MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon's young audiences will be the first to test-drive Internet-based TV, the future of television programming.
Sony's forthcoming cloud-based Internet TV service will carry at least 22 Viacom channels, the two companies announced on Sept. 10. The deal marks the first-ever time Viacom has provided its content to air on an Internet-based live TV and video on demand service.
"Viacom always strives to create transformational opportunities that combine consumer value and technological innovation," said Philippe Dauman, President and CEO for Viacom. "Given our young, tech-savvy audiences, our networks are essential for any new distribution platform, and we're excited to be among the many programmers that will help power Sony's new service and advance a new era for television."
Sony and Viacom inked a tentative deal last year. The new Internet TV would rival traditional cable and satellite services. Sony announced the unnamed service would include a package of live television channels, on demand TV episodes and digital recorder capabilities delivered directly through an existing Internet connection, according to CNN Money.
"Our new cloud-based TV service will combine the live TV content people love most about cable with the dynamic experience they have come to expect from our network," said Andrew House, President and Group CEO for Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. "Viacom's award-winning networks are a perfect match for our new service, ensuring that our customers will be able to access the shows they love on their favorite devices, when and how they choose."
Viacom's younger audience, ages 2 to 34, make up nearly 26 percent of basic cable viewership. Sony will deliver the service to PlayStation consoles and other Sony devices beginning sometime this year, according to Variety.
Dish Network also plans to release a similar over-the-top (OTT) pay-TV service this year. The service will target "college kids in a dorm" and young people who "don't live in the same place all the time," according to Viacom. The company has partnered with Disney and A+E Networks to provide their content.
"We think OTT is a good, smart move. But we're not absolutely positive," Dish Network Chairman Charlie Ergen said in August.
