Verizon Video shutting down in favor of Viewdini discovery app

Verizon Wireless (NYSE:VZ) is sunsetting its Verizon Video service on Dec. 15 in favor of Viewdini, the mobile video discovery application the operator launched at mid-year.

Originally introduced in 2005, Verizon Video--previously available under the VCast Video brand--offered television episodes, live streaming sports and news events from broadcast networks including ABC, NBC and CBS, as well as programming from cable mainstays including ESPN, MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon. The service was priced at $10 per month à la carte, and it was also included in Verizon's Smartphone App Pack alongside services like VZ Navigator and Visual Voicemail, for a bundled price of $12.99 month: "If you feel this diminishes the value of the bundle, you may log-in to www.MyVerizon.com or call Customer Care to have the feature removed from your account," Verizon said on the Verizon Video site.

"All other Calling Plans that had Verizon Video or VCast Video included will no longer offer the video service after the turn-down date," Verizon added. "If you feel this diminishes the value of the remaining services, please call customer care to be removed from the bundle."

Verizon unveiled the Viewdini portal in June, enabling customers with LTE-powered Android 4G, iPhone and iPad devices to discover and stream video content from partners including Comcast, Hulu, Netflix, Funny or Die and Vimeo as well as parent Verizon Communications' own FiOS. The Viewdini app is available for download from Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) App Store and Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) Play; the app is free, but viewing content counts toward the customer's data allotment.

In addition to Viewdini, Verizon Wireless will continue to offer its premium NFL Mobile service for iOS and Android. NFL Mobile streams NBC's marquee Sunday Night Football telecast, ESPN's venerable Monday Night Football franchise, the NFL Network's Thursday Night Football slate and the NFL RedZone network, which delivers every touchdown and key play from Sunday afternoon's action. NFL Mobile is priced at $5.00 per month.

Verizon is pulling the plug on Verizon Video just weeks after announcing it also will shutter its Verizon Apps storefront in early 2013. The carrier will begin winding down Verizon Apps in January and plans to complete the process by March 27, roughly three years after the storefront launched under the VCast Apps brand.

"There's now a whole new tech landscape in which both consumers and developers can interact like never before," the operator stated in a blog entry posted to the Verizon Developer Community website following the Verizon Apps announcement. "We're evolving our strategy to further simplify today's experience and meet the needs of tomorrow." Verizon Wireless notes that most apps sold through Verizon Apps are already available on multiple app storefronts, including Amazon Appstore for Android, Google Play and Research In Motion's (NASDAQ:RIMM) BlackBerry World. 

For more:
- check out the Verizon Video site
- read this All Things D article

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