New details have emerged about the television streaming device Facebook Inc. is rumored to be developing.

Citing two anonymous sources and internal documents, The Information reported today that the social network seeks to partner with major media companies on the project.

Facebook’s goal is to make a selection of different TV streaming services available on the device as apps. As part of this push, the company is said to have approached Netflix Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Walt Disney Co., HBO and Hulu, which is majority-owned by Disney.

There’s no word on the progress of the talks. However, Facebook has already had some success forging content partnerships in the streaming market. Amazon Prime Video, YouTube and certain TV channels are accessible via the company’s first smart home gadget, the Portal.

The Portal (pictured) is a smart display that not only lends itself to consuming media but also supports video calls. It was previously reported that Facebook’s streaming device will revolve around these two features as well. The difference is that it apparently won’t have a built-in screen, but will rather interface with standalone TVs much like a set-top box.

The Information’s sources said the main focus of the product will be video calling. It’s expected to use the same communications technology as the Portal, notably its artificial intelligence camera, which automatically refocuses the lens on users as they move around. There will reportedly also be a remote control but no details are available on how it will work.

The streaming device may also feature the voice assistant Facebook is currently building for the Portal. Development on the software is led by Facebook Reality Labs, the division behind the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset. A potential future integration with the voice assistant might enable users to pull up TV shows and start video calls using spoken commands.  

Facebook is said to be aiming to release the new device in October, but the launch date could still be pushed back. The exact timing will likely depend heavily on the progress of its talks with streaming providers. 

Photo: Facebook