YouTube to join the television market next year

YouTube could be launching its own “skinny bundle” of TV channels as early as next year. Called Unplugged, the service would cost around $35 per month and offer exclusive programming as well as live TV channels. YouTube is still in talks with several broadcasters, including Fox, CBS, and Viacom. YouTube chief executive, Susan Wojcicki, said at an event in New York recently: “At a time when TV is losing audiences, YouTube is growing in every region, on every screen.” The Google-owned firm commissioned a Nielsen study which said YouTube engaged “more viewers aged 18-49 in the US on mobile alone than any single television network.”

YouTube may be the next tech giant to fight for a piece of the television world. The online video company has been reportedly working on a subscription-based online video streaming service called "Unplugged." According to the Bloomberg News report, Unplugged would offer online video and live TV channels in bundles from media providers for a $35 monthly fee.

YouTube has apparently been working on Unplugged for a while. The report suggests that the company started working on a TV streaming service in 2012, but it has since sped up its efforts due to looming competition from companies like Dish and Sony that already have their own streaming platforms. The entirety of YouTube's architecture has reportedly been revamped to support such a service, and it could debut as early as 2017.

YouTube already has its Red subscription service, which lets users stream ad-free videos, watch videos offline, and listen to ad-free music. Unplugged would be different since it would have live TV channels and other exclusive content. YouTube has reportedly been in talks with Comcast's NBCUniversal, Fox, CBS, and Viacom to stream content from those networks, but it has yet to secure any rights. This part of the business has proven difficult for other companies looking to get into TV streaming, including Apple.

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YouTube is looking into offering different bundles of TV channels for Unplugged subscribers. The main "skinny bundle" would stream channels from the four US broadcasting networks along with an array of other cable channels, while other bundles would be themed around types of programming, such as comedy channels. This is similar to how Dish's Sling TV works: it offers a basic package of channels including ESPN, CNN, and The Disney Channel for $20 per month, while offering themed packages (such as the Hollywood package including EPIX, SundanceTV, and more) for an extra monthly fee.

While it's been in development for quite some time, YouTube Unplugged won't debut for some months, if it comes out at all. We've reached out to Google, YouTube's parent company, for comment, and will update this story if we hear back.