Verizon Communications wants to introduce a nationwide live online TV service and has been securing streaming rights from television network owners, Bloomberg reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. The new package is set to include dozens of channels and could launch this summer. The live, over-the-internet TV service would be separate from go90, a YouTube-like streaming video service aimed at teens, and from the company’s FiOS home TV offer.
Dish Network introduced a similar service, Sling TV, two years ago, and AT&T’s DirecTV Now came out late last year. Sling’s basic package costs USd 20 per month, while DirecTV Now starts at USd 35 for 60 channels. Verizon’s will probably be similarly priced, the sources said.
Comcast has also been securing rights from cable networks to get the option to offer an online-TV business outside its cable territory, though the company has no current plans to go ahead with such a service. A nationwide, online TV service from Verizon would also come into competition with offerings coming this year from Hulu and YouTube.
