T-Mobile to Delay Streaming TV Service Until 2019

[MacRumors]

In late 2017, T-Mobile announced plans for a "disruptive" internet TV service, set to launch at some point in 2018. T-Mobile isn't going to make that release date, however, with the rollout pushed back until 2019.

According to Bloomberg, T-Mobile is delaying its TV service because the "project proved much more complex than expected."

T-Mobile executives faced the difficult choice of either offering a garden-variety streaming platform - a service that lets customers watch cable channels and other content online - or waiting until next year to deliver a more groundbreaking product, the people said.

When the project was announced, T-Mobile CEO John Legere made big promises about how it would disrupt the TV industry, and the high bar set by the company has made it difficult to complete the project on time.

T-Mobile's TV service is built in part on its acquisition of Layer3 TV, and while John Legere has promised to "fix the pain points and bring real choice to consumers," few details about the service are available at this time.

The carrier has promised to offer solutions to issues like lengthy contracts, increasing monthly bill costs, confusing bundles, and outdated user interfaces. 2019 is the prospective launch date for the service at this time, but Bloomberg's sources warned that plans could change.

Article Link: T-Mobile to Delay Streaming TV Service Until 2019

 

[laurim]

Wonder if it will be any different than PlayStation Vue? I like it but there are a few issues, like the stream failing momentarily (I have awesome internet speed wired to the Firecube I use to watch so this shouldn’t be a factor) and limited ability to forward and reverse depending on what I’m watching. Still better than traditional services, though.

 

[nutmac]

I fail to see how T-Mobile could disrupt the market when it has such a little leverage with content producers. I can only see it as a way to offer similar bundling packages as AT&T or Comcast, especially as T-Mobile moves to 5G broadband space.

So far, Layer3 TV starts at around $75/month and requires a set top box just like Comcast. For me to even casually consider T-Mobile TV, it would have to compete with DirecTV Now, Sling, Hulu TV, PS Vue, and YouTube TV price level ($20-$45) without requiring clunky set top box.

 

[LeeTom]

I always wondered what Evil Dale was gonna do after Twin Peaks! Run a telecom... who knew?

 

[Return Zero]

Hmm... this delay is not a great way to begin the “disruption”

 

[Braderunner]

Until 2019, and then......?

 

[redneckitengineer]

Fine with me John, I await your product happily.

 

[ericg301]

I fail to see how T-Mobile could disrupt the market when it has such a little leverage with content producers. I can only see it as a way to offer similar bundling packages as AT&T or Comcast, especially as T-Mobile moves to 5G broadband space.

So far, Layer3 TV starts at around $75/month and requires a set top box just like Comcast. For me to even casually consider T-Mobile TV, it would have to compete with DirecTV Now, Sling, Hulu TV, PS Vue, and YouTube TV price level ($20-$45) without requiring clunky set top box.

This. They’re still missing the internet that powers the layer 3 service. I imagine they’re waiting til they can bundle this with a 5G base station.

 

[Westside guy]

I imagine they’re waiting til they can bundle this with a 5G base station.

I would love for this to happen - dump Comcast and its ever-increasing cable bills. But it would really depend on T-Mobile significantly increasing the amount of unthrottled bandwidth a customer can use.

30G a month won’t cut it if high-def TV is included.

 

[MacClueless]

For me to even casually consider T-Mobile TV, it would have to compete with DirecTV Now, Sling, Hulu TV, PS Vue, and YouTube TV price level ($20-$45) without requiring clunky set top box.

All the companies you mention require a “clunky” box.
[doublepost=1545282791][/doublepost]You know what would be really cool? If Cloudflare can offer domain registration “at cost” to get get customers maybe T-Mo could offer TV “at cost” to get 5G customers?

 

[bgalakazam]

T-Mobile should start with fixing the abysmal 4G speeds and coverage before worrying about a streaming service

 

[aaronhead14]

Lol, T-Mobile claims to be "disruptive" about everything they do, but the reality is that they don't do anything better than other carriers, and sometimes they're worse. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[nburwell]

The market is already flooded with live TV streaming choices. I'm not sure how T-Mobile will stand out from the pack. But hey, it's another service that gives us the consumers another choice to consider.

 

[Mac'nCheese]

All the companies you mention require a “clunky” box.
[doublepost=1545282791][/doublepost]You know what would be really cool? If Cloudflare can offer domain registration “at cost” to get get customers maybe T-Mo could offer TV “at cost” to get 5G customers?

