It’s bad news for TV viewers interested in alternative services as Intel has apparently decided to give up on its exciting aspirations for a subscription TV service. AllThingsD reports that Intel is currently in talks with Verizon to “hand over control of Intel Media, the unit that has been trying to build a Web-based subscription TV service.” Rumors surrounding the service have been circulating for months, but Intel never public unveiled the set-top box that would run its service, nor did the company set a date for its release.
The service had the potential to revolutionize TV viewing, automatically storing days worth of television on server farms in order to give users access to an exponentially more robust DVR. AllThingsD notes that Intel has no experience in the field, so the chances of this project coming together without a hitch were more than unlikely to begin with. On the other hand, Verizon already has access to a huge base of TV subscribers. Implementing this new service could give Verizon an edge in a very crowded market.
Neither company commented on the story, and there is no word yet on whether Verizon might acquire the entire Intel Media division, or if Intel might retain some of the business.
