C Spire plans to introduce a streaming video service with an IP content delivery platform that eliminates the need for traditional set top boxes. The Mississippi-based telco plans to use MobiTV's new MobiTV Connect Platform to stream video to Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, select smart TVs, Android, iOS and online via an app that works on smartphones, tablets and laptops.
"Since the service relies on in-home streaming and mobile devices, it eliminates the need for traditional set-top boxes," said Suzy Hays, senior vice president of Consumer Markets for C Spire. "This next generation service leverages our long-standing history of providing customer-inspired wireless experiences and will look and feel more like an app than your standard cable TV service with features such as in-depth search, personal recommendations and catch up TV."
C Spire expects to begin beta testing the new service in November, incorporating customer input through retail channels prior to commercial launch. The new service features a linear TV lineup including local stations, VOD, cloud DVR and catchup TV for up to 7 days. Future plans for C Spire TV also include skinny channel packages.