What is Layer3 TV and what moves are being made by the company that competing cable operators should keep an eye on? According to its website, it’s “a next generation cable provider spearheading a new era of home media, combining the best of television, social, and digital life.” The Denver-based company was founded in 2013 by cable veterans Dave Fellows and Jeff Binder, and its leadership team includes former execs from Google, CNN, Fox, Comcast, Motorola, Time Warner, Cablevision, Microsoft, and others.
In September, Layer3 TV launched service in Chicago, which was its first market, according to a report in ChicagoInno, and it’s also available in the Washington D.C. area. Now it’s on the cusp of hitting the Denver market, according to a recent article in The Denver Post.
“Layer3 TV is going to launch in Denver in the middle of January,” Eric Kuhn, Layer3’s chief marketing officer, tells the Denver newspaper. “And those people who do subscribe early, we’ll call you when we’re ready to rock and roll. And you’ll be the first on your block to get the new cable TV.”
Layer3 boasts “all of your favorite channels, always in HD” on its site, and says customers can DVR more shows than they can with some other services. It also promises “endless on demand.” Calling out some of subscribers’ pain points with more traditional cable providers, Layer3 customers can cancel anytime online, and there are no hidden fees or costs or annual contract required, according to the company.
The company doesn’t dive deep on its site into how exactly the service is delivered. However, under the “Technology” tab it does highlight its 4K-ready wireless box, the ability to record up to eight shows at once, as well as the option to save more than 400 hours of HD. It also touts plug-and-play equipment and the ability to curate favorite programs. According to The Denver Post, the company’s video service requires internet service, but Layer3 calls it a “private IPTV” line.
“This is to ensure that video quality is superior and to avoid the buffering issues one might see on a Saturday night while binge-watching Netflix at the same time all your neighbors are too,” the article in the Post says.
Layer3’s lineup includes more than 250 channels at prices around $120/month in Chicago, according to The Chicago Tribune. “You’re not going to sign up for us because you’re going to save money,” Jeff Binder, co-founder and CEO of Layer3 TV, tells that paper. “You’re going to sign up for us because you’re going to get a lot more value for the same price.”