Comcast has natively integrated 21 FAST (free, ad-supported TV) channels into its Xfinity Stream app. 

Stream users now have free access to NBC News Now, Sky News and 19 Xumo-branded channels spanning comedy, crime TV, black cinema, lifestyle, reality TV, game shows, kids and more. 

These channels are now integrated natively into the Stream UX and are available to all Comcast subscribers, regardless of whether they pay for Xfinity TV. 

“Bringing this new free content into the Xfinity Stream app provides customers with an easy way to discover and enjoy popular FAST channels,” Vito Forlenza, VP of entertainment apps for Comcast Cable, said in a statement. “The launch marks the latest evolution of the Xfinity Stream app, which is increasing content choices for video and non-video customers alike, including weekly samplings of premium programming as part of Free This Week, the ability to rent and buy shows and movies, and the ability to watch movies included in Xfinity Rewards.”

Xfinity Stream is usable by all Comcast customers, but device compatibility remains limited to iOS and Android mobile, Fire TV, AirPlay and Chromecast casting and web browsers. 

Comcast has integrated AirPlay mirroring capabilities into its Xfinity Stream app, allowing users to essentially carry their pay TV subscription on their Apple or Android mobile device and watch it on any AirPlay-enabled television.

For a cable company that lost nearly 11% of its video customers last year, it seems like a bit of a duh moment. No. 2 U.S. cable operator Charter Communications, after all, has supported AirPlay on its Spectrum TV app for some time.

Many connected TV devices and smart TV operating systems beyond the Apple TV 4K now support AirPlay — notably, the latter iterations of Roku and Amazon Fire TV TVOS support Apple’s inter-device connection standard.

Indeed, whether a user is trying to unwind in a hotel room or continue watching a show in their bedroom after starting it in the living room, AirPlay mirroring is kind of an existentially important feature for a pay TV streaming app.

But these kinds of support agreements between big media-tech companies are, of course, always more complicated than they look. Notably, it was only in June of last year that Comcast finally published a version of Xfinity Stream that supports the Apple TV 4K CTV device. And it was also less than a year ago that Comcast integrated the Apple TV Plus app on its X1 and Xfinity Flex TVOS platforms.

And not for nothin’, amid Comcast's dwindling video economics, the cable company is further driving secondary set-top leasing into further obsolescence among its 16.6 million remaining pay TV subs. ▪️

Revealing its increasing dialogue with Apple, Comcast has fixed a key missing connected TV link for its Xfinity Stream app, forging support for it on Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD devices. 

The Xfinity Stream app enables subscribers to Xfinity TV/video and internet services to use their pay TV subscription on popular off-the-shelf streaming devices and smart phones in lieu of Comcast customer-premises equipment. 

Xfinity Stream has been supported by Roku and Amazon Fire TV, as well as smart TVs powered by Samsung and LG TVOS, but the addition of Apple TV adds the “Cadillac” of connected TV devices to the device support portfolio. 

Notably, Comcast and Apple already forged an alliance to put the Apple TV Plus SVOD service on the TVOS powering Comcast's Xfinity X1, Flex and XClass TV devices. 

Will support for Xfinity Stream follow on Android TV/Google TV? We're not holding our breath. But never say never. 

“With today’s launch of the Stream app on Apple TV, our customers now have a new device option for accessing their Xfinity TV subscription in the home, and they will be the first to enjoy a new, streamlined UI designed to make it easier to find something to watch -- whether that means getting back to a favorite show or movie, or finding something new," said Michael Delciello, senior VP of strategic development at Comcast. ▪️

Comcast said Wednesday that streaming video from apps like HBO Max, Paramount Plus and others accounted for 71% of all downstream traffic on its Xfinity X1,  Flex and Xfinity Stream platforms in 2020, an increase of 70% over the prior year.

In a blog post May 5, Comcast said streaming saw the largest viewing gains on Xfinity platforms in 2020, fueled by the launch of more than 70 streaming services during the year, including HBO Max, its own Peacock and CBS All Access/Paramount Plus. According to Comcast, OTT viewing rose 73% year-over-year on X1 and Flex. 

In addition, 78% of its X1 customers accessed OTT apps each month, up from 68% in the prior year. Of those subscribers, nearly 80% are using more than two apps each month. 

While Comcast is just one company, it is the largest multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD) in the country with 19.4 million video subscribers and 31 million broadband customers. As Comcast and other operators shift the focus of the business toward broadband, streaming and direct-to-consumer services have become increasingly important, evidenced by its own moves into the sector.

