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Verizon said it took down the news network last month because it
did not want to pay for it when viewers can access it for free
online. It remained unclear whether the companies could come to
an agreement allowing the network to return to Verizon's
customers.
"Bloomberg is proposing that we pay for content that they make
available to all consumers for free on their website and mobile
app," the company said in its alert to Verizon's FIOS TV
customers about the removal of Bloomberg TV.
Verizon is advising customers to go to Bloomberg's website and
app to watch Bloomberg TV, a Verizon spokeswoman said.
A spokesman for Bloomberg declined to comment.
Cable and satellite companies have been losing more subscribers,
making them much less willing to pay up for television
programing that is also available online.
Six U.S. cable providers, including Verizon, lost more than 1.6
million subscribers through the third quarter of 2017.
Verizon is one of a growing number of distributors that are
using a new negotiating tactic with programmers by referring
customers to the programmers' own streaming services. This week,
Altice USA Inc, advised customers to sign up for Starz' online
streaming service after it pulled its channels from 3.4 million
of its customers.
Meanwhile, Bloomberg has been focused on expanding its online
viewership. In December it launched a 24/7 news service with
Twitter to reach the microblogging service's 330 million active
users.
The service, called "TicToc by Bloomberg" is primarily new
content exclusive to the platform, but there is some overlap
with Bloomberg TV, according to sources familiar with the
situation.
(Reporting By Jessica Toonkel, additional reporting by Anjali
Athavaley in New York; Editing by David Gregorio)
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