Verizon CEO Says Its Internet TV Service Will Be Up By Mid-2015 And Will Include “Custom Channels”

Verizon plans to offer a TV-like service over the Internet by mid-2015 and will offer mobile users a “bundle with major broadcast providers” plus a collection of “custom channels.”

“It’s the Big 4 for sure,” said Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam, “and I would tell you that the very exciting part of this is some of the digital media out of the West Coast” including DreamWorks Annimation’s AwesomenessTV “that really goes after the millennials. It’s targeted content.” He also noted that Verizon Wireless offers fast speeds for those who want to upload content. “When you get more and more to user generated content, that’s a competitive advantage.” McAdam says Verizon’s still talking to big content providers, including some that once feared a virtual pay TV system might jeopardize their ability to require cable and satellite subscribers to pay for channels they don’t watch. “There’s no doubt in my mind we can make it a win-win….Over the last six months to a year that dialogue has changed dramatically.”