Related: T-Mobile Promises to Stir Up Pay TV Market
Layer3 TV (the name refers to the IP layer of the Open Systems Interconnection stack) was founded in 2013 by Jeff Binder, founder of Broadbus Technologies, and Dave Fellows, former CTO of Comcast. Here’s a snapshot of moments that led to the T-Mobile deal:
March 2014: Layer3 TV emerges from stealth mode with a $21 million “A” round led by North Bridge Venture Partners and Evolution Media Growth Partners, billing itself as a “next-generation cable operator.”
September 2014: Layer3 TV opens new headquarters in Denver’s vibrant LoDo district. Colorado had earlier awarded $2.9 million in job growth incentive tax credits along with workforce development and technical assistance.
October 2014: Lindsay Gardner, a pay TV vet late of Fox Networks and Cox Communications, is named content advisory board chair of Layer3 TV, and later takes on the role of chief content officer.
June 2015: Layer3 TV announces a $51-million “B” round.
January 2016: Details emerge about “Umio,” the brand for a pay TV service in two markets in Texas being delivered by Layer3 TV. It later turns out that Layer3 TV was testing the service in partnership with Suddenlink Communications, an early investor.
September 2016: Layer3 TV launches service in Chicago, starting off with a baseline package of more than 200 channels in HD, including local broadcast TV feeds, starting at $75 per month.
March 2017: Starts to offer a small selection of live and on-demand content in 4K.
May 2017: Adds broadband to bundle in the Washington, D.C., market, reselling a 100-Mbps service using Verizon’s fiber network.
Dec. 13, 2017: T-Mobile announces deal to acquire Layer3 TV.
Jan. 23, 2018: T-Mobile closes acquisition of Layer3 TV.
