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The Bauminator
Jeff Baumgartner

Who's Behind Comcast's Video Downloader?

December 14, 2012 | Jeff Baumgartner | Comments (5)
   
  
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11:10 AM -- Comcast Corp. (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) announced Thursday what others had already stumbled upon a few weeks ago -- that the operator has a new app for iOS and Android devices that lets customers download content from Showtime Networks Inc. , Starz Entertainment LLC and its sister movie channels Encore and Movieplex. (See To Xfinity & Beyond! and Comcast Subs Get First Taste of A&E TV Apps.)

Comcast is only saying that "thousands" of titles are available and that it expects to add more content with downloading rights soon. Its TV Everywhere streaming library is currently comprised of about 18,500 "choices."

Load Up & Watch
An episode of Showtime's Homeland on the new Xfinity Player app comes in at about 310 megabytes for the "highest quality" version, while the "medium quality" copy comes in at 212.1 MB.

The download feature, which lets Comcast adopt an iTunes-ish model without the incremental pay-per-view component (for now), is a nice add-on because it lets users watch shows and movies on planes and in other venues that usually don't have a solid enough broadband connection for streaming.

And it's rapidly turning into table stakes. TiVo Inc. (Nasdaq: TIVO)'s Stream device lets users "sideload" recorded shows to mobile devices, as does the DirecTV Group Inc. (NYSE: DTV) Nomad, which is powered by software from Morega Systems Inc. (See DirecTV Unveils Content 'Nomad' and Morega Tackles Video Portability.)

The new Comcast feature apparently is also serving as a nice springboard for Penthera Partners Inc. , the startup recently acquired by former Insight Communications CEO Michael Willner and founder Sidney Knafel that specializes in technology that accelerates the transferring of large video files to smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices. (See Insight Founders Lead Mobile Video Startup.)

A Comcast spokesman declined to say if the operator was working with Penthera on this particular app, but Penthera's website does list out several licensing partners, including Comcast, Motorola Mobility LLC , High Tech Computer Corp. (HTC) (Taiwan: 2498) and Nokia Corp. (NYSE: NOK).

So, if we're connecting dots, it looks like this was a nice score for Willner's new outfit.

— Jeff Baumgartner, Site Editor, Light Reading Cable
Newest Comments First       Display in Chronological Order
steve q
User Ranking
Monday December 17, 2012 11:56:51 PM
no ratings

That true but why will a big company like Verizon with it Verizon Wireless look away form it own brand name. Even after a AWS deal with the cable company when they have the uper hand . Yes Fios is not everywhere but if they help the cable company they will push there technolog away form it own company name. The only thing is that Verizon Wireless is everywhere with it 4g cell service so they are covering those area where that have bought the AWS but 4g is not going to be the answer to help Verizon Wireless or Verizon Corp. It will be the cable company they are moving into ip/tv service in my own state of Boston and that Fios is not there so if we can not push the brand name to our customer then the cable win.

Craig Matsumoto
User Ranking
Monday December 17, 2012 8:19:43 PM
no ratings

I appreciate what you're saying about FiOS, Steve, but you've brought that point up before ... 'thing is, not everyone lives in FiOS territory, and some of those who do might be loyal to their cableco.

And Verizon now has the requirement of spreading coverage in the areas where it bought AWS spectrum. (See Verizon Wireless's Spectrum Deal Sails Through.)

steve q
User Ranking
Friday December 14, 2012 4:53:07 PM
no ratings

I can not see how Verizon Corp can stand there and let it own Verizon Wireless saying we be better with  comcast  TW , Cox . Then having our customer having fios with it own company name Verizon Corp. If Verizon see the cable company as the way to get off the copper line those cable company use the same system as verizon does but they are changing everything to fiber that will pervide faster and cleaner service,and a much lower cost to our customer. Yes 4g is great to a point but there is nothing that will match Fios service and price to match the cost of the customer.

Dan Jones
User Ranking
Friday December 14, 2012 12:13:54 PM
no ratings

Verizon is pretty clear that the first thing they want to do with the cable deal is make the cablecos customers Verizon Wireless subscribers.

Jeff Baumgartner
User Ranking
Friday December 14, 2012 12:00:06 PM
no ratings

Interesting angle on this one at Telecompetitor -- Comcast customers can download via any Wi-Fi connection but only on Verizon's cellular network.... an apparent benefit from the Verizon Wireless deal with Comcast, along with TW Cable , Cox  and Bright House. JB

 

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