Comcast to launch video streaming product for broadband customers in 2019, report says
According to a report Wednesday, Comcast is looking to field a new streaming device in 2019 that offers existing broadband customers app-based access to online services like Netflix and Amazon Prime.
Apple TV provides access to hundreds of streaming channels and services.
Citing sources familiar with the matter, CNBC reports the streaming platform will debut some time next year as a set-top box with voice-activated remote control, much like devices from Apple and Amazon.
Comcast's product will present broadband customers a selection of online streaming services including Netflix, Amazon Prime and YouTube, the report said. Executives have not decided on the final number of apps and services that will be made available through the unannounced product, which is expected to debut as a set-top box, though the selection will likely be dwarfed by similar market offerings like Apple TV.
The supposed solution is said to build on X1, Comcast's existing digital platform that combines cable TV channels with streaming apps. While the new product will lack access to cable bundles, users will be able to rent content and upgrade to a video package, the report said.
As noted in the report, Comcast's platform is not designed to challenge devices like Apple TV and Amazon's Fire TV line, as offering a full host of video services through the new platform would cannibalize its bundled video products. Instead, the company is presenting the solution as an add-on for internet subscribers.
Similar to Apple TV, Comcast envisions the device as a hub for the connected home. Users will be able to control smart home appliances and other internet-connected devices, presumably through the voice-activated remote.
A timeline for release was not disclosed, though sources claim Comcast intends to market the set-top box to internet-only customers. Pricing is likewise unknown. It appears Comcast plans to sell access on a subscription basis, but has not yet decided on a monthly fee for the device.
Apple TV provides access to hundreds of streaming channels and services.
Citing sources familiar with the matter, CNBC reports the streaming platform will debut some time next year as a set-top box with voice-activated remote control, much like devices from Apple and Amazon.
Comcast's product will present broadband customers a selection of online streaming services including Netflix, Amazon Prime and YouTube, the report said. Executives have not decided on the final number of apps and services that will be made available through the unannounced product, which is expected to debut as a set-top box, though the selection will likely be dwarfed by similar market offerings like Apple TV.
The supposed solution is said to build on X1, Comcast's existing digital platform that combines cable TV channels with streaming apps. While the new product will lack access to cable bundles, users will be able to rent content and upgrade to a video package, the report said.
As noted in the report, Comcast's platform is not designed to challenge devices like Apple TV and Amazon's Fire TV line, as offering a full host of video services through the new platform would cannibalize its bundled video products. Instead, the company is presenting the solution as an add-on for internet subscribers.
Similar to Apple TV, Comcast envisions the device as a hub for the connected home. Users will be able to control smart home appliances and other internet-connected devices, presumably through the voice-activated remote.
A timeline for release was not disclosed, though sources claim Comcast intends to market the set-top box to internet-only customers. Pricing is likewise unknown. It appears Comcast plans to sell access on a subscription basis, but has not yet decided on a monthly fee for the device.
Comments
It's kind of ironic how the on-demand model is ultimately making things more fragmented and complex for people and may even end up leading to higher total fees, just divided among multiple providers.
so a compsny thats Not a hardware manufacturer is going to give people a compelling way to stream that beats what already out there (Apple TV, Roku —funny my iPhone pretends it doesn’t know how to spell roku—, Chromecast, etc.).
Its not a matter of a compelling device and service combo. It’s just a way to milk customers.
“No. We don’t want to have our content on this great hardware that you prefer mr. And ms. Customer. We want you to use our crappy device to view our content. And we want you to pay extra to do that.”
comcast is going to disappear if they go this route. It’s super old school thinking. And when I say that, I mean the old school that now defunct businesses went to.
If you are a content company then focus on focus on compelling content and easy access. not sandbox thinking.
I cant believe they’d be this stupid.
-- Transition from cable TV to internet based apps
Their service has improved greatly, but the normal model of customer service is not very good.
I will offer this. If you use @comcastcares instead of calling or using the regular website's chat, you will get better and faster service and not be on hold for an eternity. It is responded to from Philly- not your local office and they have proved much more capable and far less frustrating.
Dollars to donuts if you try to subscribe through your own broadband connection like you do now, Comcast will either throttle or block it to force you to use their service. Net Neutrality is gone. It's legal now.
Thank you Ajit Pai
Really bad analogy. JFYI Betamax was far superior even if the home buyer went for the crappy cheap VHS rival. Beta lived on until digital video in the form of the professional market as BetaSP. We had $65,000 Sony cameras than ran on BetaSP tape format as did multiple BetaSP editing decks costing $12-20,000 each (dubbing and all that good fun). Most of the TV you ever watched in the 90's was shot, edited and distributed using Sony's beta tape format. Not so much VHS.