Comcast Confirms Xcalibur PartnersComcast Confirms Xcalibur Partners

CHICAGO -- The Cable Show -- Comcast Corp. (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) revealed its partners for its Xfinity TV platform, code named Xcalibur, on Tuesday in Chicago. (See Xcalibur's Coming-Out Party? )

The MSO's initial partners include thePlatform Inc. for content management, Pace plc for hybrid set-top boxes, Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC) for chips and Facebook for some social interaction.

Comcast is using its initial four partners to build a new guide and user interface designed to make the viewing experience more personal, interactive and social -- and more like the mobile experience. Xfinity TV improves search across all of a user's content, adds a personalized portal from which to access that content and includes interactive apps like Facebook, traffic and weather.

Comcast is currently trialing the service in Augusta, Ga., but didn't provide details on its deployment schedule.

Why this matters
Comcast's plans for its next-gen TV platform confirm that the MSO is trying to make an effort to change consumer TV and video entertainment.

Its partner selections are not a surprise but more details about the service will emerge later this week as Comcast CEO Brian Roberts will demo the new service here on Thursday.

For more
Brush up on your Xcalibur knowledge with LR Cable's handy timeline here, along with the following stories:

— Sarah Reedy, Senior Reporter, Light Reading Mobile