CEO: Verizon/Yahoo acquisition to close in June, followed by new OTT service

It’s been quite the odyssey, but Verizon’s acquisition of Yahoo is finally expected to close in mid-June, according to Verizon CEO and Chairman Lowell McAdam. McAdam broke the news in Boston, at J.P. Morgan’s Global Technology, Media and Telecom Conference. He let slip one other notable tidbit as well: Once the deal is finished, Verizon plans to use the combination of AOL and Yahoo as a “platform…to test out an over-the-top service.” McAdam didn’t offer any details as to what the service might look like, but prior reports have indicated that the telco is interested in launching a skinny TV bundle, similar to services like AT&T’s DirecTV Now and Dish’s Sling TV.

McAdam’s announcement wasn’t the only skinny bundle news at the J.P. Morgan summit. Viacom CEO Bob Bakish told investors that the company is in “very advanced discussions” with satellite and cable companies to launch a new skinny bundle offering that does away with sports and news. Bakish said the new bundle would cost only $10 – $20 per month.

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