Comcast launched Peacock nationally on July 15, and has grown to about 42 million signups at last count. Others DTC services like Disney Plus and HBO Max and Paramount Plus, have 94.9 million, 44.2 million customers, respectively.  

Engagement is also growing. Comcast said that across its entire entertainment portfolio, including X1, Flex and Stream, customers are watching about three hours more per week than they were before the pandemic started. 

Also Read: The Less Discussed Data Points of TVs New Reality 

Viewing was split pretty evenly between ad-supported content and ad-free content, with ad-supported apps like Flex (free to broadband-only customers) and Peacock Premium (free to X1 subscribers). Comcast said that ad-supported content accounted for more than 50% of viewing on Flex, with Peacock, NBCUniversal's Xumo, ViacomCBS' Pluto and Fox's Tubi among the other most-viewed apps on the platform.  

Also Read: Time Spent Streaming Grew 44% in 4th Quarter: Conviva 

Still, Comcast insisted that doesn’t mean that linear TV is dead, especially for sports. Despite the spike in streaming viewing, Comcast said that it saw an increase in traditional linear TV viewing during the year. And they added that data is showing that streaming viewers “value the lean-back experience” of linear. As an example, Comcast pointed to the live guide on Flex, which brings in traditional channels from Peacock, Xumo and Pluto into an integrated guide, is the second most-viewed feature on Flex behind the home screen.

Also Read: JD Power: New Streaming Services Chip Away at Netflix Dominance 

“As we look forward to the rest of 2021, we’re going to continue evolving these three important pillars of our entertainment platforms to meet our customers where they are with the content and features they desire,” Comcast said in the blog post.

Is Comcast going to follow through on reported talks with Walmart to distribute the cable operator’s Xfinity Flex connected TV device platform in smart TVs sold out of footprint?

With the operator saying Thursday that its Xfinity Stream pay TV app is now supported by Xfinity Flex, speculation is heating up. 

“Over many years, you can try to squeeze out some of the competitors simply by moving up the distribution channel. So basically [Comcast would be] making a TV that doesn't allow a Roku stick to go in,” said Todd Krizelman, founder and CEO of advanced advertising company MediaRadar, speaking at a Thursday virtual panel discussion.

Comcast NBCUniversal debuted its hybrid AVOD/SVOD streaming service, Peacock, nationally back in mid-July. But quietly, it exclusively incubated the streaming service on its Xfinity X1 and Flex pay TV platforms starting in mid-April of last year, and was reportedly thrilled with the advanced advertising experiments it was able to conduct by controlling the device platform Peacock ran on, and all the data that came with that. 

Concurrently, Roku has been quietly amassing scale in the connected TV device ecosystem and threatening to run away with the game ball. Roku announced 51.2 million active accounts as of the end of 2020. LightShed principal analyst Richard Greenfield speculated in a Thursday blog post that Roku is quietly developing dominance in the connected TV advertising market. Soon, he pondered, there might be a paradigm in which advertisers buy inventory directly from Roku, and not media companies like Comcast/NBCUniversal/Peacock. Greenfield headlined his post, “Is Roku Using a Trojan Horse to Devour the TV Ad Market?” 

The active Thursday was punctuated by Comcast’s news that the Xfinity Stream app is now available on Flex devices. Flex is a thin-client OTT streaming device that Comcast hands out for free to its broadband-only customers.

The device lets these customers stream popular apps like Netflix and YouTube. But Flex users can also sign up for the full Comcast Xfinity X1 pay TV service and enjoy X1, complete with voice control, using the Flex device. 

If they do that, their Flex gadget effectively becomes an X1 set-top, running over Comcast's managed network. The ability to run Xfinity Stream allows these users to keep the native Flex app-based OS, while still having the option to subscribe and use Comcast pay TV services in app form. 

We asked a Comcast rep, might this be a precursor to taking Flex out of footprint?

“No, we’re doing this to give our internet customers with Flex an easy way to upgrade to our TV service and stay within the Flex experience,” the rep responded. 

During Comcast’s fourth quarter earnings call in January, Comcast’s top executives admitted that an announcement regarding expanded ambition for Flex was coming. 

“There are opportunities, including smart TVs, that could leverage scale,” said Comcast Cable CEO Dave Watson. “Right now, it’s looking great in our footprint, but we’re making plans beyond that, whether it’s a device or software solution."

Added Comcast CEO Brian Roberts: “I think we’ll have more to talk about throughout the year.”

The fact that Comcast is telling investors this, and not the press, has piqued interest from observers like Krizelman.

He noted Thursday, “That to me is interesting to hear the way they talked about it with investors, not to consumers or in trade press, but in their [earnings] calls. I think there's some positioning in the macro perspective that I do wonder if how it is that suddenly this business of manufacturing TV is somehow more important than ever. It's not necessarily just a game for Samsung or for the people who we normally associate.

