In an effort to accelerate development of its fledgling Web-based television service, Intel is looking for a partner with either an established customer base or media rights to movies and TV shows already in hand. Possible candidates include Amazon, which has its own video streaming service, and TV set giant Samsung.
Intel’s new TV service, which the company hopes to start in 2013, would compete with the likes of DIRECTV and Time Warner Cable, providing both live programming and VOD content across TV sets and mobile devices. The mobile chip giant has sought programming from such media heavyweights as Comcast NBCUniversal and Viacom.
Without a strategic backer to help fund and distribute the service, Intel’s TV project, which has more than 300 employees working on it and already has been tested with an Intel-designed set-top box, may be in jeopardy.
Brief Take: For all of its technological clout, Intel must have programming deals for its TV service to work. It hopes to bolster its chances to find some by partnering with Amazon, Samsung or another media heavyweight.
Read more at Bloomberg.
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