One of the more interesting streaming stories recently isnโt about particular content or even a particular streaming platform, but an unlikely alliance on the streaming devices consumers use to access those platforms. NBCUniversal parent Comcast has been developing and selling their own Flex streaming devices and XClass smart televisions for some time now, and last week, cable rival Charter (Spectrumโs parent company) announced theyโre joining Comcastโs project in a 50/50 venture rather than developing their own. Alex Sherman has more on the implications of that at CNBC:
Comcast and Charter said they had developed a 50/50 venture to push Comcastโs Flex streaming platform into more homes across America. Comcast will license Flex to Charter, giving Charterโs Spectrum subscribers access to the interface. Comcast also will contribute its smart TV business (XClass) and free ad-supported streaming service Xumo to the venture.
Charter, in turn, will make an initial contribution of $900 million to fund expenses and expansion. In addition, Charter will offer Flex-operated devices and associated voice-controlled remotes, beginning in 2023. While Flex isnโt a new product, the partnership nearly doubles the deviceโs potential install footprint.
โฆNearly every person or family that moves into a new house or apartment needs to set up home broadband. Comcast and Charter are the largest home high-speed broadband connectors in the country.
Hundreds of millions of U.S. households already use a streaming device and may not feel a desire to switch. But Comcast and Charter service more than 200 million people in U.S. households combined. Comcast CEO Brian Roberts and Charter CEO Tom Rutledge can be united on a strategy to tell their broadband technicians to connect Flex devices when they hook up homes across the country with Internet.
As Sherman notes, Comcast and Charter are behind companies that have been offering streaming devices and smart TVs for some…