Google to Launch Streaming TV Service in Early 2017 You can add Google to the laundry list of companies planning an "over the top" streaming TV service. According to a new report in the Wall Street Journal, Google has finalized an agreement to bring CBS content to the service, which is expected to launch sometime in early 2017. The report notes that Google is also in the final stages of talks with 21st Century Fox and Walt Disney to add those companies' content to the service, which is expected to be "housed under the YouTube brand" according to the report.

The service, to be called "Unplugged," aims to be a "low-cost option targeting consumers 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 prove promising if bundled with Google Fiber's existing broadband offerings. That said, Google's Unplugged service is joining an increasingly crowded field. In addition to looming live TV services from Hulu and Apple, AT&T also intends to jump into the streaming video market later this year with three different streaming video services under the DirecTV Now brand. 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. 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.







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Most recommended from 22 comments

Corporate

join:2014-10-04 3 recommendations Corporate Member Apple? If Dish, Sony, AT&T, and now Google can start OTT streaming tv services, why is Apple have such a difficult time licensing from content providers?

DaveDude

No Fear

join:1999-09-01

New Jersey 2 recommendations DaveDude Member unlimited ota data Now we need unlimited ota streaming data. Then we are rid comcast wkm001

join:2009-12-14 2 recommendations wkm001 Member Commercials!!! I have no interest in watching commercials. Exactly like I do on Netflix and with my current DVR. I would be willing to pay a little extra to have access to OnDemand content that is commercial free. Otherwise these streaming services need to come with a DVR so I can skip the commercials. Who watches live TV anyway?



AndroidTV has code in it to record TV. Maybe it is just Cable, but it needs to be for streaming too.