The service will launch in beta form later this year, with a full service launching as early as March 2020, according to sources. AT&T’s Warner Media is also eyeing rolling out a cheaper, ad-supported version later in 2020. The company has not said which countries would be part of the rollouts. AT&T did not reply to a request for comment. (Wall Street Journal, Reuters)

Talking point: This latest offering would place AT&T in competition with established streaming giant Netflix and other major players such as Hulu, Bell Media’s Crave and Amazon Prime Video. In May, my colleague Murad reported that Amazon Prime Video Channels was planning a Canadian launch of its online cable-package alternative, which lets Amazon Prime Video users buy additional on-demand subscriptions and digital versions of TV channels. The service went live in the country in early June. Government documents show broadcasters’ concern that the launch could pose an  “existential threat to the regulatory system.” Disney also plans to launch a streaming service in the U.S. in 2019 called Disney Plus, with a greater North American launch set for early 2020.