What box do u need for direct tv now? I thought it was just an app.

 

[MistrSynistr]

The market is already flooded with live TV streaming choices. I'm not sure how T-Mobile will stand out from the pack. But hey, it's another service that gives us the consumers another choice to consider.

You make it cheaper with more choices. It's pretty simple.

 

[Apple_Robert]

In my opinion, a company should not announce future perks, add-ons and services until said items are ready to be deployed.

 

[jlc1978]

This. They’re still missing the internet that powers the layer 3 service. I imagine they’re waiting til they can bundle this with a 5G base station.

My thoughts as well. A strong 5G rollout coupled with a solid TV bundle is more disruptive than TV w/o adequate delivery speed. Ideally a 5G phone as a hotspot could provide the service without the need for an extra box, and stream it to Apple TV /Roku / FireTV etc.A box has the advantage of being fixed and always on vs a phone; unless you get an extra line. I did that when I converted my landline to cell service.

 

[ericg301]

My thoughts as well. A strong 5G rollout coupled with a solid TV bundle is more disruptive than TV w/o adequate delivery speed. Ideally a 5G phone as a hotspot could provide the service without the need for an extra box, and stream it to Apple TV /Roku / FireTV etc.A box has the advantage of being fixed and always on vs a phone; unless you get an extra line. I did that when I converted my landline to cell service.

Yeah they wouldn't announce a service that requires you to buy another service (Internet) from another company.

 

[nburwell]

You make it cheaper with more choices. It's pretty simple.

With the majority of TV streaming services starting at $40/month, I'm not sure how much cheaper T-Mobile could go and be profitable. Unless they offer true a la carte programming that customers can pick and choose what channels they want.

 

[macduke]

This. They’re still missing the internet that powers the layer 3 service. I imagine they’re waiting til they can bundle this with a 5G base station.

That would be amazing. Verizon is starting to offer a basestation for $70/mo with unlimited 5G data, $50/mo if you're a wireless customer. I'd be all over this if T-Mobile offered it, the problem is their service at my house is less than ideal, even with a booster box, but fortunately WiFi-calling is a thing and data around the rest of town is acceptable (I live on the edge of a moderately sized college town where everything turns into rolling hills of trees). I think they're still working on upgrading the LTE spectrum to that longer-range building penetrating stuff in this area, so who knows how long it will be before 5G arrives, which is hopefully even better at distance/penetration. Anyone know?

 

[nutmac]

All the companies you mention require a “clunky” box.

All of them support various platforms, including Apple TV. I meant clunky as in proprietary set top box you must rent from the cable/satellite company.

 

[jlc1978]

With the majority of TV streaming services starting at $40/month, I'm not sure how much cheaper T-Mobile could go and be profitable. Unless they offer true a la carte programming that customers can pick and choose what channels they want.

A la carte is unlikely because it is better financially, for them, to bundle. I would think they would bundle tv with internet so you get both and the total cost is less than either separately.

 

[cocky jeremy]

All the companies you mention require a “clunky” box.
[doublepost=1545282791][/doublepost]You know what would be really cool? If Cloudflare can offer domain registration “at cost” to get get customers maybe T-Mo could offer TV “at cost” to get 5G customers?

What box does YouTube TV require? My tv has an app for it.

 

[swm]

there was a time, when telcos spearheaded innovation. they were engineering companies, they actually developed products. nowadays they're just busy with product placement. the development part ends with issuing an RFQ and decide what product to buy that they can resell to the masses. but this ultimately reduces their value to 0

 

[shiseiryu1]

Lol, T-Mobile claims to be "disruptive" about everything they do, but the reality is that they don't do anything better than other carriers, and sometimes they're worse. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

T-Mobile did us all a great service when they announced their incarrier plan in 2013. The status quo at the time was counting your texts, minutes, and data or suffering a sky high bill. We were all also locked into contracts with early termination fees. John, the no-bs CEO, changed all that with uncarrier. They started gaining customers like crazy and the other big players were forced to follow.

Another one of my favorite innovations is their plan which has all taxes and fees included in up-front pricing. Nothing bugs me more than being pitched a $50/mo plan just to have $15-20 in taxes and bs fees added on. Thank you John, you’re awesome!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Un-carrier