Google, already dominating online searches and software, and just having launched its first phone, is expanding into another market – television. As more and more subscribers cut the cord to traditional cable service, Google is looking to step up and fill a need: affordable subscription television service without the hassle of a cable. But is Google more capable than the other already existing options? CBS sure seems to think so.
Google Unplugged To Be Released in 2017
Cable companies are starting to see subscribers cut the cord and leave traditional cable services. In 2015, the top 13 pay tv companies lost 385,000 subscribers. While that number may seem high, those same 13 companies still have 94.2 million customers. With such a small loss of subscribers (0.4 percent to be exact), why is Google making a move to compete with those paid tv companies? Those 385k cable cutters in 2015 are a record high, and up from 150,000 cable cutters in 2014. Google sees a trend forming. And they intend to be at the forefront of wireless cable with Google Unplugged.
Google is launching Unplugged in early 2017. The new service will be housed on Google’s YouTube service, which is already built out and proven across multiple platforms including television, mobile devices, and laptops. The new service will be separate from YouTube Red, YouTube’s ad-free paid service but will have YouTube Red offerings available to subscribers. This gives Google an edge over the competition with unlimited content constantly being added by artists and users. In addition, YouTube has 1 billion active users each month, giving Unplugged a broad, warm audience more likely to subscribe to the new service.
Google already has CBS on board and is close to agreeing to terms with other content providers, such as Fox and Disney. The service will cost between $25 and $40 a month, and will instantly put Google Unplugged on par with Dish’s SlingTV and PlayStation Vue. And given Google’s brand reputation and resources, Google can make a big impact in the new cable-less cable service industry.
CBS is going to be part of the upcoming internet tv service. Watch the news here!
Alphabet, Inc. (GOOG) shares rose up 0.79 percent on the news and should continue to rise. Especially once Unplugged officially launches.
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