“Intel’s efforts to break into the TV business may be coming to a close,” Peter Kafka and Arik Hesseldahl report for AllThingsD. “”
“Sources say the chipmaker is close to a deal to hand over control of Intel Media, the unit that has been trying to build a Web-based subscription TV service, to Verizon, the telco that already operates a pay TV service,” Kafka and Hesseldahl report. “People familiar with the talks say the two companies are in advanced negotiations. But it’s unclear whether Verizon would take control of the entire Intel Media unit, or if Intel would retain a piece of the Web TV project or a say in its operations.”
“In January 2011, Intel hired Erik Huggers, the executive who had headed up Web video for the BBC, and Huggers began working on a plan to create an Intel-branded pay TV service, using an Intel-built set-top box,” Kafka and Hesseldahl report. “Huggers eventually hired a team of 300 workers, built the box, and created branding for the service, which was supposed to be called ‘OnCue.’ Thousands of Intel employees have been testing the service in their homes this year. Intel was never able to secure the programming deals from TV networks it would need for a commercial launch.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: The whole abortive thing always was a clusterfsck. It flopped OnCue.