hit “Survivor” available for downloading, iTunes has been voted off the island.

The company announced Wednesday that it was experimenting with cutting out the Internet middlemen by offering downloads of its popular show for $1.99 an episode on its own website, CBS.com. The service is to be launched tonight, immediately after the show airs on the West Coast.

CBS would be the first broadcast network to sell its shows via its own Internet storefront. The move signals that CBS Chief Executive Leslie Moonves believes the network is a potent enough brand that it can go it alone — without Apple Computer Inc.’s popular iTunes software and website — and thus not have to split the spoils.

Whether or not this is a smart move remains to be seen. Just like Google admitted last week, it is awfully difficult to compete with Apple when it comes to the slickness of the iTunes video store. We applaud CBS nonetheless for their bold foray into internet TV sales.