Sony reached a preliminary accord to stream cable television programming from Viacom over the Internet to TVs, game consoles and Blu-ray players, a source said.
Under the deal, Tokyo-based Sony would use the Web to deliver shows such as “SpongeBob SquarePants” and “Teen Wolf” to homes with those products, bypassing traditional pay TV providers, said the person. The service also would sell Viacom shows and movies on demand, the person said.
Sony has been seeking such agreements to supplement the films and TV shows from its own studio and television business, which it plans to offer consumers who buy the company’s electronics. Chief Executive Officer Kazuo Hirai is pushing his “One Sony” vision to unite the company’s electronics products, including mobile devices and TVs, with games, music and film content.
The parties must still execute a definitive agreement, the person said.
After posting a profit in smartphones and television sets, CEO Hirai has committed the company to rejuvenating a film unit that slumped to No. 6 at the US box office this year.
Like Intel, Microsoft and Google, Sony has struggled to obtain movies and shows for an Internet-based entertainment service. Major film and TV producers fear such services will jeopardize the $100 billion a year in fees they share with cable, phone and satellite TV providers.
Sony stock closed at $19.86, down 22 cents, yesterday.