“If you said we could sell a lot of television sets against Roku and against Android and others, you essentially can slowly over many years cause people to replace TV sets…,” Krizelman said.

Comcast said it was making the Xfinity Stream app available to it broadband Flex customers.

The move is designed to encourage broadband-only streamers to sample and sign-up for pay-TV .

Comcast launched Flex in 2019. It provides broadband customers with a 4K streaming device that gives them access to the best features of the X1 TV platform, such as voice control and search. Comcast has said it is looking to expand Flex beyond its cable footprint.

The Xfinity Stream app gives broadband devices access to the programming Comcast cable subscribers get. Comcast pay TV subscribers can use the stream app on connected TVs and mobile devices.

Xfinity Stream app gives “Flex customers a simple path to try out Xfinity TV while keeping them within the Flex experience they enjoy,” Rebecca Heap, senior VP, video and entertainment, Xfinity Consumer Services, at Comcast said in a blog post.

“In just a few clicks of the remote, Flex customers can add ‘Choice TV’ from Xfinity, giving them immediate access to all the major broadcast networks, associated on-demand programming and a 20-hour cloud DVR,” said Heap. “They can also add other cable channels through a variety of genre-themed channel packs, including Sports & News, Entertainment, and Kids & Family, all of which can be easily added or removed at any time with no term contracts or additional fees.”

Amazon on Thursday announced that Comcast’s Xfinity Stream app is now supported by Amazon Fire TV devices, as well as Fire TV Edition smart TVs. 

The Xfinity Stream app lets Comcast Cable TV subscribers access all of the live, on demand and DVR programming that’s part of their Xfinity TV subscription. The app includes personalized recommendations alongside curated collections of movies and shows to help subscribers figure out what to watch.

The Xfinity Stream has been available for Roku since it launched way back in February 2017. It has since gained support from the native operating systems of Samsung and LG smart TVs, but little other compatibility was available otherwise. 

One key difference for Comcast customers using Xfinity Stream through Fire TV--voice-wise, they interact with Alexa, not the Comcast X1 Voice Remote.

Amazon last week said that its Fire TV platform now has 50 million monthly active users. 

“With the availability of the Xfinity app, we continue to broaden the utility and reach of Fire TV for our customers, said Matt Clark, Amazon entertainment devices and services director of business development, in a statement.

Comcast has adapted its Xfinity Stream app to run on virtual reality headsets made by NuEyes that magnify the usable vision of visually impaired subscribers.

Xfinity Stream allows Comcast customers to stream pay TV through of OTT and mobile devices. The app will now come pre-installed on NuEyes e2 VR magnifying headsets.

“Being blind since birth, I know firsthand the power of technology to enhance independence,” said Tom Wlodkowski, VP of accessibility at Comcast. “Our partnership with NuEyes is an extension of our commitment to designing great entertainment experiences for people of all abilities.”

Related: Comcast Enables Eye-Based Remote Control for X1

Founded in 2016, Orange County, California-based NuEyes specializing in technologies that help individuals whose eyesight has been damaged by conditions like macular degeneration, glaucoma and retinitis pigmentosa.

"To be able to stream content directly to our consumers’ eyes in a way that has never been done before enables millions of visually impaired people to continue enjoying their TV experience and more,” added Mark Greget, founder and CEO of NuEyes.

For Comcast, the NuEyes announcement comes after the cable operator enabled a remote control technology that allows customers with paralysis-related conditions, such as spinal injuries, to switch channels, change volume and perform other TV-related functions with their eyes. 

Comcast has announced the availability of its set-top-free Xfinity Stream service on LG smart TVs.

The Xfinity Stream app lets users watch live, on-demand and cloud-DVR pay TV service, delivering most of the features found in Cocmast’s flagship X1 experience, without a proprietary set-top, save for key elements like Voice Remote. Xfinity Stream relies on streamed content delivered over managed network. 

The app is now usable on LG 4K Ultra HD and HD smart TVs made from 2017-2019 and running the webOS operating system.

The debut of the LG app expands access for Xfinity Stream, which had previously been available for Roku connected devices and enabled smart TVs, as well as Samsung smart TVs.

The LG app was long in the making. In 2017, LG joined Comcast’s Xfinity TV Partner Program, which develops apps for Comcast’s service that eschew set-tops. 

Comcast has launched a beta version of its Xfinity Stream app that will let Samsung smart TV owners use their Comcast pay TV subscription without leasing a set-top box.

