Comcast’s new TV Everywhere is launching next month. That’s the word from Comcast Interactive Media President Amy Banse, who described some of the details of the anticipated service in an interview this week at the NewTeeVee Live 09 event in San Francisco.
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The new service, now in a trial phase in 5,000 homes, will allow Comcast subscribers to watch favorite shows over the web with no additional charges.
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On-Demand Online
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To access the service, which Banse said will be called On Demand Online, subscribers will sign in online at Fancast.com or Comcast.net, get their identity authenticated as a Comcast subscriber, and then they will be able to watch cable shows online and on-demand shows over various devices.
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At a subscriber’s home, there is a one-time download for the player, and then up to three devices can be authenticated. Once authenticated, the laptop or other devices can be used anywhere.
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The advertising model is still being worked out, with Banse describing the upcoming launch as the first inning of how the business will work.
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If you’re an HBO subscriber, you’ll be able to watch Entourage on your laptop, she said, referring to the hit HBO series. She added that the trial shows people like the video quality, the user interface, having access to content they watch on TV, and, in particular, being able to watch on-demand content.
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Before Banse’s comments, there had been speculation among industry observers that the service would only work if the user was on a Comcast broadband connection, which would have limited its appeal. There are reports that using the service at home will contribute to a user’s monthly download limit.
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‘Absolutely Makes Sense’
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Ross Rubin, director of industry analysis for consumer technology at the NPD Group, said that TV Everywhere — everywhere as long as you’re a Comcast…