Sprint Nextel plans tweaks to music, video services

Sprint Nextel Corp. will bulk up its music and video offerings for its Vision and Power Vision data subscribers beginning next month.
The carrier, in a billing insert to its customers, said it will drop its Sirius Hits streaming music service in favor of 10 genre-based channels of mobile music. The carrier also said it plans to expand its basic Sprint TV service, adding content from CNN, The Weather Channel, E!, NFL Network and Fox Sports.
A spokesman for the operator declined to disclose details on the changes in service. “The information on (the bill) is about all I can provide at this point,” the spokesman said. “I can provide more information later.”
Sprint Nextel offers a variety of streaming music and video services, some of which are available through the carrier’s basic data package while others are available for an additional fee.
The moves are notable as Sprint Nextel recently said it does not intend to launch Qualcomm Inc.’s MediaFLO mobile TV service, a move that could indicate the carrier will instead rely on its current mobile TV offerings already available through its CDMA network.
Sprint Nextel is also in the process of deploying a high-speed WiMAX network in various major U.S. cities.