Comcast

Oct 17 2012

News - FCC to Allow Encryption of Basic Cable Channels

By Matthew Miller

Earlier this year, Boxee and the Consumer Electronics Agency teamed up for a scuffle with the cable companies. The dispute arose as the FCC was reviewing rules that prevented cable companies from encrypting basic tier channels. Cable companies had been restricted from encrypting these channels for a number of years, but the FCC was reviewing whether the restrictions should remain in place as part of the review of the analog must-carry rules. Boxee and other consumer electronics manufacturers were concerned that they were about to be locked out of offering products that could be plugged directly into a coaxial jack. 

The FCC has decided to go ahead with raising the prohibition on basic channel encryption, but the 6 major cable companies will have to meet one of two criteria before they can move ahead. The cable companies can choose to offer converter boxes such as the ones that Boxee and Comcast agreed to work on this summer that will enable devices to receive the encrypted signal, with the stipulation that the convertors be made available for free for a minimum of two years. Alternatively, the cable companies will have to develop software-based decryption systems that can be licensed to CE manufacturers for inclusion in their devices. Undoubtedly the cable companies already have a phalanx of accountants crunching numbers to see which nets the greatest return in the long run: rental fees for the convertors or licensing fees for the software-based solution.

The days of plugging a TV into the wall and getting cable are coming to an end. After a lengthy review process, the FCC has granted cable operators permission to encrypt their most basic cable programming. But the commission is inserting a number of measures it's hoping will prevent the public from suddenly finding themselves without access and open the door for third-party set-top boxes like the upcoming Boxee TV. 

The Verge

Jul 24 2012

News - Comcast Xfinity TV Player Adds Beta Support for Nexus 7, Jelly Bean

By Matthew Miller

With rumors of Google's new tablet selling out, we can probably expect to see a number of media and streaming service providers following Comcast's lead in announcing explicit support for the Nexus 7. Comcast has announced that their Xfinity TV Player has been updated with beta support for the Nexus 7, not to mention beta support for the forthcoming Jelly Bean update of Android. There was a fair amount of anticipation about the future of Android media tablets when the Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet hit the scene, but the two tablets took such a custom route that neither tablet seemed to have much of an impact on the overall Android app ecosystem. However, with Google apparently scoring a hit, that looks set to change.

Xfinity on Nexus 7

Comcast subscribers who have already received their Nexus 7 tablets or are sporting Android 4.1-powered phones should cast an eye towards Google Play for an updated version of theXfinity TV Player app. Version 1.0.2.001 adds beta support forJelly Beanin general and theNexus 7tablet specifically.

 Engadget

Jul 03 2012

News - Boxee and Comcast Reach Agreement, Developing System to Access Encrypted Basic Cable Channels

By Matthew Miller

Boxee Live TV Screen

Back in February, Boxee and the Consumer Electronics Association announced that they were working together to convince the FCC not to overturn rules that required cable television service providers to offer basic tier channels unencrypted. The FCC had indicated that they were open to revisiting the rules regarding unencrypted cable channels as part of a required review of rules requiring service providers to offer both analog and digital transmissions. Cable television service providers, anticipating a relaxation of the rules requiring analog retransmission, were hoping to further streamline their digital offerings by turning on encryption for all tiers. Boxee, who had just recently released their Boxee Live TV add-on, was concerned that the move would shut them out as encryption would return cable television service to the days when every subscriber had to have a set top box all of the time.

In a filing with the FCC last week, Boxee and Comcast announced that they have come to an agreement and are working together to develop a system that would allow retail consumer electronics to access encrypted basic tier channels. Initially, the system would involve an ethernet-based digital transport adapter (E-DTA) that would sit between the set top box and the consumer electronics device. In the long term, their plan calls for a standard for an integrated E-DTA that would eliminate the need for a set top box or service provider supplied E-DTA. This does not appear to have any impact on the development of CableCard or AllVid, but would rather serve as a modern update on establishing cable-ready TVs and devices. Access for such devices would still be restricted to basic-tier channels. Although the agreement is only between Comcast and Boxee, the language does suggest that the two companies could offer the solution as an industry standard, however, without a timeline or specific details on which standards bodies would provide certification, it might be a good idea not to get one's hopes up until other companies or organizations start to weigh in on the concept.

Boxee users may soon be able to access encrypted basic cable channels, thanks to an agreement with Comcast.

In a June 27 filing with the Federal Communications Commission, the companies said they have resolved a dispute over access to Comcast's basic-cable tiers via devices like Boxee's Live TV dongle.

