Google teams up with CBS for its upcoming streaming TV service

Google has landed a deal with CBS for its new TV subscription service that will launch in early 2017, reports The Wall Street Journal. The paid subscription service called “Unplugged” would launch under the YouTube brand with access to a number of channels for a flat price of $25 to $40 per month.

Reportedly, Google is also said to be close to reaching deals with both 21st Century Fox and Disney, putting it one step closer to establishing a streaming service.

Google's YouTube Unplugged offering is aimed at cord cutters and is the type of television service that Apple was hoping to provide to customers before its streaming television plans were put on hold.

Before launching a new Apple TV last year, Cupertino giant was in talks with CBS for such a service, in what CBS CEO Les Moonves characterized as "an ongoing conversation," but Apple eventually lost its interest.

Notably, Apple has been trying to create some kind of streaming television service for many years but has continually run into negotiation difficulties with content providers due to its "hard-nosed" negotiating tactics.

Google’s forthcoming service is similar to YouTube Red, the offline subscription service launched last year, but will operate separately from Red for both consumers and content owners.