Viacom is set to become T-Mobile’s first media partner for the latter’s new TV service.
T-Mobile, the third largest U.S. mobile service, has been planning for its new streaming service for a while, during which it apparently met with delays due to the project’s complexity. But now it seems to be finally ready to launch the service later this year, as indicated by the company. Teaming up with Viacom would mean live-streaming channels like MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon as well as offer on-demand shows on its upcoming wireless TV service. The carrier currently has around 80 million customers.
“T-Mobile is on a mission to give consumers a better way to watch what they want, when they want,” said T-Mobile Chief Executive Officer John Legere.
The deal potentially hints of increasing pressure on carriers and media companies to catch up with the burgeoning online streaming market, and to improve their positioning against the space’s early entrants like Netflix and Amazon Prime.
Last month, Viacom reached a deal to renew its distribution contract with DirecTV parent A&T Inc, apparently after resolving a conflict with the latter.
T-Mobile, on the other hand, is planning to acquire Sprint Corp. for $26.5 billion. Through the proposed merger, the two carriers are hoping to create a new combined wireless entity to compete better with larger rivals.