Yes, Intel Is Building a Web TV Service (A Box, Too)
It was a poorly kept secret to begin with, but now it has finally been revealed: Intel is indeed developing an Internet TV service, and a set-top box to boot.
Speaking at D: Dive Into Media Tuesday, Erik Huggers, corporate vice president at Intel Media, confirmed rumors that have been circulating for months.
“We have been working for about a year now to set up a group called Intel Media,” Huggers said “It’s a new division with new people — people [we’ve hired] from Apple, Netflix and Google. And it’s devoted to developing an Internet television platform.”
That group’s mandate: Build the best Internet television service ever.
“For the first time, we will deliver a new consumer electronics product under a new brand,” Huggers said. “We’ll offer consumers a box, and they’ll buy this directly from us. It’ll be an Intel-powered device with fantastic industrial design. But it’s not just a device. We’re working with the entire industry to figure out how we get live TV to consumers over the Internet.”
Huggers said Intel is approaching the project as an all-in-one solution, one that includes not only live TV, but on-demand, catch-up TV, and apps as well. “We’re shooting for a service that incorporates literally everything. … But Rome wasn’t built in a day. It’ll take time.”
Huggers expects the unnamed service and box to launch this year.
Below, video of the interview.