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Video giant YouTube is working on a TV service that could rival the likes of Netflix and even cable TV, according to new reports.
Set to launch as early as next year, it’s claimed the new service will be called Unplugged and will offer users a bundle of channels available to stream over the internet.
According to Bloomberg, YouTube executives in the US have already been in discussion with cable channels in the US over the deal, which could offer an alternative to online streaming services such as Netflix, as well as ‘live’ cable services.
YouTube owner Google would likely have to seek similar deals in the UK if and when the service did reach this country.
YouTube already has one subscription service – Red – which launched last year in the US and removes all adverts from videos as well as offering up some exclusive content.
According to the reports, the new Unplugged service would look at extending this into much more premium content that would appeal to the binge TV watchers out there – hence the rumoured talks with some of the major networks in the US.
It is believed YouTube would like to bundle several channels together to create different themed bundles, such as comedy or lifestyle, with the hook for networks being that YouTube would include so-called ‘second tier’ channels in order to bring more viewers to them.
With more and more TV viewers moving online thanks to the growing popularity of streaming and catch-up services, the world’s largest video site getting involved seems a likely move.