PC Magazine

May 22 2012

News - Comcast Shows Off New X1 UI

By Matthew Miller

It's been several months since we last heard Comcast chatting up their new settop box UI. At the time, the new UI was codenamed Xcalibur and Comcast was hinting at the ways they were looking to integrate the app experience from mobile platforms with a revamped high-definition live TV and DVR interface. Evidently, things are about to get real. Comcast took to the Cable Show in Boston this week to not only show off the new interface, now called X1, but also demonstrate that the new UI is really just part of a complete software platform. X1 aims to combine traditional live TV services with streaming and on-demand video services, along with extended information apps for displaying things like weather and traffic and integrating other services such as Pandora and Facebook. I wouldn't count on seeing a Netflix app anytime soon, but it certainly appears that Comcast is hoping to leverage software to expand and enhance Comcast services more rapidly in the face of growing streaming media competition. Folks interested in home automation will also be interested in checking out Project Dayview, a dashboard for the TV or computing devices that consolidates information and tasks from all of a subscriber's Xfinity services, including remote DVR control and home security monitoring.

Comcast X1 Search

Comcast SVP Marcien Jenckes tells us that there are two parts to the rollout of X1. The first is geographical: it's coming to Boston on May 30th, then five to ten major markets before the end of the year. The goal is to get coverage in all of Comcast's market by mid-2013. The second part of the rollout is penetration into Comcast's customer base. At first, the platform will be limited to Xfinity Triple Play customers, i.e., voice, video, and broadband subscribers. But Jenckes says that they eventually want to shift all of their television customers over to the platform.

The Verge

May 10 2012

News - Comcast Adds WatchESPN Access, Live Streams Coming Soon for XfinityTV.com

By Matthew Miller

Comcast has announced that subscribers now have free access to more live sports content via the WatchESPN web and iOS apps. Unfortunately, the Android app is not currently supported. WatchESPN offers access to live streams from ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, and ESPNU, along with special content for college football and basketball. Comcast also expects the WatchESPN live streams to be available through Comcast's own XfinityTV.com site later this week. The addition of WatchESPN is part of a new 10-year deal that Comcast signed with ESPN's parent company, Disney, earlier this year and Comcast is not so slyly suggesting that we can expect to see more online streaming access for other Disney owned channels later this year. 

Comcast and ESPN are making good on their promise to bring live sports to iPads and other devices, announcing today that Comcast subscribers can now log in to ESPN’s WatchESPN mobile and web apps. And coming soon, ESPN will be making its live TV streams available through Comcast’s XfinityTV.com web portal.

TechCrunch

May 07 2012

News - Senator Al Franken Concerned that XFINITY TV on Xbox Live May Violate Network Neutrality

By Matthew Miller

A few days before releasing the XFINITY TV app for the Xbox 360, Comcast posted a FAQ regarding the app. For many folks, the most interesting tidbit was Comcast's announcement that XFINITY TV on Xbox Live usage would not count against Comcast subscribers' bandwidth caps. Comcast's reasoning was that all of the data transmissions were occurring on Comcast's private network and not being sent over the Internet. Indeed, that FAQ went on to point out that the Xbox app was unique and that this exemption did not apply to apps on other platforms or to PC browser access.

Eye of Franken

Nevertheless, Comcast had to know that the decision would raise some eyebrows. Senator Al Franken, a longtime net neutrality advocate, decided that raising his eyebrows was not enough and has written a letter to the FCC and the Department of Justice urging the agencies to re-examine the NBC-Comcast merger, of which Franken has been a staunch critic, citing the XFINITY app as one example of how Comcast seems to be working to circumvent the conditions of the merger. This comes on the heels of Netflix CEO Reed Hasting's pointed complaints in which he described Comcast's move as "not neutral". 

Franken concludes: "I am concerned that these sorts of delays always inure to the benefit of Comcast and give Comcast further incentive to challenge any aspect of its compliance with the merger order." He's also "very concerned" about Comcast’s announcement last month that its Xbox Live television streaming would not count against existing data caps. Comcast argues the video is "being delivered over our private IP network and not the public Internet."

Ars Technica

Apr 07 2012

News - Comcast Subscribers to Gain Access to HBO Go on Xbox 360

By Matthew Miller

Comcast Likes HBO Go

Last week, Microsoft unveiled three new video apps for the Xbox 360, including the highly anticipated Comcast XFINITY and HBO Go apps. Unfortunately, it turned out that these two particular apps would end up being mutually exclusive installations as the XFINITY app would only work for Comcast subscribers and the HBO Go app would not work for Time Warner and, you guessed it, Comcast subscribers. Some HBO content was available through the XFINITY app, but not nearly as much as HBO makes available directly. Xbox 360-toting Comcast subscribers need not fret however. Comcast and HBO have reached an agreement and Comcast is now stating that it expects to be able to flip the switch for HBO Go on the Xbox 360 early next week. Unfortunately, there is still no word on a similar agreement for Time Warner subscribers. 

