Tablo is one of the most popular over-the-air DVR devices for your antenna. About a year ago, they launched a new version with built-in streaming of free, ad-supported content.
Now, 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.
Update: Scripps sent Cord Cutters News the following statement on this news. “Tablo is always looking to engage with new opportunities and partnerships that benefit the consumer and address the rapidly changing media landscape,” said Bo Schuerman, vice president, enterprise strategy, for The E.W. Scripps Company.
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.
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.