T-Mobile CEO John Legere slams Verizon and AT&T, announces 16 new Binge On partners

Today T-Mobile’s controversial CEO John Legere took his video blog to announce that T-Mobile has added 16 new partners to their streaming service Binge On. For those not in the know, Binge On is a program that allows users to stream music and video content over their LTE network connection without that data use contributing toward their monthly allotment.

The addition of these new partners pushes the number of video services available for Binge On over the 100 mark. T-Mobile claims that this service has “sent shockwaves through the mobile industry” by enabling consumers to stream unprecedented amounts of content without concern for data overages.

Notable among these new additions are ABC, FOX NOW, FXNOW, NAT GEO TV, Apple Music, and the Disney Channel. Featured prominently in the video announcement is D-PAN.TV, a channel that provides American sign language content for the hearing impaired.

Never one to balk from confrontation, John Legere also used this announcement to slam AT&T and Verizon’s attempts to pull off a similar program. His words directed at Verizon’s Go90 program are particularly cutting:

Unlike Dumb and Dumber, we actually work with our providers. We didn’t create a bullshit proprietary or competitive service that nobody asked for – and frankly, nobody really fucking cares about. Ahem, I’m looking at you, Verizon and Go90.

Legere also pointed out that some services are reporting a 200 percent increase in mobile streaming after partnering with T-Mobile’s program. He says he likes to call this the “Binge On” effect.

Clearly a message to both consumers and potential partners, T-Mobile boasts that Binge On users have streamed over 765 million hours of video without using a single kilobyte of plan data since the program’s inception. They report that 100 percent of existing partners have reported that the technical requirements for joining Binge On were “straightforward and easy to comply with” with nearly 80 percent describing the process as either “easy” or “very easy.”

What are your thoughts regarding T-Mobile’s Binge On program? It’s proven to be something of a controversy in terms of data throttling and net neutrality. Give us your take in the comments below!

[press]Bellevue, Washington — July 26, 2016 —The Un-carrier smashed another major milestone today. In his latest video blog, T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) CEO and president John Legere just announced that Un-carrier customers can now stream video from more than 100 video services without ever touching their high-speed data with Binge On! That’s 4x more streaming providers than just eight months ago when Binge On debuted and sent shockwaves through the mobile industry. Today, ABC, Apple Music, Disney, DISH Anywhere, FOX NOW and NAT GEO TV, along with CEEK VR, D-PAN.TV – the sign language channel, DramaFever, Shalom World and others are joining the Un-carrier’s iconic video streaming initiative. And, as always, T-Mobile customers can still watch up to three-times longer on ALL other video services, making their high-speed data stretch even farther.

“Over 100 streaming services on board in just eight months and 765 MILLION hours of video streamed data-free so far. Binge On’s popularity with consumers and video providers is amazing!” said Legere. “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – it’s all about listening to your customers and doing what they want! So glad Dumb and Dumber keep getting it wrong!”

As of today, T-Mobile customers have already streamed more than 765 million hours of video data-free. That’s more than 87,000 years of back-to-back non-stop watching without eating up a single byte of high-speed data. And, that doesn’t even count the hundreds of millions of extra hours customers have watched because their high-speed data lasts up to three-times longer when streaming video with Binge On.

Of course, that translates into a big boost for Binge On services. Today, T-Mobile also published new data from a July survey of Binge On providers that underscores the big-time benefits video companies of all sizes are seeing with Binge On. 80% of those surveyed are seeing customers watch longer, watch more frequently or watch more on mobile phones. And, providers see deeper customer engagement ahead. Among providers who shared their insights:
85% expect customers to watch longer,
80% expect customers to watch more often, and
45% of those with paid subscriptions, expect to sell more subscriptions because of Binge On.

Binge On is completely free to customers AND providers, so T-Mobile invites every streaming service to sign on. Joining couldn’t be more straightforward. In fact, 100% of existing providers surveyed reported that the technical requirements for joining Binge On were “straightforward and easy to comply with,” and 100% described joining Binge On as neutral or easy, with 79% saying it was “easy” or “very easy.”

It’s no wonder then that the ranks of Binge On services is skyrocketing. The full list of new providers joining Binge On today include:
ABC
Apple Music
Big Ten Network
CEEK VR
DISH Anywhere
Disney Channel
Disney Jr.
Disney XD
D-PAN.TV
DramaFever
FOX NOW
FXNOW
NAT GEO TV
Shalom World
Sioeye
Tubi TV

More information and the full list of more than 100 Binge On services can be found at www.t-mobile.com/bingeon. If your favorite video provider isn’t part of the program, tweet us your favorite service @TMobile, along with the hashtag #BingeOn.[/press]