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Comcast in distribution pact with Fox Networks

Indiantelevision.com Team

(14 February 2013 01:05 pm)

MUMBAI: Comcast Corporation and Fox Networks (FN) have reached an agreement for a new distribution pact to deliver Fox Broadcasting’s (Fox) and Fox Television Stations’ (FTS) wide array of entertainment, sports and local news content to Comcast Xfinity TV customers across televisions, computers, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles and internet-enabled televisions.

The renewal supports the companies’ mutual goal to deliver the most popular video content to customers across multiple platforms.

The agreement provides video service to nearly 22 million Xfinity TV customers of both live and on demand programming from 20 FTS broadcast stations (13 Fox and 7 MyNet) as well as FX, FX Movie Channel, SPEED, Fuel TV, Fox Soccer, National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo Wild, MundoFox, Fox Deportes, and Fox Business Network.

Financial terms were not disclosed. However, the agreement also includes a framework for both companies to continue to collaborate on new multiplatform offerings so that the companies can take advantage of new technologies and programming through the life of the deal, including Comcast’s advanced advertising and ad systems integration services.

There are also longer-term plans to make available next-day full episode streaming of select Fox programming online to authenticated Xfinity TV customers for viewing whenever and however they wish to access them.

In addition to live and on demand streaming, authenticated Xfinity TV customers will soon be able to access long-form, full episodes on Fox Now – a suite of TV apps across multiple digital platforms that are designed to provide Fox viewers with enhanced interactive and social capabilities around their favorite Fox shows.

"This unprecedented TV Everywhere agreement enables us to take advantage of the innovative technologies and platforms we’ve developed to deliver the best content to our customers," said Greg Rigdon, EVP, Content Acquisition for Comcast Cable. "Together with Fox, thanks to the leadership of Peter Rice, Mike Hopkins and his team, for the first time we are unlocking the value of some of Fox’s best content by making it available to Xfinity TV customers through new applications and devices."

Added Fox Networks President Distribution Mike Hopkins, "Neil Smit, Greg Rigdon and their team are on the cutting edge of the burgeoning ‘TV Everywhere’ space and were great partners throughout this process. This agreement will bring Fox’s brands and content to Xfinity TV customers on all platforms and we are excited to begin this journey with Comcast."