Verizon Is Said to Be Near Deal to Buy Intel’s TV Service

Verizon Communications is near an agreement to purchase Intel’s Internet-based pay-TV startup, according to people familiar with the discussions.

Intel, which developed the service called OnCue, began looking for a buyer rather than invest in the programming and bring it to market on its own. Verizon, the second-largest US communications company, will use OnCue to extend its pay-TV offering beyond the geographic footprint of its FiOS fiber-optic service. Intel, the world’s largest chipmaker, decided to sell the business after its new management opted to focus on selling chips for mobile devices, said one of the people.