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State of the Screens

Verizon Is Shutting Down Go90, Its Ill-Fated Mobile Video Service

By July 11, 2018No Comments

Verizon is shutting down its ad-supported streaming service (Go90).

Go90 launched 3 years ago and peaked at ≈17M unique viewers per month.

Why this matters: The promise of Go90 was combining Verizon’s subscriber data with ad-supported video content delivered OTT. Verizon is retreating at the exact time when their #1 rival (AT&T) is making big moves in this area.

Flashback #1: Verizon Expands Deal for NBA Games

Flashback #2: In New NFL Deal, Verizon Trades Mobile Exclusivity for Rights on Yahoo

Verizon agreed to pay $2.25B over 5 years to expand its ability to live stream NFL games beyond Verizon mobile phones.

Which properties can Verizon live stream on?
1) Yahoo
2) Yahoo Sports
3) Go90
4) NFL Mobile app

Fun jab: T-Mobile CEO (John Legere) took a shot at Verizon on Twitter.

More #1: If Verizon’s recent media deals are any guide, it may be a while before AT&T reaps the benefits of buying Time Warner for ads

More #2: Go90 promised to reinvent the TV ad model. Insteadit’s shutting down

More #3: Some advertisers are cooling on Oath and losing faith in Tim Armstrong’s vision

Michael Beach

Michael Beach is the Chief Executive Officer of Cross Screen Media, a media analytics and software company that enables marketers to plan, activate, and measure CTV and linear TV at the local level. Michael is also the founder and editor of State of the Screens, a weekly newsletter focused on video advertising that is a must-read for thought leaders in the advertising industry. He has appeared in such publications as PBS Frontline, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Axios, CNBC and Bloomberg, and on NPR’s Planet Money podcast.