Facebook, Twitter compete for live TV rights -NY Post

(Reuters) - Facebook Inc and Twitter Inc are vying to buy rights to stream conventional TV programming, the New York Post reported on Thursday.

Both companies have approached programmers about a deal, the Post said, citing several sources familiar with the situation. (http://nyp.st/1MqVAbB)

Facebook, which is already in talks with the National Football League for digital rights to Thursday Night Football, has met with a wide range of TV executives over the past few weeks, sources told the Post.

However, it was not known how Facebook would deliver the shows, sources who heard the pitch told the newspaper.

"Our goal with live video is to work with our partners to move to a sustainable monetization model quickly," Facebook said in a statement.

"We are not focused on acquiring the rights to conventional TV programs."

Twitter declined to comment.

(Reporting by Ismail Shakil and Abhirup Roy in Bengaluru and Yasmeen Abutaleb in San Francisco; Editing by Sandra Maler; Editing by Sayantani Ghosh)