The Xfinity app by Comcast will now be available on smart TVs and third-party set-top boxes without having the requirement of a cable box. Roku and Samsung Smart TVs will be the first devices to have the app this year.
According to a post from the cable company's official website, the Xfinity TV Partner Program will allow manufacturers of TV and set-top boxes to have the company's cable offering. The offer will include the cloud DVR recordings, the guide, and live TV that can stream directly into their devices. Other TV manufacturers might follow suit soon, due to the cable company's 22 million subscribers in the US.
Roku and Samsung Smart TVs will be the first ones to get the app, since Comcast has made a deal with the two companies already. A customized app for Roku devices will enable their customers to access the cable service on their TVs or just directly on a Roku TV.
The app will also ensure that the company's service will be delivered in a secure, and trusted location that will satisfy all regulatory requirements and programmer agreements. These requirements include privacy protections, the delivery of the Emergency Alert System messages, and other accessibility features.
The program will provide customers with the ability to search through the cable company's video assets from a device's user interface. The app can be easily installed by any company's device that has HTML5, and other compatibility requirements. The cable company is eager to work with other companies soon to let them have the app as well.
In other news, since the Federal Communications Commission is working on loosening its grip on cable companies, the cable company has taken advantage of the situation, and made the deal with Roku and Samsung. An FCC official told The Verge in a statement that the app from the cable company was still too locked down to be an answer to the issue of the cable box.
Furthermore, the official claimed that they do not know all the details, but it looked like the app only offered a user-interface that is controlled by the company. Also, it only allowed their content on different devices.
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