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T-Mobile will enter streaming media market in 2018

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There’s no doubt about it, streaming media is the wave of the future…if it’s not already the wave of “now.” Subsequent to the massive success of Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu, other companies are desperately trying to get into the game as early as possible. Disney already announced its intentions, with plans to debut ESPN and Disney streaming services next year.

Now, it seems, T-Mobile will be trying to get in on the action, announcing its plans to launch a new streaming TV service early next year. What they will show has yet to be announced.

T-Mobile, known only as a cell service provider, had been making waves in its market segment for years. While it hasn’t been able to get ahead of Verizon or AT&T, T-Mobile has grown in customers and quality, and it continues to push the industry leaders.

Commercials Similar to Hulu

This is a much bigger move, though. It comes not long after T-Mobile bought cable TV startup Layer3 TV, and the company hopes to launch a subscription service, with commercials, that is similar to Hulu.

The purchase of Layer3 is an interesting one. The company is known as both a traditional cable company and a trend-setter. While it offers the typical big bundles of channels, Layer3 also integrates online content and higher-quality video.

How T-Mobile will take this platform and go streaming with it remains to be seen. At this point, unlike its competition, T-Mobile says its streaming service will not offer original content … at least in the beginning. Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime all offer loads of original content in addition to other programming. And, in some cases, “award-winning” original content.

One question this announcement creates is what will happen to the current promotional deals T-Mobile and competitor, Sprint, are offering. T-Mobile was offering new subscribers free subscriptions to Netflix as an incentive, and Sprint began offering Hulu subscriptions in order to compete. Meanwhile, AT&T is offering HBO, also streaming.

T-Mobile Streaming is an Uphill Battle

Apples to apples, getting into streaming will be an uphill climb for T-Mobile. Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu are already entrenched, Disney is about to throw a ton of money into their streaming plans, and all of these companies offer original programming…and some also offer live sports.

How T-Mobile will try to compete with that remains to be seen, but they will certainly need a unique offer in order to get consumers to pay for yet another streaming service, especially when they may be able to get that content somewhere else.

About Ronn Torossian

Ronn Torossian is the Founder and CEO of 5W Public Relations. He is an experienced leader in the public relations industry with over 20 years of experience. Ronn Torossian has been named as Public Relations executive of the year by the American Business Awards, and has run countless award-winning Public Relations programs.

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Ronn Torossian

Ronn Torossian is the Founder and Chairman of 5WPR, one of the largest independently-owned PR firms in the United States. With over 25 years of experience crafting and executing powerful narratives, Torossian is one of America’s most prolific and well-respected Public Relations professionals. Since founding 5WPR in 2003, he has led the company’s growth, overseeing more than 275 professionals. With clients spanning corporate, technology, consumer and crisis, in addition to digital marketing and public affairs capabilities, 5WPR is regularly recognized as an industry leader and has been named “PR Agency of the Year” by the American Business Awards on multiple occasions. Throughout his career, Torossian has worked with some of the world’s most visible companies, brands and organizations. His strategic, resourceful approach has been recognized with numerous awards including being named the Stevie American Business Awards 2020 Entrepreneur of the Year, the American Business Awards PR Executive of the Year, twice over, an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year semi-finalist, Metropolitan Magazine’s Most Influential New Yorker, a 2020 Top Crisis Communications Professional by Business Insider, and a recipient of Crain’s New York 2021 Most Notable in Marketing & PR. Torossian is known as one of the country’s foremost experts on crisis communications, and is called on to counsel blue chip companies, top business executives and entrepreneurs both in the United States and worldwide. Torossian has lectured on crisis PR at Harvard Business School, appears regularly on CNN & CNBC, is a contributing columnist for Forbes and the New York Observer, and has authored two editions of his book, “For Immediate Release: Shape Minds, Build Brands, and Deliver Results With Game-Changing Public Relations,” which is an industry best-seller. A NYC native, Torossian is a member of Young Presidents Organization (YPO), and active in numerous charities.

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