Comcast says its TV Everywhere initiative, launched in February with the goal of bringing its premium content to subscribers over the Internet, now has some 90 content partners and nearly 150,000 pieces of content from which to choose. The news was part of the 
MSO's nationwide rollout of the service, which was expected.
Xfinity, when it initialy launched, was criticized for a lack of content and depth of offerings. The current version has more, but the question will be: "Is it enough?"
The MSO, which is the largest cable operator in the United States, hopes the offering will slow the exodus of customers that it--and other cable service providers--has faced in recent months. Last quarter, some 711,000 customers dropped their cable subscriptions in the U.S., the worst exodus the cable industry has experienced in years. Some in the industry say a stuttering economy is to blame for the losses; others say that cable is simply being passed by as more content options become available online and customers chose to cut the cord because of discontentment with cable offerings.
Comcast subscribers with a digital subscription can visit Xfinity TV, www.XfinityTV.com, sign-in with their Comcast ID and password, and watch their favorite shows at no charge. Xfinity Internet service is not required to access this site.
Xfinity TV includes cable programming from networks like HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, Starz, Encore, Movieplex, TNT, TBS, Nickelodeon, Discovery, A&E, AMC, MTV, BET, E! Entertainment, The Style Network, G4, Golf Channel, Comedy Central, BBC, Bravo, SyFy, Animal Planet, The Travel Channel, Food Network, DIY, The Cooking Channel, History, IFC and Ovation, and includes broadcast content from CBS, NBC, ABC and FOX.
In addition, a new "My TV" feature allows customers to personalize viewing options, schedule DVR recordings from their computer, manage and prioritize their DVR TV series, and catalog their favorite TV shows and movies in one centralized "Watchlist," which will keep them updated when the shows they want to watch are available. Customers can also now share the videos they are watching via social media networks.
"We've created a destination that enables customers to watch, find and manage their favorite shows and movies anytime, anywhere," said Matt Strauss, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Comcast Interactive Media. "But we're not stopping there -- in the coming weeks, Comcast will bring even more content, functionality and ease-of-use into Xfinity TV."
In an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the paper likened the disruption the cable industry is facing to the misery the newspaper and music industry has had to contend with as more customers turned to the Internet for their news.
For more:
- see this release
- see this article
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