Comcast has released Fancast XFinity TV in beta. The online on-demand video platform lets Comcast cable and Internet customers view cable TV shows, full-length movies and independently produced content online.
According to reports, the technology requires users to log in and confirm that they are Comcast subscribers, but there is no charge for the service.
Currently, Comcast customers and non-customers can access more than 12,000 hours of content through Fancast.com for free but, with this release, only Comcast customers will have access to the expanded content, which includes premium channel TV shows and movies and certain cable TV series.
“Fancast XFinity TV is a win for consumers and content producers,” said Matt Bond, EVP of content acquisition for Comcast, in a statement. “We’re giving customers access to content they love in new ways and opening up new opportunities for established and independent producers to make their content available on-demand. This new service brings consumers many movies and TV shows that have never been available online before.”
Also in a statement, Amy Banse, president of Comcast Interactive Media, said, “This is a beta product only, but the consumer feedback has been great so far. We look forward to more feedback as we make it available to even more customers. We think Fancast XFinity TV gets us one step closer to our multiplatform goal and is just the beginning of delivering an entirely new TV viewing experience.”
Comcast currently has 23.8 million cable customers and 15.7 million high-speed Internet customers.
Requests for comment from Comcast were not immediately returned.
