Streaming Service Roll-out
Comcast® is reportedly planning to not support Apple TV for streaming services of them. “Comcast® is focused on the Now TV solution as the future of its streaming infrastructure and Apple has been told this,” said a source connected directly with the Telco. “Apple has also been informed Comcast® will concentrate its efforts on this platform, not on adding other third-party devices to the product mix with separate apps.”
While this is extremely possible, there are some issues with this particular report. The Comcast® source also said, “It especially makes sense as Sky has a completely ready software and hardware solution for Roku that can be easily modified for mass distribution on every cable system in the country.”
Comcast® is the largest cable provider in the US. Search by ZIP code, and you will most likely find Comcast’s “cheap cable and internet near me”. It recently acquired Sky, which also includes NOW TV.
The issue here is the NOW TV streaming service, already available on Apple TV. As per the NOW TV site, you can stream it on Roku, Chromecast, and third-generation and newer Apple TVs alongside the NOW TV service players. (The NOW TV service players are Roku-rebranded with the logo of NOW TV on them.)
High Speed Internet
“At this time, we have not reached terms with Apple to bring our XFINITY Stream® app to Apple TV devices,” a Comcast® spokesperson said. For a while now, the Philadelphia-based cable cum fastest internet provider has had an XFINITY® streaming application on Roku players as well as has a fine relationship with the digital company.
It would be an extremely strange move for the Telco to base its new service on the NOW TV technology, but not wish to use the already existing application of Apple TV. For now, the representatives of NOW TV are still insisting that they have the Apple TV support, with no plans to stop the NOW TV support of it.
The question is would Comcast® stop supporting the NOW TV service on Apple TV? It is also likely that the Sky streaming service will still get the Apple TV support in the United Kingdom, not in the United States of America. It could be that the Philly-based cable giant plans to launch on Roku first, with more device support later, like how Sling TV® and YouTube TV rolled out.
Experts also say that negotiations were no longer required with Apple Inc. if Comcast® planned to use an application already approved by the tech company. For now, rumors are all there is to it – we will thus have to wait and watch how Comcast® will roll out this new streaming service.
