Everyone's happy that DirecTV and Viacom finally worked out their problems late this week, but it looks like one of the byproducts of that new deal is that online access to TV shows could become more difficult in the future for those who aren't paid subscribers.

According to media reporter Brian Stetler in today's The New York Times, the deal means that Viacom-owned shows like "Jersey Shore," which airs on MTV, will become more accessible online for DirecTV subscribers through a sign-in system. (HBO offers a similar model for its subscribers called HBO GO, which has customers sign in through their cable or satellite provider.)

The Times article says, "free access to people who don't subscribe to DirecTV or another similar distributor is likely to become more restrictive, thereby fortifying the existing model of TV distribution."

Nothing has changed yet, but analysts believe that's the way things could be headed.

From NYT: "The disruptive role of online video will almost surely rear its head again in negotiations between DirecTV and CBS later this year, and in other such contract negotiations."

There's much more in the full article, which is definitely worth checking out.