T-Mobile US is delaying the launch of its online video service after the project proved more complex than expected, people familiar with the situation told Bloomberg. The move would push back the roll-out until 2019, though plans could still change, the report said.
The mobile operator announced last year plans to launch its own online TV and video service, following the takeover of the Layer3 platform. The company promised to up-end the TV market the same way it did mobile services.
Beyond the current programming agreements held by Layer3, T-Mobile has been trying to gain new mobile-distribution rights, a process that’s been highly complex every step of the way, people familiar with the plan said.
According to the Bloomberg report, the company faces a choice of launching a "garden-variety streaming platform", which offers VoD and online TV channels like other services on the market, or waiting until next year "to deliver a more groundbreaking product".
The company is also in the midst of securing regulatory approval for its merger with Sprint, a process not expected to be finished until later next year. The launch of a new TV service could play to its favour, showing regulators it offers new competition in the video market.
T-Mobile declined to comment.
