Time to Cut the Cord? Sony Reported to Be Prepping Internet-Based Cable TV Replacement

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Kim Kyung Hoon / REUTERS

Cable companies’ worst cord-cutting nightmares may be about to come true, with new rumors emerging that Sony is considering launching an online alternative to cable TV. It’d apparently offer a variety of live programming available to anyone with an internet-enabled Sony device, cutting out the need for cable boxes, satellite dishes or even plain old antennae.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Sony has already started talking to “several big media companies” including NBCUniversal, Discovery Communications and News Corp. about the venture, which would apparently provide live content to PlayStation consoles as well as web-enabled Sony TVs and Blu-ray players.

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According to one anonymous source, Sony isn’t looking to offer bundled channel packages similar to the cable offerings already available, but may instead offer smaller, more targeted bundles at a far lower cost—something that may prove a problem in contract discussions with content providers unwilling to upset their largest customers by entering into agreements actively undercutting them.

When asked by the WSJ, a Sony spokesperson said, “As such with these kinds of speculations, we won’t be commenting on these rumors.”

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Graeme McMillan is a reporter at TIME. Find him on Twitter at @Graemem or on Facebook at Facebook/Graeme.McMillan. You can also continue the discussion on TIME’s Facebook page and on Twitter at @TIME.