Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Google To Launch Streaming TV Service In Early 2017 (dslreports.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the over-the-top dept.

It looks like the internet search giant is expected to beat Apple to the punch by releasing its streaming TV service early next year. The Wall Street Journal notes that CBS has agreed to bring content to the service, while 21st Century Fox and Walt Disney are in the final stages of talks to add their content to the service. What's more is that the service is expected to be "housed under the YouTube brand." Karl Bode for DSLReports writes: The service, to be called "Unplugged," aims to be a "low-cost option targeting customers who either have resisted subscribing to traditional pay-TV or cut the cord due to rising costs." While Google sells traditional TV service in its Google Fiber footprint, subscriber numbers have been low for the service. An over the top service might be well received by the general public, but it also might provide promising if bundled with Google FIber's existing broadband offerings. Google is looking to offer a "skinny" bundle of live TV channels with a price in the range of $25 to $40 a month, states the Journal. The report also notes that the service will be entirely separate from YouTube Red, a subscription service ($10 or $13 for iOS users) that offers ad-free YouTube video viewing.

2 of 21 comments (clear)

  1. Live TV Services Are Worth Less To Me by 00Monkey · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I'm not sure if I'm in the minority but when I see any Live TV service like this or Sling TV, they seem overpriced. I don't subscribe to Live TV (Cable, etc) because it's comprised of a bunch of shows I either have no interest in, hate or don't fit with my schedule. I have no reason to pay more for that unwanted crap, then a fully on demand service where I can choose what I want and mold it to my schedule, for less.

  2. "Cord-cutters" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    It seems to be the biggest issue of this "cord-cutting" craze is that what CORD are we cutting? Cable-TV/Sat/etc, sure, but then people are hopping on the streaming bandwagon essentially TV over IP. And the CORD that this data is coming to you on is the same one that you "cut" the TV service from, it seems that in the near future (clearly already happening) that you'll be trading the $40 internet bill and $60 dollar cable bill for a $110 internet bill + data overages (I'm looking at you Comcast, et al).

    I am sure ISPs (cable companies *cough* *cough*) are laughing all the way to the bank!