The T-Mobile Binge On and Music Freedom platforms now claim more than 100 content providers, with the carrier adding a handful of new partners
T-Mobile US added a handful of new streaming video and music services to its Binge On and Music Freedom platforms, which the carrier said now includes more than 100 total content providers.
For its Binge On video service, T-Mobile US’ most recent additions include Dailymotion, Epix, OVGuide, OwnZones, Viki, YipTV, 120 Sports, Nickelodeon, Spike and TV Land, pushing the number of video content providers to more than 60. For Music Freedom the latest additions include Amazon Music, ESPN Radio, Ohio.FM, PreDanz and Uforia, pushing the overall selection to more than 40 content providers.
T-Mobile US said the video partners represent 70% of all video content watched by its customers from their mobile devices, with the music partners representing 96% of all streamed content. Both services allow T-Mobile US customers with qualifying rate plans to stream content from those providers without impacting their cellular data bucket.
Breaking down usage, T-Mobile US claims customers have streamed 90 billion songs through the Music Freedom service since its launch in mid-2014, and are streaming an average of 210 million songs per day. The Binge On platform is said to be stimulating twice as much consumption from the video partners, with more than 190 hours of total video content streamed via the platform since its launch last November.
Both offerings have been scrutinized by regulators as potential violators of the Federal Communications Commission’s Open Internet rules. The FCC sent a letter to T-Mobile US seeking additional insight into the Binge On service, though FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler initially stated he did not think the service violated net neutrality or Open Internet provisions, indicating the offer was “highly innovative and highly competitive.” FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai had previously questioned the Music Freedom offering.
T-Mobile US CEO John Legere has been adamant in defending the streaming services, arguing the platforms provide consumers with overall control of the content. Looking to further head off regulatory concerns, T-Mobile US recently instituted new control parameters that allow content providers to also have a say in the quality of the video content streamed through the platform. This move began last month with the addition of Google’s YouTube platform that allows for a mobile-optimized video stream when a T-Mobile US customer with Binge On activated begins streaming a YouTube video clip. However, videos transmitted outside of the Binge On optimization will continue to count against a customer’s data allotment.
“We think these changes, which T-Mobile is making for all users and video providers on a non-preferential basis, can help ensure that the program works well for all users and the entire video ecosystem,” Google noted in a blog post on the topic.
YouTube had initially claimed video compression technology at the heart of the Binge On service was throttling YouTube videos and impacting quality. Content providers looking to remain outside of the Binge On optimization, but part of the Binge On overall platform, will need to meet “straightforward technical criteria” T-Mobile US said will allow the carrier to reliably identify the video stream. T-Mobile US customers are still able to control whether they want to implement the Binge On video optimization.
T-Mobile US earlier this year rolled out a short code control option that allows customers to check or change their Binge On settings from their mobile device. The carrier also “streamlined” online access to settings in customer accounts and rolled out an update to its T-Mobile application to provide further customization options.
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