Now, according to a post on Comcast's official blog, that's about to change. Starting "early next week," subscribers will be able to access HBO content directly through its app, rather than being limited to what's available through the current Xfinity On Demand service. 

The Verge

Mar 28 2012

News - Comcast XFINITY, HBO Go, and MLB.tv Launch for Xbox 360 Amid Shifts in Xbox Live Usage

By Matthew Miller

HBO Go for Xbox

Evidently Comcast posted those support pages just in time as the Comcast XFINITY TV app for Xbox 360 is now available. Joining XFINITY TV are MLB.tv and the long awaited HBO Go app. As we have come to expect from most of the Xbox Live entertainment apps, only Xbox Live Gold subscribers can partake of the streaming, and each service has its own additional restrictions. HBO Go and XFINITY TV are available exclusively to subscribers, though interestingly enough Comcast subscribers will not be able to access HBO Go on the Xbox. This will also be true for Time Warner Cable subscribers. The MLB.tv service is also subscription-based, though it does offer some limited functionality for non-subscribers such as standings and game recaps. All three apps also include Kinect support.

Confirming yesterday's whispers, Microsoft announced that today marks the launch of Comcast Xfinity, HBO Go, and MLB.tv apps for Xbox Live — three new heavy-hitters that join the likes of Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, VEVO, and more. The launches mark a milestone for the Xbox 360 as the company poises to make the home console a versatile media hub not just for gamers.

The Verge

The new apps launch as Microsoft reveals that their strategy to transform the Xbox 360 from a hardcore game console into a versatile media device appears to be paying dividends. For the first time ever, Xbox Live users used their Xbox systems more for watching video content and listening to music than for playing games online. 

Microsoft has also shared some rather interesting stats for its new entertainment apps on Xbox 360. Xbox Live Gold members in the US are now spending an average of 84 hours per month on Xbox Live, with entertainment app usage more than doubled year on year. 

The Verge

Mar 27 2012

News - Comcast XFINITY TV on Xbox Live Does Not Count Against Data Caps

By Matthew Miller

Comcast is apparently close to releasing their XFINITY TV app for the Xbox 360 as the company has lit up some new support pages for the app. There is no mention of the company's recently announced Streampix service, but there are a number of interesting details about how the app will work and tap into the XFINITY On Demand service. The detail that is likely to catch the most attention is that streaming to XFINITY TV on the Xbox 360 will not count against customers' data caps. Comcast's justification is based on the assertion that streaming to Xbox Live is done entirely over the company's private IP network, and not over the Internet. The company also points out that XFINITY access from a web browser or mobile device will continue to count against data caps because that traffic does go out over the Internet. Comcast's move is sure to generate a great deal of attention and is almost certain to renew the debate over net neutrality rules. Net neutrality was a political powder keg the last time round, and with election year politics in the mix, Comcast could end up igniting a full-fledged firestorm. Will flying the private network flag rally supporters to Comcast's cause, or make the company a target?

Comcast XFINITY on Xbox

Comcast says the Xbox app gets special treatment because the video is "being delivered over our private IP network and not the public Internet." This gives the service a potentially large advantage over not just other video streaming apps like Netflix and Hulu Plus, but also over Comcast On Demand content streamed through the company's website and mobile apps, both of which count against the data limits.

Ars Technica

Feb 23 2012

News - Comcast Announces Xfinity Streampix Streaming Media Service

By Matthew Miller

In a move that is sure to set off alarms for network neutrality proponents everywhere, Comcast has announced Xfinity Streampix, a new streaming media service intended to compete with Netflix. The new service will be bundled into Comcast's higher-end TV tiers for free, or can be added to a lower-end tier for $4.99 a month. The service will initially offer a selection of older movies and previous seasons of TV shows that had been available on Comcast's Xfinity VOD service, but is expected to expand over time. Comcast is also planning to make the service broadly available on mobile devices and on the Xbox 360 in the future as well. With Redbox and Verizon moving into the streaming media service market, and Blockbuster expanding its service with Samsung, the market has suddenly gotten very crowded, but Comcast's move could prove the most dangerous of all for every company interested in streaming media. Comcast's service is cheaper than any current offering, and almost certainly cheaper than the forthcoming services, and it will be bundled into a single bill. The new service will also help bolster a cable giant, a major representative of the industry model that movie and TV production studios have become quite comfortable with over the last 30 years and would probably prefer to see continue to dominate going forward versus an aggressive newcomer such as Netflix. The real test will be whether Comcast uses its position as a broadband service provider to exempt its own streaming service from consumption caps, or perhaps more importantly, if regulators allow Comcast to do so.

Xfinity Logo

Comcast is rolling out a new streaming on-demand offering called Xfinity Streampix, which will bring more library content to subscribers that pay for its high-end double- and triple-play packages. For those who subscribe to more basic packages, the streaming service will be priced at $4.99 above their current rate.

GigaOm

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