US cable nets TBS and TNT are about to become the first national US entertainment networks in the industry to stream on-air content live across multiple platforms 24/7.
The live streams will become available on the networks’ websites and a pair of newly created Watch TNT and Watch TBS apps.
The announcement was made during TNT and TBS’s annual Upfront presentation in New York. Live streaming is the latest phase in the rollout of TV Everywhere, the industry-wide initiative that gives subscribers to cable, satellite and telco video services access to more of their favorite shows across a wide range of digital platforms.
“Starting this summer, subscribers will be able to watch TBS and TNT live – anytime, anywhere, on multiple devices,” Steve Koonin, president of Turner Entertainment Networks, told the Upfront audience. “Tablets and smartphones become television sets, bringing new opportunities for us and for advertisers.”
To watch the live streams, viewers will be required to log in using their cable or satellite-provider account information., so there will be no “over-the-top” access to the streams
Complete details about TNT and TBS’s live streaming plans, including the launch date, will be announced in the coming weeks.
The move from Turner Broadcasting follows an announcement by two ABC network affiliates to offer live streaming of their signals. The TV Everywhere concept was pioneered in the US by HBO, like Turner also a Time-Warner company, with the HBO Go service.
