Verizon has expanded its marketing relationship with Google’s YouTube TV to resell the virtual MVPD service across the operator’s distribution channels.
The carrier began offering a free YouTube TV subscription to customers that signed up for its fixed wireless 5G Home broadband service at launch last year.
As Verizon reported first-quarter earnings Tuesday, the company announced Verizon Wireless, wireless 5G home, and Fios wireline broadband customers will be able to subscribe to YouTube TV via Verizon.
Verizon said it will offer “unique, high-value YouTube TV promotions” across platforms, though details on what kind of discount or pricing that might mean was not disclosed.
“Our network and technology leadership uniquely positions us to lead the content revolution, which centers around choice for our customers,” said Erin McPherson, head of content strategy and acquisition at Verizon, in a statement. “As we pave the path forward on 5G, we’ll continue to bring our customers options and access to premium content by teaming up with the best providers in the industry and leveraging our network as-a service strategy. We were first in the world to bring commercial 5G to our customers and now another first on the content front as we offer our customers access to YouTube TV on whatever platform they choose.”
On Verizon’s earnings call Tuesday, CEO Hans Vestberg said the offering gives customers options for accessing YouTube TV, coming back to Verizon’s network-focused strategy and how the operator views its role in the ecosystem as a top distributor rather than content owner.
“With this partnership, we’re making it simple and seamless for Verizon’s customers to sign up to enjoy YouTube TV on-the-go on their mobile phones or tablets or at home on their big screen devices,” said Heather Rivera, Global Head of Product Partnerships at YouTube.
On Tuesday, Verizon reported Fios broadband net additions of 52,000, while losing 53,000 Fios Video subscribers. The company attributed video losses to the continued cord-cutting trend. Total Fios revenues were up 3.6 percent year over year to $3.1 billion, while total wireline revenues decreased 3.9 percent to $7.3 billion. Verizon said pricing pressures on legacy products and technology shifts contributed to wireline declines.
Verizon CFO Matthew Ellis on the earnings call said the company continues to expand services in the wireline segment, where Verizon’s fiber investments provide opportunities such as a wholesale partner basis, small business, and enterprises, in geographies that historically Verizon hasn’t competed in.
Verizon’s media unit struggled in the first quarter, with revenue down 7.2 percent, as client desktop advertising offset growth in mobile and native.
Check out how Verizon’s wireless segment did here.
