The six-strike copyright system was leaked and talked about at length for many months, delayed once, and eventually launched back in February of this year. With it comes a series of warnings and eventual punishment on the behalf of many big-name ISPs for those caught pirating. Now sources have come forward to the folks over […]
The Copyright Alert System, more popularly known as the “six strikes” policy, hasn’t exactly received a warm welcome thanks to the disciplinary measures it calls for (like throttled connection speeds). According to Variety, Comcast is currently developing a new way of dealing with piracy that’s arguably less punitive than CAS. In the proposed system, users that have been flagged for illegal downloads via peer-to-peer file sharing services like BitTorrent would be provided with links to legal means of accessing the same content through Comcast’s own Xfinity service or third party providers like Amazon. Unlike CAS, this system doesn’t seem to focus on penalties so much as it would gently nudge subscribers towards legal options. While it’s not likely that the program is intended to replace CAS, it could potentially signal a shift away from an unpopular policy. Though little information is known about Comcast’s plans at this time, we’ll keep you posted as we learn more.
Filed under: Internet
Source: Variety
In February, Comcast began testing a pre-paid Xfinity Internet service in a few states, and now has begun doing the same for a pre-paid cable TV service. Thus far, the service provider hasn’t detailed what markets have access to the service, with its “Check Availability” tool not working presently. The plans have been detailed, however, […]
Comcast’s advanced cable-box footprint keeps getting bigger. While currently you can only get the X1 set-top box in 18 of its service areas, that’s growing, as it’s come to several new markets recently. A company spokesperson recently told us that the cable giant is still on track to have the new unit as an option for all of its customers by year’s end. As of now, new and current Triple Play subscribers in Nashville and Knoxville, TN; Jacksonville, Sarasota and Naples, FL; Baltimore and Frederick, MD and Brunswick, GA can snag the hardware as a free upgrade with select programming packages. Or, if you’re patient, you could wait for the X2.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Source: Comcast X1
The rumored Hulu sale has been the stuff of talk for months now, and earlier today we reported that it had officially been taken off the market, with the company’s owners electing to keep it rather than sell. Word has surfaced over at Bloomberg, however, saying that Time Warner Cable is still in talks with those owners over a possible purchase.
The information was provided to Bloomberg by three sources who are said to be “people with knowledge of the situation.” Rather than selling the entire service, says the sources, Hulu’s owners are considering selling a stake of it to Time Warner Cable. The sources requested that they not be named, stating that these negotiations are happening in private.
Reportedly, if the deal does go through, an agreement could be reached between Time Warner Cable and Hulu’s owners – Walt Disney Corporation, Comcast, and 21st Century Fox – within the next two weeks. This isn’t the first time Time Warner Cable has attempted to buy a stake in Hulu, says the sources, having tried to nab 25-percent in the past.
Neither Hulu nor Time Warner Cable made any comments on the matter. This comes after news earlier today that the service’s owners would – rather than selling the service – invest $750 million into Hulu to continue its future growth. 21st Century Fox’s President and COO Chase Carey had been quoted as saying that “[Hulu had] meaningful conversations with a number of potential partners and buyers,” stating that some of the offers received for it were “impressive.”
Some of the companies reportedly in bid for the service included DirecTV, KKR, and Silver Lake. At the end of it all, a final price for the service could not be agreed upon, and the sales fell through. As such, with nothing official stated, the game plan is for the owners to “propel future growth” for the service, but we could end seeing a switch up behind the scenes if the sources are correct.
SOURCE: Bloomberg
Time Warner Cable reportedly still in talks about Hulu purchase is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
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Take two of the sale of Hulu is approaching its inevitable end, as multiple sources report the final bids have come in. Currently the site is owned by Disney, Fox and Comcast, while reported interested buyers include DirecTV, Chernin Group / AT&T and Guggenheim Digital Media. Of the potential buyers, The Hollywood Reporter reports Guggenheim would be the one most likely to retain the site’s “entreprenurial spirit,” while DirecTV may want to use it both as a part of its satellite package and as a standalone business. Finally the Chernin Group is reportedly backed by AT&T, which may have goals similar to those of DirecTV.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the site’s current owners are considering how potential buyers will want to license content going forward as part of the bids, with potential restrictions on their top rated shows, or longer windows before content is available on Hulu. We’ll have to wait and find out who had the best pitch before we move on to the next step — deciding if whatever Hulu becomes under new ownership is still worth visiting.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Sure you’d like to watch On Demand content on your computer, but there’s that whole tiresome logging-in thing you have to do first. If you subscribe to both Xfinity TV and Internet services, however, that would no longer be an issue thanks to a new feature called Home Pass. As long as customers access the Xfinity website within their home network, they’ll be automatically logged in, and will be free to access TV Everywhere content from then on, no password required. Xfinity ran a trial of the service during the London Olympics and March Madness 2013, and have decided Home Pass is robust enough to handle Xfinity’s entire video library. While this will initially be available via the web, it sounds like other platforms like iOS, Android and (maybe?) Xbox could get it later as well.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Source: Comcast
Comcast has announced the next generation of the Comcast X1, its entertainment platform. According to the provider, this new version offers a “personalized experience” that not only allows users to customize their dashboard, but also keeps an eye on the user’s preferences and uses that information to adapt. The platform will be rolling out to
Crying because your DVR’s hard drive can’t hold an entire season of Antiques Roadshow? If you’re a Comcast subscriber, there may be hope on the horizon. At The Cable Show in Washington, D.C., Comcast announced its next Xfinity-branded cloud solution: the X2 set-top box. Available later this year, the X2 will eschew hard drive saves in favor of storing recorded programs online. Additionally, both the forthcoming X2 and soon-to-be updated X1 are said to provide greater interface customization, smarter personalized recommendations, additional web content and enhanced multiplatform integration. If this news tickles your fancy, you can find more screenshots at the source link below or read the press release after the break.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Source: Comcast
Internet is a staple of modern existence, and whilst on the go we can typically access it via the 3G or 4G connection accompanying our cell phone. There are times when a Wi-Fi connection is more in tune with our needs, however, and while many cafes and similar offer free Wi-FI networks, there’s still a
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