Comcast’s online video service officially took flight this morning with an expanded launch nationwide.
Comcast started testing the service in July with 5,000 users under the On Demand Online moniker before announcing earlier this month that the service would officially be called Fancast Xfinity.
Comcast is making programming available from 27 cable channels, including HBO and Cinemax, via Comcast.net and Comcast’s Fancast portal. The service is free to Comcast’s subscribers.
When Comcast subscribers log on to to either of the sites for the first time to use the service, a Move Networks player and authentication device will be downloaded. The authentication device will allow subscribers to access the same content they currently pay for, such as HBO on-demand on their PCs. Comcast has previously said customers can authenticate up to three devices.
Last month, a Comcast spokeswoman said when the service first launches, users will have to be both Comcast video and data subscribers, but at some point they will just need to be video subscribers to access On Demand Online.
