Dish Network (NASDAQ: DISH) hopes to be online and running with an Internet TV service as early as this summer, Bloomberg reports.
Referencing people familiar with the matter, the story said Dish is already advising programmers such as Comcast-owned (NASDAQ: CMCSA) NBCUniversal that a late summer service launch in advance of the new fall broadcast network seasons could be in the works. The satellite provider has already signed up Walt Disney Co. to make it the first pay TV provider to deliver ESPN, Disney Channel and its other cable networks through Dish's OTT offering.
Since then, the satellite provider has reportedly discussed the idea with other cable networks such as A&E Television Networks, Time Warner's Turner Broadcasting, and CBS, the sources told Bloomberg.
Dish is proposing a package of live streaming channels that would be like an online cable service, but primarily for those who want to watch their content on connected devices like smartphones and tablets. Content providers have been necessarily wary and, sources tell Bloomberg, have insisted that at least two of the four major broadcast networks be included in the service.
Dish already streams international TV channel bundles via DishWorld but this would be the first domestic package of its kind. That is, unless Sony, which is also moving into the space, gets into the market ahead of Dish, or AT&T (NYSE: T), which has announced an OTT joint venture with The Chernin Group, gets up and running.
Even Dish competitor DirecTV (NASDAQ: DTV) is in the mix, having reportedly had talks with Disney as part of a bigger programming agreement between the content and service providers.
For more:
- Bloomberg has this story
Related articles:
Dish Network scores rights to launch ESPN, Disney on OTT service
Dish Network launches Anywhere app on Amazon Kindle Fire
DirecTV in discussions with Disney for OTT deal
Rumor mill: Dish Network's Ergen courts DirecTV's White
Disney launching over-the-top Disney Parks app on Samsung, LG TVs