Samsung was the first “partner” announced back in April 2016 for the Xfinity TV Partner Program, which uses open standard technologies to provide access to Xfinity TV content and program guides on smart TVs and other IP-enabled devices obtained at retail.

With the app, Comcast-subscribing Samsung smart TV users can watch live, on demand and DVR programming, as well as local broadcast and public educational and governmental channels, all delivered over Comcast’s managed network.

Related: Comcast Launches ‘Xfinity TV Partner Program'

“In its beta format, the Xfinity Stream app for Samsung smart TVs will give customers the ability to download, use and explore the app while Comcast continues to test, improve, enhance and refine the experience to ensure it works smoothly,” said Mike Gatzke, VP of video subscription services for Comcast Cable, on a company blog post.

The Xfinity Stream app is already available for a range of Roku devices, is expected to reach Sony and LG smart TVs by the end of of the year. Also by the end of 2018, Comcast expects to have the app enabled on two-thirds of U.S. smart TVs.

“Smart TVs are absolutely part of our strategy and our vision,” Comcast’s Xfinity Services chief Matthew Strauss told Fast Company in July. “When you look at the video landscape today, there are more choices than have ever been available before at the touch of a remote. It’s a good time to be alive if you like television.”

Xfinity Stream is already available for iOS and Android. 

Comcast said Xfinity Stream, an updated version of its authenticated video app that unifies what on-demand and live TV programming that customers are authorized to access when they are at home or on the go, has already been reaping the benefits.

Comcast launched the new app for web browsers and iOS and Android smartphones and tablets  on February 28. Xfinity Stream, which delivers an “X1-like experience,” succeeded the Xfinity TV app and has a content rights engine built in that automatically tells customers which IP-delivered channels are available when they are connected to their home network or when they are out-of-home.  

This unification has led to more out-of-home viewing, according to this recent blog post from Kim Aurand, Comcast’s senior product manager for Xfinity TV mobile and web apps.

“Previously, to access a live channel out of home, customers would need to manually filter the guide to ‘available out of home’,” she explained. “While users of the app can still do this, we also now automatically pivot to an equivalent out-of-home channel when available (labeled "TV Go" in the app). This simple improvement has paid dividends - since launching this enhancement a few months ago, we’ve seen a 27 percent increase in viewing of out-of-home content and increased our app store rating to 4 stars.”

Xfinity Stream on the Apple app store does currently have a four-star rating. At last check, the version of the app for Google Play has a rating of just north of three stars.

The Xfinity Stream, which now offers more than 200 live TV channels for out-of-home viewing, reportedly will also serve as the foundation for a coming service called Xfinity Instant TV that will initially key on broadband subscribers who don’t take a pay TV package from the MSO.

RELATED: Comcast Prepping Q3 Launch of ‘Xfinity Instant TV’

Comcast has set the February 28 launch of “Xfinity Stream,” a new app that will succeed the Xfinity TV app and unify the customer's access to content that is authorized for viewing in the home and out-of-home, along with other features in common with the MSO's X1 video service on set-top boxes. 

The free app for iOS and Android smartphones  and tablets and Web browsers will allow Comcast pay TV subs to obtain full access to the in-home TV service, as well as providing out-of-home access to more than 200 live channels, the ability to access and program their DVRs, and a VOD library of about 40,000 titles.

That mix of add-ons and new features will bring an “X1-like experience” on smartphones, tablets and laptops, Comcast said. 

Comcast customers will be able to download the new app for iOS and Android devices on Feb. 28, and those with the latest version of the Xfinity TV app already installed will see it transition to the new app via an update at the end of the month.

Comcast has been asked how this new app related to Stream TV, a new slimmed-down, in-home IPTV service bundle for mobile devices that’s being used as a save tactic and to target cord-cutters, and being tested in Comcast's Boston and Chicagoland markets. 

RELATED: Comcast: Stream TV Is Not ‘OTT’

Update: A Comcast official said the company still expects to roll out the in-footprint Stream TV package nationally later this year, though it will likely be rebranded to help provide some clarify between the new Xfinity Stream app and the name of the slimmed-down TV service package. However, customers who sign on for that soon-to-be-rebranded package will use the Xfinity Stream app to access their subscriptions.

“We’re focused on creating the best entertainment experiences across platforms and continuing to give Xfinity TV customers more choice in how, when and where they access their content,” said Matt Strauss, executive vice president and general manager, video and entertainment services at Comcast Cable, said in a statement. “With the Xfinity Stream app, we are giving customers access to the best content in and out of the home with a growing list of advanced features and capabilities that make the mobile experience nearly identical to the cable experience they enjoy at home.”