Hasta La Gadget!

Comcast announced live streaming to its iPad and (upcoming) Android Xfinity TV apps was not far off last month, and now it’s announced a new long term deal with Time Warner that brings more content to all of its TV Everywhere-related efforts. That means shows from TNT, TBS, CNN, HLN, truTV, Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network and Adult Swim on Xfinity TV.com, cable VOD and mobile apps and the addition of live streaming video later this year as part of a larger agreement between Time Warner and Comcast. The keen eyed will notice that window of “a few weeks” for the debut of live streaming to iPads has expanded to simply “later this year,” let’s hope this doesn’t slip while the company focuses on other balls in the air like its purchase of NBC, a potential new set-top box interface and apps for Smart TVs.

Continue reading Comcast, Time Warner deal ensures TNT, TBS shows for VOD & live streaming

Comcast, Time Warner deal ensures TNT, TBS shows for VOD & live streaming originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 16:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Comcast Voices  | Email this | Comments

We’re still waiting to see just what the fallout for Hulu is going to be from the recent Comcast acquisition of NBC, and while many have feared that the cable company would try to kneecap Hulu to protect its market, a Wall Street Journal article has us wondering if maybe things could go a rather different way. The article, coming hot on the heels of Netflix posting promising Q4 results, suggests that Hulu management is considering transforming the purely on-demand service into more of a traditional cable network, offering “live” TV content in addition to the current archive of episodes. That could certainly give Comcast new life.

Meanwhile, NBC, Disney, and News Corp., three companies that recently teamed up to speak out against FCC stipulations to the Comcast buyout, are apparently at odds regarding how much of what Hulu offers should be available to non-subscribers. There’s talk that Disney may pull some ABC content and News Corp. may pull some Fox content from Hulu’s free offerings, offering it instead on Netflix and other premium competitors. It all sounds a bit speculative at this point but, with cable subscriptions declining for the first time in years and online content viewership skyrocketing, it’s obvious that some changes are afoot.

Hulu looking to become more like cable, at risk of losing some ABC and Fox content? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 08:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  The Wall Street Journal  | Email this | Comments

No huge surprise here, but the FCC just approved Comcast’s purchase of NBC Universal by a 4-1 vote. Details of the ruling aren’t out yet, but FCC chairman Julius Genachowski had been pushing for strong regulations forbidding Comcast from cutting itself sweetheart deals on NBC content or prioritizing its own video traffic on its pipes, so we’d assume that’s part of the agreement here. The only nay vote was from Commissioner Michael Copps, who said the deal “opens the door to the cable-ization of the open Internet.” Ouch. We’ll let you know when we find out exactly what the FCC’s actual conditions are — and keep in mind this deal won’t be wrapped until the Justice Department weighs in, which is expected to happen next week. Can we say it? Oh, we’re going to say it: stay tuned!

Update: That was fast, as Comcast/NBCU announced it’s received permission from the Justice Department as well. Check out the triumphant press release after the break or scour the official site for more details on what conditions may have applied. There will also be a conference call at 4 p.m. so let us know what else you may be interested in finding out before then. So far details include a promise of a “focused mechanism for online video providers to obtain access to certain NBC Universal content,” and that the newly formed entity will retain its economic stake in Hulu, while giving up its voting and board representation rights.

Continue reading FCC approves Comcast’s purchase of NBC (Update: Justice Department too, it’s done)

FCC approves Comcast’s purchase of NBC (Update: Justice Department too, it’s done) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Jan 2011 14:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Michael Copps statement, List of regulatory conditions  | Email this | Comments

Hello, inevitable. It simply had to happen, and now, it is. As Comcast, NBC and the FCC attempt to work out stipulations over Comcast’s proposed 51 percent buyout of NBC Universal, a smattering of major media companies are paying close attention to the play-by-play. Naturally, the precedents that are set from this deal will affect future agreements of this caliber, and lobbyists for both Disney and News Corp. (as well as Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes) aren’t standing over on the sidelines any longer. All three outfits have reportedly been “voicing their concerns this week with the FCC, worried that such conditions could undermine their own efforts to profit from the nascent online video industry.”

We’re told that the media mega-corps are worried that the rules — if hammered down — could interfere with ongoing negotiations with online video providers, and in turn, give them less leverage to monetize and control their content on the world wide web. In other words, if NBC Universal is forced to provide content fluidly to all ISPs (and not just Comcast), what’s to say other content makers and internet providers wouldn’t also be forced into similar deals, regardless of whether or not they’re involved in takeover negotiations? Needless to say, we’re nowhere near the end of this journey, and while the nuts and bolts are pretty dry to think about, the outcomes could have a serious impact on our future viewing habits.

Time Warner, Disney and News Corp. bigwigs speak up against FCC stipulations in Comcast-NBC deal originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 17:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  The Wall Street Journal  | Email this | Comments

Samsung is following Sony’s lead by enabling owners of its tablets and TVs to control their cable boxes and access content directly via IP from Comcast and Time Warner Cable. For Comcast users, a new Xfinity TV app on the Smart TVs brings an all new “web-like GUI” (that looks a lot like the new set-top box interface it’s currently testing) for accessing live TV, DVR recordings and VOD.Plans for the Galaxy Tab sounds just like the Xfinity Remote for iPad, with control and access to streaming TV and movies, with plans to add the ability to pause and resume across different devices in the future. Time Warner Cable followed up its partnership with Sony by announcing it’s streaming live TV over IP directly to Samsung TVs and tablets, as well streaming from a DVR to TV or tablet in another room. Both services are expect “later this year,” check the press releases after the break or our live blog from the event for more details.

Continue reading Samsung will offer access to TV, VOD from Time Warner & Comcast on its Galaxy Tab, TVs

Samsung will offer access to TV, VOD from Time Warner & Comcast on its Galaxy Tab, TVs originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 20:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  TWCableUntangled, Comcast Voices  | Email this | Comments