Verizon is once again reportedly pursuing efforts to develop an over-the-top video offering that would be distributed beyond its Fios footprint.
TechCrunch, citing a source inside Verizon, said the new service would package video content into “channels” designed around themes like news, sports and entertainment.
The channels might take the form of standalone apps, and could utilize content already owned by Verizon’s Oath, which combined Yahoo and AOL.
The new effort is a departure from Verizon’s free, ad-supported OTT mobile video offering Go90, which debuted in 2015 but has had muted success. It is unclear whether the new service would be free or a paid offering, or when it might be launched.
Earlier reports of Verizon working on a new video service said those efforts had been delayed over negotiations for programming rights, as well as executive changes in the company.
In order to help Verizon’s offering stand out from the multitude of video competitors, each channel on the new service would feature “marquee” content, a source told TechCrunch. For example, a sports channel could leverage NFL content after the mobile giant inked a reported $2.25 billion multi-year, non-exclusive deal with the league.
Verizon has invested $4 billion to $5 billion in content deals, according to TechCrunch’s source, and the company is incorporating a digital component into its renegotiations of those agreements to include it in the new OTT offering.