T-Mobile Paid $325 Million to Kickstart Streaming TV Plans T-Mobile paid $325 million to acquire high-end streaming video provider Layer 3, according to new T-Mobile filings with the SEC. The recent acquisition is part of T-Mobile's promise to disrupt the traditional cable market this year via the launch of the company's own streaming video service. Layer 3's current service isn't cheap: users can pay $75 per month for 200 HD channels, with the ability to add more channel packs via packages that may bump the monthly cost to $150 per month. It's also currently only available in a handful of markets.

While T-Mobile is currently still selling Layer 3's existing offerings, you can expect the service to be dramatically revamped to fall more in line with T-mobile's more budget-minded branding. What that will ultimately look like isn't clear, but the company has promised to bring the same disruption it has brought in the wireless sector to the cable TV market. "People love their TV, but they hate their TV providers," said Legere when the deal was announced. "And worse, they have no real choice but to simply take it -- the crappy customer service, clunky technology and outrageous bills loaded with fees!" "That’s where we come in," added the CEO. "We’re gonna fix the pain points and bring real choice to consumers across the country. It only makes sense for the Un-carrier to do to TV what we’re doing to wireless: change it for good! Personally, I can’t wait to start fighting for consumers here!" Legere has consistently mocked AT&T and Verizon's video offerings for wandering too far from these companies' core competencies. The CEO has had a particularly good time making fun of Verizon's efforts in the TV space, which so far have involved a failed joint venture with Redbox, and a Go90 Millennial-focused TV platform that has failed to gain any real traction in the market. Given the service is likely still some time away, T-Mobile failed to offer any specifics about what such an offering will look like or how it will best a growing number of similar competitors. Layer3 TV, the service operator T-Mobile is acquiring, doesn't quit fit with the plans T-Mobile is hinting at -- given the company offers a high end streaming service with a high-end price tag. That said, Layer3's licensing deals and technology will obviously be integrated into whatever offering T-Mobile ultimately puts on the table. T-Mobile did confirm that the service will run over traditional fixed broadband connections from companies like Comcast. That could give Comcast every incentive to hamstring, throttle, or otherwise limit this service in the new year, thanks to the killing of net neutrality protections. Since T-Mobile supported the T-Mobile did confirm that the service will run over traditional fixed broadband connections from companies like Comcast. That could give Comcast every incentive to hamstring, throttle, or otherwise limit this service in the new year, thanks to the killing of net neutrality protections. Since T-Mobile supported the killing of these rules , it would certainly prove interesting if they came to regret it down the line.







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existenz

join:2014-02-12 4 recommendations existenz Member Good luck disrupting with content owners in control Amazon would be in play by now (with Live OTT) if they feel they could disrupt. The content owners have too much control still. Apple probably would have a strong establishment too by now if they could disrupt as they did with music early on. Both have tried but have not gotten anywhere.



Tmobile could have just partnered with a stronger OTT player as many small ISPs are doing. Sprint users get free OnDemand Hulu for any device (w/ads, no LiveTV).