Later this year the Xfinity TV Partner app designed specifically for Roku players and Roku TV models will be available in the U.S.
Featuring Xfinity’s Emmy award-winning guide, the Xfinity TV Partner app for Roku devices will provide customers with access to their live and on demand programming, including local broadcast, cable and premium networks, Public, Educational and Governmental (PEG) channels, as well as their cloud DVR recordings – all without the need to lease a set top box from Xfinity.
Comcast isn’t the first pay TV operator to go down this route. Time Warner Cable (TWC) launched an app for its service on Roku streaming devices, Samsung smart TVs and Xbox game consoles in 2013. However, TWC still requires its subscribers to rent at least one set-top box.
Comcast embracing third-party devices is also notable because the company has spent heavily on X1, its own next-generation cable box. Comcast has been slow to add third-party video services to its X1 platform, butwith Xfinity TV soon competing more directly with Netflix and others on Roku and other streaming devices, that may possibly change as well.
