I’m no weathervane (or AM I?!?) but it seems the wind is shifting in the land of TV content and Internet streaming. Sony and Viacom are reportedly close to a deal that would allow network programs from MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and the like to be carried on a system Sony’s working on.

This would be a set-up to compete with cable and satellite services, something consumers sick of bundling channels have been foaming at the mouth for practically since the Internet sprung from the mind of Al Gore. He invented it, right?

Anyway, the Los Angeles Times cites top-secret sources familiar with the matter, and where there’s smoke, we definitely think there’s gonna be at least a tiny fire.

Viacom would win the award of first major entertainment company okay with selling its content in an over-the-top distribution system. It’s been a hard row to hoe, convincing programmers to potentially tick off traditional satellite and cable carriers, but it appears Sony has done some serious wooing.

It remains to be seen, however, exactly how much this would cost consumers — Sony will likely have to shell out a pretty penny to get the programming it’s seeking, just like traditional pay-TV providers do. And bundling? That could still be a thing: You may be paying for VH1 Classics when all you want is Comedy Central.

We’ll just have to wait and see, and watch that weathervane for any signs of real changes in the weather.

Viacom and Sony near deal for over-the-top service [Los Angeles Times]

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