Time-shifting lovers of PBS shows like Downton Abbey will be pleased with Comcast's announcement this week that it's doubling the amount of video-on-demand PBS programming available on its video set-tops and multiscreen apps.
Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA) is seeing significant increases in viewer usage of VOD across its video platforms. In fact, speaking to investors Monday, Matthew Strauss, executive VP and GM of video services for Comcast, said shows get a 20 to 30 percent lift on their typical C3 audience rating when they air on a Comcast VOD platform.
The deal covers recently aired episodes from more than 50 PBS shows, including American Experience, American Masters, Antiques Roadshow, Call the Midwife, Frontline and Nova, as well as "Masterpiece" titles such as Downton Abbey, Wolf Hall, Mr. Selfridge, Grantchester and Poldark.
The VOD programming will be viewable on Comcast set-top boxes, as well as via Comcast's authenticated Xfinity TV Go apps and Web sites.
"We are pleased that this new agreement recognizes public television's unique structure and gives prominent branding to local member stations as the source of PBS content in their respective markets," said Ira Rubenstein, senior VP and GM, PBS Digital. "Offering an enhanced selection of PBS programming on highly engaged platforms like Xfinity On Demand is a great way to help grow our audience, introduce new viewers to our programming and offer new promotional opportunities. We are glad that our viewers--who we know are increasingly looking for on-demand content--will have even more opportunity to watch the programs they love."
For more:
- read this Comcast press release
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