Cable industry tech supplier Pioneer might be in for a rough ride with its cable operator customers. The electronics giant is launching today an invite-only beta version of a new online service called SyncTV.
SyncTV aims to allow customers to buy individual cable channels and download any program from the channels offered. Details are sketchy at best -- Pioneer isn't saying which cable networks are part of the beta and although SyncTV plans to charge monthly subscription fees of $2 to $4, along with per program download fees of $2, the service will also supposedly be ad-supported, in part.
With so little info, SyncTV seems like a gimmicky test-run for Pioneer rather than a full-fledged service. It's hard to imagine that many big name cable networks will offer their full real-time line-ups on Pioneer, even if CBS-owned Showtime seems to be one of the participants in the beta test. Moreover, hardware and technology suppliers don't have the best track record in offering entertainment services. But these days you never know.
Cynthia Brumfield at 10:11 AM|Comments(0)
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