Google to pilot cable TV service

Google last year selected the US city as the place where it would test a superfast one-gigabit-per-second fibre optic network, which it claimed was more than 100 times faster than most connections.

Last week, it applied to state authorities to provide a video service to Kansas City, according to several reports.

The Wall Street Journal cites an anonymous media executive currently involved in negotiations to licence channels to the service.

According to the executive, the service would offer subscribers live TV, as well as on-demand and online access to TV channels, similar to services from major cable operators, and could be launched as soon as a month or two from now.

The newspaper claims if Google sold the cable service to residents, it could also obtain rights to sell ads alongside some of the video content.

Google has not confirmed the reports, saying "We're still exploring what product offerings will be available when we launch Google Fiber."

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This article was first published on mediaweek.co.uk