2023 is living up to our prediction that this year was going to deliver a streaming earthquake. We have already had HBO Max change their name to MAX, Netflix crack down on password sharing, and Roku retire support for its original Roku 4K streamer. Now, it looks like Comcast is joining in with its own interesting announcement.
NOW TV
Comcast has unveiled a new streaming offering, labeled NOW TV, available as a $20 per month add-on for those that subscribe to Comcast’s Xfinity internet service.
For $20 per month, NOW TV includes 40+ live channels from A+E, AMC, Hallmark, and Warner/Discovery, plus 20+ integrated FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) channels from NBC, Sky, and Xumo Play.
In addition, the Peacock Premium streaming service is included at no extra cost.
Tip: No new equipment is required, and users have the ability to sign up and cancel anytime.
From Dave Watson, President, and CEO, of Comcast Cable: “With content and connectivity at the core of our company, we are uniquely positioned to build and deliver streaming entertainment offerings unlike anything else out there today…NOW TV is a great example of how our company brings together its collective video experiences, innovative technology, and superior broadband service to deliver some of the best entertainment into one affordable streaming bundle.”
NOW TV is the newest video offering from Comcast that leverages its global technology platform. Comcast claims that NOW TV is the first streaming offering to combine a live TV streaming service, free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels, and a subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service.
Tip: NOW TV for Xfinity Internet subscribers should not be confused with NOW TV in the UK.
What NOW TV Includes
NOW TV Live: 40 popular channels are accessible. Some channels include A+E, AMC, Animal Planet, BBC America, BBC News, Discovery Life, Food Network, Game Show Network, Hallmark Channel, HGTV, The HISTORY Channel, IFC, Lifetime, Magnolia Network, OWN, Science Channel, Sundance TV, TLC, Travel Channel, The Weather Channel, and more…
Tip: Now TV is accessible through the Xfinity Stream app and includes a 20-hour DVR and access to three concurrent streams.
FAST Channels: 20+ free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels alongside NOW TV Live’s including NBC News NOW, Sky News, and the following genre-based channels from Xumo Play: Action Movies, Black Cinema, Bollywood & Indian Cinema, Comedy Movies, Comedy TV, Crime TV, Documentaries, Drama & Action TV, Family Movies, Food TV, Movies, Game Shows, Her Movies, Horror & Thriller, Kids TV, Reality TV, Sci-Fi & Fantasy Movies, Travel & Lifestyle TV and Westerns.
Peacock Premium: As mentioned previously, NOW TV customers will receive a Peacock Premium subscription at no additional cost via the Peacock app on all devices where the streaming service is available. Peacock Premium includes original series, more than 5,000 hours of live sports, hit movies right after they’re in theaters, next-day access to all new shows from NBC and Bravo, fan-favorite library content, and daily live news.
How To Access NOW TV
As previously stated, the first requirement to access NOW TV is that you have to subscribe to Xfinity’s internet service.
Qualified customers can sign up and cancel NOW TV anytime through Xfinity.com. At launch, NOW TV Live and Xfinity Stream’s FAST channels will be accessible through the Xfinity Stream app on supported devices. Including Xfinity Flex, Fire TV, iOS- and Android-powered devices, and via casting through Apple AirPlay and Google Chromecast.