Report: Amazon Mulling Pay-TV Service

What's This?

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos

Image: David Ryder

By Todd Wasserman2014-01-22 13:01:29 UTC

Amazon is considering live TV programming via a paid online service, according to a report.

The online retail giant has approached "at least three big media conglomerates seeking rights to distribute their content online," according to The Wall Street Journal . Amazon's service would offer channels that are currently available on cable and satellite, according to the report. Reps from Amazon could not be reached for comment.

However, an Amazon rep told Variety that the report was inaccurate, stating "We continue to build selection for Prime Instant Video and create original shows at Amazon Studios, but we are not planning to license television channels or offer a pay-TV service." Amazon invested $1 billion in content in 2013, according to Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Youssef Squali.

See also: Amazon Knows What You Want Before You Buy It

Amazon would be joining Sony, Google and Verizon in seeking to offer a new service to cord-cutters, people who have canceled their cable or satellite service and are now watching programming over the Internet. Verizon joined the group this week when it agreed to purchase Intel's Internet TV technology to the company. Despite the interest, no one yet has offered an online-based pay TV network in the U.S.

The Wall Street Journal previously reported that Amazon is aiming to offer a set-top box, a la Roku or Apple TV.

Topics: amazon, Apple TV, Business, roku, Television