Verizon's (NYSE: VZ) FiOS will introduce a flexible, customized pay-TV bundling service, not too different from that of Dish's recently launched Sling TV.
The new service configuration, which will kick off April 19, will start out at $55 a month for a basic package that includes broadband and 36 basic channels, plus two additional genre-based add-on packages of 10-17 channels, such as "sports" or "kids." Additional packages can be added in $10 increments and canceled after 30 days.
"The service itself will be a 'skinny bundle,' so it looks like they will give customers some options around that, not unlike what Sling TV is already doing around their extra packages for sports, kids, etc.," Joel Espelien, senior analyst for The Diffusion Group, told FierceCable. "It's a small step, but it does show the days of 'one size fits all' pay TV are coming to a close."
According to Reuters, which spoke to Verizon's Tami Erwin, president of national operations, Verizon is going after consumers who want more flexibility in their programming packages but don't want them as stripped down as Sling TV is.
"Everybody is getting into the video space... increasingly customers are saying, 'I want to pay for what I view,'" she told Reuters.
Verizon FiOS is the sixth-largest pay-TV operator. It is also developing a low-cost OTT-based pay-TV product meant for younger mobile consumers that will launch later this year.
For more:
- read this Reuters story
- read this Wall Street Journal story
Related links:
Verizon adds college-sports programming to upcoming mobile video service
Verizon's 'managed services' plan for video streaming could violate net neutrality rules
Verizon bulks up for mobile video competition with AwesomenessTV deal
Wireless providers make OTT strategy key to future profitability, report says
Report: Verizon to let CTIA, NCTA lead legal fight over FCC's net neutrality rules
Pay-TV's revolutionary OTT services are coming up short on revolution