Google’s YouTube is now integrated with Comcast’s Xfinity X1 platform.
Users can access YouTube using the X1 voice remote, and saying simple phrases like “YouTube” or “Find party dip recipes on YouTube.” Online videos will be available throughout the Xfinity On Demand menu.
“Giving our customers seamless access to live, on demand, and internet content in one place continues to be a key part of our strategy and we are excited to now add YouTube to the X1 experience,” Matt Strauss, EVP of Xfinity Services for Comcast Cable, comments. “By adding billions of YouTube videos to our video platform, we are taking our role as the aggregator of aggregators to a new level and reaffirming that X1 is the best place to easily discover and access all types of entertainment with the sound of your voice.”
CenturyLink has pushed back its expected closing date for the company’s proposed $34 billion acquisition of Level 3 Communications.
With 24 states approving the deal, and only California yet to sign off, CenturyLink had anticipated closing by the end of the third quarter this year. Last Friday the California Administrative Law Judge filed a decision recognizing the transaction is in the public interest, and recommended the California Public Utilities Commission approve the deal at an Oct. 12 meeting. Due to this, CenturyLink now expects the deal to close in mid-to-late October 2017.
“Since we began the regulatory approval process, 24 states and territories have approved or cleared CenturyLink’s acquisition of Level 3 and recognize this transaction is clearly in the public interest and will be good for competition in the enterprise market,” Glen F. Post III, CEO and president of CenturyLink, comments. “We are working to obtain the remaining approvals, including the State of California, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Communications Commission, and want to give the regulators time to complete their review process.”
“We view the slight delay in our projected closing date as manageable, and it does not affect our integration planning process,” he adds. “Both teams are ready to begin the integration process as soon as closing occurs.”
Windstream has rebranded its suite of premium services for residential and small business customers as Kinetic by Windstream.
Launched in 2014 with the deployment of next-generation TV service, Kinetic brand services are now available to more than 50 percent of homes and small businesses across Windstream’s 18-state local footprint. Windstream indicates the expansion will continue in line with network upgrades.
“The Kinetic by Windstream brand underscores our continued commitment to providing best-in-class broadband and entertainment experiences,” Jeff Small, president of consumer and small business for Windstream, notes. “We are delivering more speed to more customers so they can readily stream, surf and, download on multiple devices at the same time. Kinetic by Windstream truly represents a stronger connection between our company and the communities we serve.”
Kinetic by Windstream includes access to Kinetic Internet, which offers network speeds of 25 to 100 Mbps or higher, and Kinetic Gig, which delivers 1 Gbps speeds over a fiber-optic network. The suite also includes Kinetic TV, which includes video-on-demand and HD shows at no extra cost, as well as Kinetic Business Solutions.
