Franchise News

Comcast to Offer New Video Service called Watchable, Latest Effort to Appeal to Younger Audience

Aug 15, 2015 07:19 PM EDT | By Jean-Claude Arnobit

Comcast Corp. is planning to introduce a video service that will feature content from Vice Media and Vox Media, a person close to Comcast told Bloomberg.

The new video service will be called Watchable, which is set to be officially introduced later this year.

Aside from Vox Media and Vice Media, Comcast will also be partnering with BuzzFeed, AwesomenessTV, Refinery29, The Onion, Mic News, NBC Sports, and more, according to the Business Insider.

With the wide array of partners, Comcast's digital video platform will rival the likes of YouTube and Facebook.

A source, who asked not to be named because the matter is still private, told Business Insider that the list is still not yet final as the full list of partners is still being determined. However, the participants have already committed to Comcast.

The partners have committed to providing the content for Comcast's Watchable for a few years.

Business Insider added that Comcast's partners have all agreed to upload all of their unlicensed, original video content to Watchable, as part of the partnership.

Users of Watchable will be able to enjoy the content as they please, as it is available for streaming on demand.

Business Insider also adds that the content will be available in Comcast's X1 set-top box, a device that allows users to stream unlimited amounts of movies and shows on demand from their television or mobile devices.

Watchable will also be available to iOS and Android devices soon.

Watchable is Comcast's latest effort to attract younger subscribers who prefer online alternatives instead of cable TV, according to Bloomberg.

Younger audiences usually go for Netflix, YouTube or Facebook than cable TV.

Fortune adds the challenge for Comcast is that YouTube, Netflix and Facebook already have large and devoted audiences.

These audiences have already, more or less, given up on cable TV.

Fortune adds that Comcast's attempt to lure these audiences with Watchable would require them to cannibalize their existing business model, which is difficult for officials to accept. 

© 2024 Franchise Herald. All rights reserved.

Franchise News

Real Time Analytics