CBS Corp. and Comcast Corp.’s NBCUniversal are close to joining the new paid-video service that’s set to be unveiled by YouTube this month, according to three people with knowledge of the discussions.
Their willingness to participate in the advertising-free version of YouTube marks a reversal of sorts and reflects the Google Inc.-owned site’s importance in reaching younger viewers. The major record labels and several of YouTube’s other partners have already joined. Time Warner Inc.’s Turner Broadcasting division, which operates CNN and TBS, said Friday it will take part, as did A+E Networks.
