Comcast is working with a variety of companies to bring additional content to its online portal, responding to increased viewing pressure from Hulu and similar video sites that are absorbing valuable advertising money.
The company recently added around 20 companies as partners, including several rival companies, to add content to its Comcast On Demand TV service and its Comcast On Demand Online portal.
BBC, A&E, AMC, IFC, and other major networks will add their services to the Internet through Comcast's online sites. Comcast has vowed to continue to add new partners in the future, and it's possible additional rival companies will also be included.
Comcast On Demand already supports HBO, TBS, TNT, CBS and Starz, and the service is extremely popular among Comcast subscribers. Most content is available for free, but some TV episodes cost $0.99 to rent for 24 hours, with pay-per-view movies and free movies also available.
The Comcast On Demand Online service will enter official testing next month with 5,000 subscribers nationwide. Since HBO and other services require additional charges for Comcast subscribers, a special authentication technology will also be tested. Not much is known about it, except that it is said to be easy to use and accurate enough to keep out non-subscribers.
Both cable providers and broadcasters are turning to the Internet to offer ad-supported enhanced viewing that isn't available in the living room at the moment. Furthermore, the ability to watch content while away from the living room means viewers can watch TV episodes and movies while at work, traveling, or when they have a few moments on a PC.
CBS and other channels have their own online sites set up, but Comcast hopes to offer its subscribers a "one-stop shop," offering content from multiple providers in a single, easy to use location.
Are you interested in watching online content, or do you prefer watching TV episodes in the living room only?
