Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

YouTube Working on 'Unplugged' TV Subscription Service for 2017 as Hulu Confirms Live TV Plans

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
68,734
39,680



Internet-based subscription television plans are growing in popularity, and YouTube is the latest company rumored to be working on a standalone television service. According to Bloomberg, YouTube is developing a paid subscription service called "Unplugged," offering a bundle of channels for a set price.

YouTube has already built the infrastructure necessary for the service and is prioritizing its development for a 2017 debut. YouTube has been in talks with major media companies like NBCUniversal, Viacom, Fox, and CBS, but has not yet been able to secure rights for the service.

youtubehulu-800x164.jpg

YouTube is said to be aiming to build a streaming service similar to the service Apple hoped to offer before putting its streaming TV plans on hold. It would include a "skinny bundle" of channels from the four major U.S. networks along with a few popular cable channels priced at around $35 per month.

YouTube is also considering plans offering a collection of less-watched television channels or smaller groups of channels built around different themes, such as comedy or lifestyle.
YouTube would charge one subscription for the main bundle, and extra, smaller monthly fees for these theme-based groups, one of the people said.
Using this approach, YouTube could show it is capable of bringing new viewers to many of these second-tier channels, a major concern for large media companies that depend on TV for most of their profits.

If YouTube can make it work, media companies may be more open to including more-successful channels later, one of the people familiar said.
Click to expand...
Along with YouTube, Hulu is also building its own competing streaming television service. News of Hulu's plan surfaced earlier this week and was confirmed this morning by Hulu CEO Mike Hopkins.

Hulu's subscription model will offer customers cable-style access to popular broadcast television networks and cable channels to complement its existing streaming service, plus it will include a cloud-based DVR feature. Hulu is also aiming to launch its live TV subscription plan in 2017 and is close to signing deals with partners like Disney and Fox. Pricing for the service has not yet been announced, but rumors suggest it will be available for around $40.
"This means our viewers will be able to enjoy live sports, news and events all in real-time without a traditional cable or satellite subscription," said Hopkins. "We're going to fuse the best of linear television and on-demand in a deeply personalized experience optimized for the contemporary, always-connected television fan."
Click to expand...
As network executives grow accustomed to establishing deals for streaming television services, Apple may be able to revisit its television plans. Apple has been working on some kind of subscription TV service for several years, but executives have not been able to establish deals with content owners. Apple's latest streaming plans reportedly fell apart because media companies demanded more money than Apple wanted to charge for its TV service and were reluctant to unbundle channels.

Article Link: YouTube Working on 'Unplugged' TV Subscription Service for 2017 as Hulu Confirms Live TV Plans
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2016/05/04/youtube-hulu-tv-services-2017/
Wait....we have red tube to snatch people's money....now they making this? This is one big snooze fest 2017. If YouTube can't fix website UI, what makes them think they could do this?
 
  • Like
Reactions: tonyr6 and mkeeley
I don't want a skinny bundle. I want more individual apps that I can build my truly a la carte consumption from. For that matter the apps are bundling in a way too (bundles of shows) so maybe I'm hypocritical since I like HBO Now but don't want something like these offerings. In any case I'm pretty happy with my Netflix/iTunes/NFL Gamepass/HBO Now/Showtime situation but would like more channel specific app based streaming.
 
  • Like
Reactions: shinji
I just hope things get moving on the Apple side... honestly, they should just invest in this service
Jakexb said:
How is Hulu and Youtube able to do this when the talks with Apple fell through?
Click to expand...

I'm guessing because Apple does not want to give erode margins to make the deal work. Who knows if Hulu and others are even making any money off of these deals just to get the service going.

Anyway... I do hope this puts the pressure on for Apple. I'd love to see them offer a service for this and it's far from too late to do so. They really should pull out all the stops... even if that means opening up the bank account. But that has not been Apple's style.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SFamilyRep, AleXXXa, applehound and 2 others
JDHiro said:
It's a little groan worthy that the most valuable company in the world has the wait for somebody else to solve the streaming TV problem.
Click to expand...
Well it isn't about technology. It is just about getting media companies to sign on to the idea.

AppleTV problem is that it is limited to one device. Netflix, and Hulu can run on all sorts of devices thus it is more popular.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AleXXXa
If I already pay for these channels, can I authenticate it using my cable provider's information and watch it through YouTube for free?
 
Apple could come up with a tv based subscription. However, I have come to the conclusion that it is not the networks, or the cable companies but rather apples greed. Apple does make good deals, but they want their cake and eat it too. The opportunities are there, the money is there but Apple is not and it makes you think why?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Vanilla35, SFamilyRep, Orlandoech and 1 other person
My main concern about these services is quality. SlingTV really doesn't look that good, and not all of their channels are at 60FPS (for things like sports). YouTube's 1080p60 quality can look good, depending on the source, so I think I'd be interested. Until then, I'll stick with Time Warner Cable + Slingbox.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BigHonkingDeal
WigWag Workshop said:
It all comes down to ones Internet Provider, what will happen if "they" decide to start using data caps?
Click to expand...

...or charging more for "heavier bandwidth users," copying something from the mobile data world.

...or tiering based on usage, meaning those who use more data, pay more, copying something else from the mobile data world.

Do we not see that those kinds of tactics- already well proven to be accepted by the masses per our collectively insatiable need to own mobile devices and use them anywhere and at anytime, paying just anything to get to do so- will be adopted should any of these alternatives really get some legs under them and start hurting cable television subscription revenues in a meaningful way?

And of course, there's absolutely nothing to stop cable/satt from reacting to any popular services like these by creating a matching "skinny bundle" of their own, throwing in a key missing channel or three and having their skinny bundle NOT count against the broadband tally.

For all the hope & dreams any of us can conjure about this (and boy, are we good at that), every option that is NOT cable has up to a complete dependency on the broadband pipe provided by cable. It should be obvious to see how this plays out.
 
  • Like
Reactions: WigWag Workshop
The day you can live stream HD video from your iPhone to Youtube and monitize it, it's going to be crazy out there! I think that will be the biggest move in the future of YT.
 
details remaining to be seen, but $40 seems pretty high for only major networks (free with an antenna) and a few basic cable options. would still rather ala cart solution - pick and choose which networks based on how much they'll charge for access and go with that. that's prob the inevitable position tv will land. we're just not getting there fast enough with these half measures and prescribed bundling.
 
  • Like
Reactions: FriendlyMackle and BeefCake 15
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back