Sony and Viacom are reportedly close to a deal that would being Viacom’s popular cable channels to an Internet TV device Sony has in the works.
A source confirmed the news to The Wall Street Journal, but both Sony and Viacom offered no comment. The source added that the deal has not closed just yet.
If the deal does happen, it could be the first major deal between a major media company and a technology giant that flies in the face of traditional media models, notes The New York Times. The deal could break open an interest in online television, since Viacom’s most popular cable networks are MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon.
However, Sony would also need to secure deals with other companies and the WSJ’s source claims that the company is talking with CBS Corp., Time Warner and The Walt Disney Company.
Internet TV would finally provide consumers with an option for cable beyond the major cable companies and satellite providers. Sony’s effort could also be helped by being available through several sources, including its upcoming PlayStation 4, its tablets and TVs. However, Sony has kept its plans for Internet TV a mystery.
Intel and Google are also making efforts to break into Internet TV.