Last week, it was reported that Tablo DVR’s parent company was working on launching a new live TV service in partnership with cable providers. The service would give customers of these internet and TV providers an option to get a Tablo DVR and a streaming service with 30+ entertainment channels.
Now, though E.W. Scripps says in a statement to Cord Cutters News that they are not launching a live TV service. Tablo stopped short of saying they are working with a TV providers but it seems they are instead partnering with TV providers, they will supply the hardware, and the TV companies will supply the streaming service that will run on the Tablo DVR. In a move that sounds very similar to Comcast’s Now TV service that gives you entertainment-focused channels for $20 a month.
E.W. Scripps declined to offer other details about the new service.
According to a report from LightReading, E.W. Scripps, the new parent company behind Tablo DVRs, is working on launching a live TV add-on service that would let you get a skinny package of entertainment-focused pay-TV bundle of channels. This service sounds very similar to packages offered by Philo and Frndly TV.
The big selling point for the Tablo DVR’s live TV service would be the fact that it would include your local channels from your antenna on the same device.
According to the report, Scripps is working with the National Content & Technology Cooperative (NCTC) to launch a service that will offer 30-plus channels of entertainment that will be free of sports content.
With this their internet customers would be able to get a discounted TV service simular to what Comcast offers with its Now TV service but through the Tablo DVR.
The service is expected to launch later this year and will also be available to the NCTC members of pay-TV providers who want to offer this as a bundled service. The hope is this device would let smaller cable TV providers stay in the business of TV as cord-cutting has hit them hard. It will also give Tablo DVRs a way to attract new customers.