Verizon Wireless will announce its long-awaited live TV service for mobile phones Jan. 7, although it will launch with fewer than one-dozen channels, according to executives at companies involved in the launch.
The announcement is expected at a press conference Sunday at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Executives scheduled to speak are Denny Stringl, president and chief operating officer of Verizon Communications; John Stratton, Verizon’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer; and Bob Ingalls, executive VP and CMO of the Verizon Telecom business unit.
The live-TV service, provided through Qualcomm’s MediaFLO USA subsidiary, will have channels provided by at least three broadcast networks, according to an executive familiar with the announcement. Until now, Verizon Wireless’ V CAST video service has consisted of only on-demand clips.
Verizon Wireless, ABC, CBS, NBC and MediaFLO declined to comment. Fox Mobile Entertainment referred an inquiry to Verizon Wireless.