ITV may start charging for its player material from early next year, according to chief executive Adam Crozier.
Exactly how it will charge customers for viewing content online has not been finalised, although ideas include its providing special 'webisodes' of Coronation Street.
ITV, whose catalogue of programmes include the lucratiave X Factor franchise and last year's breakthrough hit Downton Abbey, announced profits during the last six months of £181m, almost double the same period last year.
The broadcaster said that this included an online revenues increase of 33%, with a 19% increase of monthly unique users.
Adam Crozier, the chief executive, said in a statement: "We're encouraged by our progress to date and the prospects for ITV in the medium to long term, although we remain cautious about both the TV advertising market and the economy."
He explained that charging for pay-TV service would ease the pressure of ITV's dependence on the advertising market, although this appeared to be stabilising after a couple of testing years.