Comcast's New Streaming Service Doesn't Try Very Hard Large ISPs like Comcast and Verizon are often stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to adapting to the cord cutting revolution. They want to offer innovative, high value streaming video services -- but they don't want users downgrading from their traditional, expensive cable TV services or they'll lose money. As a result they'll often offer products designed to seem innovative, yet fail to offer all that much value once you've added up all of the caveats and hidden additional fees and surcharges.

The end result is often services that offer users many more restrictions that traditional cable TV, but don't actually save users all that much money. Comcast's new Instant TV service appears to be no exception. The service was launched last month, but is currently only available to Comcast broadband subscribers. Instant TV starts at just $20 per month, and to Comcast's credit, unlike some other industry "skinny bundles," rolls many traditional fees into the actual price of the service. But after that, reviews this week suggest that's where things start to fall apart. Comcast's licensing restricts viewing outside of the home, the service offers half the cloud storage as competing services, resulting in a monthly price that's higher than competing offers. The company's channel packages are also specifically designed to force you to pay as much money as possible, notes Jared Newman at Techhive. Other news outlets like the Philadelphia Inquirer share a luke-warm enthusiasm for Comcast's offering, noting that once you've factored in Comcast's expensive broadband and gateway surcharges you're still paying an awful lot of money despite getting a bare-bones TV experience. Again, Comcast's not advertising the service very much -- and saddling the offering with caveats -- because it doesn't want existing cable TV customers to downgrade. Comcast's hope appears to be that Instant TV might just stop existing users from cutting the cord entirely, but given it doesn't compare very well with the rising tide of streaming services already on the market, it's not entirely clear it will accomplish that goal, either. Again, Comcast's not advertising the service very much -- and saddling the offering with caveats -- because it doesn't want existing cable TV customers to downgrade. Comcast's hope appears to be that Instant TV might just stop existing users from cutting the cord entirely, but given it doesn't compare very well with the rising tide of streaming services already on the market, it's not entirely clear it will accomplish that goal, either.







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Most recommended from 11 comments



Anonb5f49

@sbcglobal.net 5 recommendations Anonb5f49 Anon No Understanding of the Market The reality is, it's easy for any company to create a competing streaming service.



Trying to dodge that reality with fake offerings will just lead to a loss of market share in the future. The companies on the front edge (Netflix, Dish with Sling, Playstation Vue, Youtube Red, etc.) will be the ones that benefit the most.



The longer the cable/telecom companies try to hold onto subscribers with worse streaming options, the worse the pain will be. The safest thing would be to cut your dividend, reinvest more into fiber, and then offer a really competitive streaming service even if it cannibalizes a lot of your pay-tv subscribers in the short term.



Short term pain for long term gain is the only way to win. Otherwise, you'll end up in a world where at least 50% of your subs have cut the cable but aren't using your own streaming service. At that point, these companies will have regrets but it will be too late. mlody_me

join:2000-07-26

Des Plaines, IL Asus RT-AC68

4 recommendations mlody_me Member they should bundle it Comcast needs to start bundling the streaming service just like it was the normal service via coax.



I am forced to get a worthless 10+ channel bundle to save on the internet. Part of the deal is a crappy cable box that's not even HD with 20 years old guide interface. I would be willing to pay $5 to have the same bundles but as a streaming option, no crappy box, but instead AppleTV app. I would be all over this.

syslock

Premium Member

join:2007-02-03

La La Land 2 recommendations syslock Premium Member No surprise Every 3rd party value add Comcast has tired to do has sucked.



Its like if its not part of the core services, they don't really give a care.