On Friday, Canadian operator Rogers Communications revealed it’s dropping its development of an internet-based TV system and instead going all-in with Comcast X1. Rogers announced a “long-term partnership” with Comcast to offer Rogers subscribers video services via Comcast’s X1 IP-based video platform.
“We’ve seen growing desire of other operators to leverage the industry-leading innovations we’ve created at Comcast,” Comcast President and CEO Neil Smit comments. “Comcast is excited to bring the experiences of the award-winning X1 platform to Rogers’ customers in Canada.”
Rogers explains in a statement that it decided to move to a hosted platform to “ensure it has access to the scale and technical roadmap needed to meet the ongoing pace of IPTV innovation.” The operator also says its subscribers will benefit from the research and development investments Comcast has already made in its platform.
“As a result, Rogers will discontinue any further investment in the IPTV product it was developing and expects to take a pre-tax non-cash asset impairment charge in the range of C$475-$525 million in its fourth quarter ending December 31, 2016,” a Rogers press release reads.
