Verizon’s AOL Acquisition Sheds Light on ‘Over-The-Top’ Plan

As Verizon seeks to hang onto its TV viewers, the AOL deal allows the telcom giant to tap into advertising tech know-how

It’s been nearly a year and a half since Verizon acquired Intel’s ‘OnCue’ TV unit, with a goal of launching its own ‘over-the-top’ internet television service.ย  With that OTT launch expected this summer, Verizon is now paying roughly $4.4 billion to acquire AOL.

In January, Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam denied a report that a deal was in the works. “I think AOL along with lots of other media companies are potential for us to do partnering, on a commercial basis or whatever,” McAdam said at the time. “But to say that we are having significant acquisition discussions is really not accurate.”

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