Comcast
Comcast is teaming up with Time Warner
If this sounds familiar, it's because Comcast has been spearheading the movement through its Fancast.com site for months. TV Everywhere, on the other hand, is an open and non-exclusive model. Any cable, satellite-television, and telco video distributor is encouraged to jump on board. It just makes sense that Comcast, the country's largest cable company with 24.1 million subscribers, should lead the charge.
By offering convergence and convenience, Comcast hopes that TV fans won't cancel their subscriptions and just start consuming online videos. Just as Netflix
The industry needs this development. Satellite television's DISH Network
"We are starting to see the beginnings of core cutting where people -- typically young people -- are saying, 'All I need is broadband,'" Time Warner Cable
Not everyone will necessarily be a winner with this move, though. If you can ultimately stream anything in your cable company's subscription package when you want it, will you still need a TiVo
However, it's better to lose an add-on than to lose a customer. As the major networks reach out directly to their viewers with ad-supported online streams, and as more smartphones and netbooks hit the market to increase the ubiquity of Internet video, it's refreshing to see Comcast do something proactive.
Some items with immediate availability on your reading queue:
- TV Everywhere could also leave a dent on Netflix.
- We may be miles away from where TiVo's patents can hear you.
- Perhaps this is the opportunity you've been waiting for.