YouTube is planning a subscription television service called Unplugged, according to reports.
Bloomberg says YouTube Unplugged will offer a range of cable TV channels, available to stream over the internet, with the firm targeting a 2017 launch.
The sources say YouTube has been working on the idea for more than three years and remains in talks with content providers.
The same issues have plagued Apple’s efforts to get a similar service off the ground over the last year. Content owners have been reluctant to unbundle their channels to offer them as part of a so-called “skinny” Apple TV bundle.
Whether YouTube is offering better terms, or proposing an alternative solution, remains to be seen.
Related: YouTube Red explained
The Bloomberg report says the company is planning to bundle premium channels while offering themed add-ons featuring lesser-watched stations.
If Google were able to get Unplugged off the ground, it would join Sling TV and Sony’s PlayStation Vue in the market.
Just today, the Hulu streaming platform announced plans to begin streaming live TV.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.