Verizon to take on Netflix with Web service

Verizon Communications plans to launch a standalone service allowing customers to stream movies and television shows over the Web, in a fresh challenge to Netflix and the traditional cable TV business, according to several people briefed on the plan.

The phone company is talking with prospective programming partners about the service, which would be introduced outside of markets where it currently offers its broadband and TV package, known as FiOS, these people said. That would make it available to some 85 million U.S. households. The new service could be rolled out in 2012. The package of programming would be limited in its scope, said two people with knowledge of the plans. Another person said the focus would be packages of movies similar to Liberty Media's Starz Play and Viacom's Epix or could involve children's programming from a partner such as Walt Disney Co or Viacom.