NimbleTV is a startup that has big goals and the company took its first step as it launched the beta of its service. The firm wants to provide TV to users on any device they choose as long as they pay a monthly subscription. The concept of “TV Everywhere” is not new and cable companies have been working on it for three years although they have yet to deliver. NimbleTV claims that it has the technology to get the idea into the mainstream at minimal cost.
NimbleTV will use the internet to deliver TV to a user’s mobile device, laptop or tablet. The user has to pay for the cable or satellite but it is Nimble’s job to get that onto the user’s device of choice.
The idea may sound simple but bigger player have not been able to penetrate the market. NimbleTV will not use the set-top box that many people have connected to the screen at home and instead will get accounts from number of providers of subscription channels at its own location and then push that signal onto the internet.
250 users in New York City will get the service for free according to NimbleTV CEO Anand Subramanian. When the company launches full scale in the first half of 2013, the startup expects to charge a $20 a month fee. This will be an additional charge to the cable or satellite subscription fee the user has to already pay. The service is not expected to cut out the cable operators and instead is focused on giving the user mobility of their channels.
If NimbleTV is able to get up its numbers in any significant way, it will foster competition between the cable companies around the country. This is because a user can buy any package from any operator and get it on their devices any where they want. Geographic specific programming would also have to rethink their model. However, this could also mean the cable guys may end up fighting Nimble it self.
Nimble believes that it is similar to EchoStar’s Slingbox and since that box based technology has never be challenged in court they should not have any problems either. Subramanian explains that, “We’re simply giving consumers the tools to be able to to take the TV they’ve paid for, anywhere they want to.”
NimbleTV has received has receive funding from Tribune, Greycroft Partners and Tribeca Venture Partnersto for a total of $6 million.
Source: All Things D
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