Comcast app gets rid of Xfinity cable box for LG smart TV owners
Comcast and LG have teamed up to make life easier for Xfinity TV subscribers who have one of the newest LG smart TVs. In the near future, those customers will be able to access their Xfinity TV cable service through the smart TVs directly using Comcast's Xfinity Partner app. The app will be supported by LG's 2017 and 2018 smart TVs running webOS.READ: Comcast adds on-screen fantasy football scores and stats for Xfinity X1
The big benefit here is the elimination of the cable box, an entertainment system's most unsightly object. Instead of using that box to get the cable service on the TV, Comcast will leverage the TV models' built-in software to deliver the content directly via a 'secure private managed network.'
This will include live channels, on-demand content, local broadcasts, and whatever else the customer gets with their Xfinity cable subscription.
It's pretty great news, and one that makes Comcast's service a tiny bit more appealing when compared to OTT services that are delivered over the Internet. In addition to eliminating the cable box from your television stand, you'll also end the annoyance of having to return it to the company once you cancel your subscription. As well, there will no longer be the need to use a separate cable box remote in addition to the smart TV remote.
The move is arguably a necessary one for Comcast, which is facing increased competition from over-the-Internet providers like Sling TV, which offers live television and on-demand content via an app available for most media devices and some smart TVs. As consumers continue to abandon traditional television in favor of services that simplify their life while untethering their entertainment, companies like Comcast need to find a way to stay relevant and appealing.
The service provider is planning to launch a beta version of its Xfinity TV Partner app for LG's webOS smart TVs starting early next year; it'll arrive first for the 2017 models, and later on for the 2018 models. The company hasn't given any specific dates or more narrow time frames, however.
SOURCE: Comcast