Comcast and Fox Networks announced a multi-platform distribution deal that gives Comcast’s Xfinity video customers access to a wide range of video content from Fox across linear TV, online, tablets, mobile devices and gaming consoles.
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 of the new pact weren’t released, but it also included a framework for both companies to collaborate on new multi-platform offerings in order to take advantage of new technologies and programming through the life of the deal, including Comcast’s advanced advertising and ad systems integration services.
Key elements of the agreement included:
- Episodes from primetime series on Fox, FX, FX Movie Channel, National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild, Speed and Fuel TV
- On-demand of episodes of current seasons available from Fox, FX, National Geographic Channel and Nat Geo Wild, including such popular shows as “Glee,” “Bones,” “The Simpsons” and “Sons of Anarchy”
- Popular movies from FX and the FX Movie Channel
- Access to content on Fox’s websites and applications.
The two companies also said there were long-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 Comcast subscribers will soon be able to access long-form, full episodes on “FOX NOW” – a suite of TV apps across multiple digital platforms that were 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, executive vice president of 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.”
The deal with Fox mirrored the one that Comcast struck with Disney last year, which also included multi-platform rights for TV Everywhere offerings.
