Viacom to Introduce Non-Sports Streaming Pack Later This Year

CEO Bob Bakish suggests monthly cost in the $10 – $20 range

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Viacom is throwing its hat into the cord-cutting ring.

On Monday, CEO Bob Bakish signaled that the media giant would introduce a non-sports “entertainment pack” for streaming that would cost $10 – $20 monthly.

Speaking at the J.P. Morgan Global Technology, Media and Telecom Conference; Bakish said the new streaming option would include a few of Viacom’s competitors and be available later this year

The service would be “a very positive development for Viacom because when you look at our services, we still today have the largest share of viewing on pay TV on every demographic that we serve,” Bakish said.

The package would be latest entrant in the streaming arms race. YouTube and Hulu both recently announced live TV plans in the $35-40 monthly range. Bakish said a $40 price tag for streaming services is “highly unlikely” to be a hit unless the user is a sports fan.

Viacom’s TV slate includes Comedy Central, MTV, and Spike, among others.

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