Comcast Launches Web TV Service: Fancast Xfinity TV Service

by amyellensoden | December 16, 2009 at 11:44 am

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Comcast has launched their new web TV service called Fancast Xfinity TV that allows their high speed internet subscribers to watch cable TV shows online from 27 networks such as Cinemax and HBO. Although the web TV service is still in its experimental stages, it will soon be available to millions of Comcast subscribers.

The Fancast Xfinity service will be available to Comcast's estimated 15.7 million cable TV and high speed internet subscribers. The service is now officially being launched after a testing period in the summer during which approximately 5,000 users previewed the web TV service. NBC, FOX, and ABC are just some of the many participating networks that will have their shows available through the Fancast Xfinity service.

"The launch today represents almost a year's worth of work by teams across Comcast," said Comcast Interactive Media President Amy Banse. "We think it's a good experience that's only going to get better over time."

Fancast Xfinity TV is part of a cable industry initiative called TV Everywhere that seeks to capitalize on the burgeoning Internet video phenomenon while at the same time protecting its lucrative subscription TV business.

The predicted success of the Fancast Xfinity service is due to its ability to maintain revenue from both high speed internet and cable TV services. Many business analysts believe that Comcast's new service will be the first ever successful means of making cable TV shows available online.

Comcast's new service is also an attempt at getting users to maintain dual services rather than cutting their TV service in favor of watching shows from streaming sites online. While the Fancast Xfinity service is currently only available on desktop computers and laptops, there are already plans to expand the service to mobile phones within the New Year.