T-Mobile announces free video-streaming it says won’t hurt your data plan

Firing the next salvo in the cell-phone service wars, T-Mobile announced Tuesday that it is offering its customers free video- streaming on services such as Netflix, Hulu and Sling TV.

The announcement, made during a media event in Los Angeles, means customers can stream video without impacting their data usage. The free streaming will begin Sunday.

According to T-Mobile, free streaming through its “Binge On” promotion will be offered on two dozen services,  including ESPN, Fox Sports, Fox Sports Go, HBO Now, HBO Go, Hulu, NBC Sports, Netflix, Sling TV, Sling Box, Showtime, Starz and Vevo.

“With Binge On, no one pays — not the customers, not the video streaming services and everyone wins,” said T-Mobile CEO John Legere.

According to the company, rising demand for streaming video has led to a large increase in data overage fees for cell phone users. According to T- Mobile, cell phone companies carriers will collect about $2.4 billion this year in data-overage penalties, up 60 percent from last year.

— Wire reports