MERIDIAN (dpa-AFX) - Satellite television operator Dish Network Corp. (DISH) is set to launch Internet television service in the U.S. this summer before September, according to a Bloomberg report on Tuesday. Dish is reportedly looking to offer an internet streaming service with all of cable TV's best content at a subscription rate between $20 and $30 per month.
This will allow subscribers to watch live-streaming cable channels on smartphones and tablets instead of seeing it on traditional television sets. Dish is reportedly targeting younger audience aged between 18 and 34 years with this service.
Englewood, Colorado-based Dish, the second-largest U.S. satellite-TV operator, has already struck a long-term, wide-ranging agreement with entertainment and media giant Walt Disney Co. (DIS) for content in early March, which includes the right to stream video, live and on demand on Internet. The deal gives Dish access to content from Disney-owned channels such as ABC, the Disney Channel and ESPN.
After striking the deal with Disney, Dish has also initiated talks for a similar deal with major content providers such as Comcast Corp.'s (CMCSA) NBCUniversal, A&E Television Networks LLC, Time Warner Inc.'s Turner Broadcasting and CBS Corp. (CBS) for Internet-TV.
It has reportedly made strong progress to secure rights to broadcast NBC channels, including USA network, Bravo and E!.
The ever growing consumer demand for online video content is largely untapped by major companies. However, several larger networks have a couple of conditions for a deal to go through.
Bloomberg reveals that the companies require that at least two of the four major broadcast networks such as ABC, CBS, Fox or NBC, should be included in the service, and that ten of the highest-rated cable networks also be a part of the package.
According to a Business Insider report, Dish Network is said to be partnering with startup Artemis Networks LLC to make cellphone Internet 1,000 times faster than 4G.
The start-up in mid-February unveiled pCell technology that ushers in a new era to mobile, where a ubiquitous fiber-class broadband experience will be delivered at all times to standard LTE mobile devices that is far more faster and cost effective,
pCell is currently in trials with partners in San Francisco and will be ready for first commercial deployment in one market at the end of 2014, expanding to major markets in the US, Asia and Europe starting in 2015.
DISH closed Tuesday's regular trading session at $59.42, down $0.55 or 0.92% on a volume of 1.61 million shares.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX