Now Comcast has seen the writing on the wall and decided to voluntarily make its Xfinity app available on smart TVs and third part set-top boxes.
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In a limited program that will be gradually expanded, customers with a Roku TV, a Roku streaming media player, or a 2016 Samsung Smart TV “later this year” will be able to watch Comcast’s TV programming – including local broadcast, cable and DVR recordings stored in the cloud – through the Xfinity TV Partner app embedded in the TV set or via the Roku devices. “And the Xfinity TV Partner Program enables us to efficiently and effectively expand the range of devices our customers can utilize to do that”. The company already had live television apps that allow customers to stream shows and more from 70 channels on mobile devices.
“We remain committed to giving our customers more choice in how, when and where they access their subscription”, said Comcast Business and Industry Affairs SVP Mark Hess.
Comcast is trying to paint the expansion of its app program as a reason why the FCC doesn’t need to intervene in the set-top box marketplace. “These types of channels are very popular on Roku and offer a lot of convenience to our customers”, said Steve Shannon, GM of Content at Roku.
Today, Comcast announced the launch of its new ap that can replace the need for a cable box. Only people in places where Comcast provides cable service could get them, but they don’t have to get Comcast Internet, too.
Comcast content will be delivered to homes via Comcast’s managed IP network and not over public Internet connections.
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An FCC official was skeptical, saying the new program looks like “only a proprietary, Comcast-controlled user interface and seems to allow only Comcast content on different devices, rather than allowing those devices to integrate or search across Comcast content as well as other content consumers subscribe to”. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Roku streaming players and the Roku Streaming Stick are sold through major retailers in North America and Europe. Samsung and Roku are the first companies to participate. Roku is privately held and headquartered in Los Gatos, Calif., U.S.
