[opendtv] Now Comcast is moving to TV anytime, anywhere...
- From: Craig Birkmaier <craig@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: OpenDTV Mail List <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2009 08:26:33 -0500
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/16/business/media/16comcast.html?th&emc=th
Comcast Introduces a Streaming TV Service
By BRIAN STELTER
Published: December 16, 2009
Comcast, the nation's largest cable operator, said Tuesday that its
customers could now watch thousands of television episodes online
that were previously unavailable. It said the new service, "Fancast
Xfinity TV," was a major step toward what it calls "anytime, anywhere
media."
With a growing number of people bypassing their cable subscriptions
and watching movies and television online, Comcast and other
operators have scrambled to set up streaming video sites. Their goal
is to ensure that people stay connected to cable programming, even if
they watch the programs on their computers. The cable industry
initiative is often called "TV Everywhere."
Comcast is the first major cable operator to introduce its streaming
site. Initially the service will be available to customers who pay
Comcast for both broadband Internet and digital cable.
Comcast customers will log in to the Xfinity service via Comcast.net
or Fancast.com and will have to install a program before using the
service for the first time. The sites rely on an authentication
system to block nonsubscribers.
Because Xfinity is available only to Comcast cable subscribers, the
service will include premium shows that aren't on Hulu, the leading
Web site for free TV viewing. Comcast's partners in the service
include A&E, AMC, Discovery Channel, History, TLC and TNT - cable
channels that have been generally reluctant to place their shows
online for fear of cannibalizing their traditional audience.
"There's an astounding amount of content that has not been online
before," said Tom Blaxland, a senior director of product for Comcast
Interactive Media.
The authentication system will also determine which channels each
subscriber has access to. Subscribers to HBO, for instance, will be
able to use the service to watch every episode of "The Sopranos" and
the most recent season of "Curb Your Enthusiasm."
Comcast has been testing the service since last summer. "The feedback
from the beta customers has been great - actually, it has been
fabulous," said Amy Banse, the president of Comcast Interactive Media.
Comcast's service does not yet have a content deal with NBC
Universal, the media company that it is acquiring. But the site does
include the NBC shows that are available on Hulu.
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