T-Mobile is now targeting the cable TV industry and plan to disrupt that market beginning next year.
The company today announced plans to acquire Layer3 TV, which already delivers internet-based television service in five markets around the country. T-Mobile will use Layer3 TV’s technology to create and launch a new TV service that will be delivered over T-Mobile’s LTE network.
“People love their TV, but they hate their TV providers. And worse, they have no real choice but to simply take it — the crappy customer service, clunky technology and outrageous bills loaded with fees! That’s where we come in. We’re gonna fix the pain points and bring real choice to consumers across the country,” said John Legere, president and CEO of T-Mobile.
Legere insisted T-Mobile’s TV service will be “disruptive” and will take full advantage of the latest technology and best content from today’s top creators. In addition to T-Mobile’s network, the as-yet-unnamed TV service will be supported by T-Mobile’s retail stores, and sales and service organizations.
Jeff Binder, CEO of Layer3 TV, added,
“No market needs Un-carrier-ing more than pay TV, so we’re completely stoked to join T-Mobile in disrupting the status quo!”
T-Mobile did not say how much it will pay for Layer3 TV, nor when this television service might launch in 2018, not what it expects to charge per month. The company already allows people to stream as much video via LTE as they wish, and offers some customers Netflix for free.
