Comcast Corp. (CMCSA), the largest cable multi-service operator (MSO) in the U.S., has decided to change how it offers its Xfinity Streampix Service. Streampix is a subscription based on-demand video streaming service, an enhancement of the company’s pay-TV offerings, which provide traditional TV shows and Xfinity on-demand shows for TV sets and broadband devices. Xfinity Streampix offers instant movie viewing both in and outside homes on multiple platforms like TV sets, computers and mobile devices.
There was some confusion regarding remarks made to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that Streampix was being discontinued as a service of Xfinity. In fact, Streampix is not going away or being dropped. That mention in the FCC remarks was in reference to a trial the company was conducting in a limited number of markets to offer Streampix as a standalone service to our Xfinity Internet customers (in most markets it’s packaged with Xfinity TV or bought as an add-on to the service for $4.99/month). Comcast discontinued that limited broadband-only trial.
Comcast is decommissioning the standalone Streampix app and website, but all the content will remain; customers will now just be able to access it directly from our Xfinity TV Go app and website versus having to go to a separate website or app.
Nevertheless, TV streaming service is gradually gaining popularity in the U.S. We believe that the growing deployment of super-fast 4G LTE wireless technology and significant adoption of portable mobile devices are the primary reasons behind the popularity of Internet TV. Several mid-sized US cable TV operators have added Netflix (NFLX) service on their set-top boxes.
Meanwhile, DISH Network Corp. (DISH) has postponed the launch of its Internet TV service from mid-2014 to the end of this year. Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) purchased the unsuccessful Internet TV platform of Intel (INTC) and is currently negotiating with several content providers to live stream their shows. Verizon is scheduled to launch this service from mid-2015.
Likewise, AT&T Inc. (T) has entered into a partnership with Chernin Group to offer Internet TV services by the end of this year. The company will invest over $500 million in this venture.
(We are reissuing this article to correct a mistake. The original article, issued Wednesday, October 1, 2014, should no longer be relied upon.)
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