Google is creating its own subscription TV service for online streaming and CBS has already signed on to participate, according to anonymous sources cited by the Wall Street Journal.
The rumored service is named ‘Unplugged’ and is set to premiere in early 2017. It will be housed in YouTube, but separate from the platform’s YouTube Red service, which was launched last year in the States and isn’t yet available in Canada.
YouTube Red offers ad-free viewing, an offline mode and original shows — a curated portion of which are set to be included in Unplugged.
In addition to CBS programming and YouTube Red originals, WSJ‘s sources say Google is nearing agreements to distribute channels owned by 21st Century Fox and Walt Disney Co.
Further, the publication says media executives that have heard Google’s pitch revealed that the resulting service will be a “skinny” TV bundle priced at between $25 and $40 USD per month.
The service might also feature integrations with other social or media platforms — for example, it could display a live Twitter feed next to a show, or provide stats next to a sports feed — an idea which not all programmers are purportedly on board with, due to the potential of viewers derailing content.
This service may have a slim chance of making its way to Canda directly at launch, considering the varied issues of international licensing, but perhaps with Google’s global reach, it may arrive before competitors like Sony’s PlayStation Vue or Hulu’s planned offering.
[source]Wall Street Journal[/source]
