Verizon in talks to offer Web/mobile TV service

• Verizon (NYSE:VZ) CEO Lowell McAdam says he has personally talked with CEOs of major content providers about offering FiOS video content nationwide, and over both broadband and mobile networks.
• The comments come six weeks after Verizon struck a deal to buy the assets of Intel's stillborn Web TV unit, and shortly after Dish reached a deal with Disney that gives it the right to offer Disney channels as part of a separate streaming service.
• There were reports at the time of the Intel deal that Verizon wanted to use the assets to offer online TV services in areas not covered by FiOS.
• Intel's efforts were thwarted by stalled licensing talks and the opposition of incumbent pay-TV providers such as Time Warner Cable. Verizon, already a major client of media giants (via FiOS), might have more leverage.
• If Verizon's effort gets off the ground, it could benefit Synacor (NASDAQ:SYNC), whose software powers FiOS' existing TV Everywhere services.