PHILADELPHIA—Comcast’s Xfinity has announced expansive plans for its FIFA World Cup 2026 coverage that will provide Xfinity X1 TV subscribers with access to RealTime 4K feeds of all 104 games with Dolby Vision and Atmos, along with a host of features like Multiview, Fan View, AI-powered highlights that will make it easier to find, access, interact and watch the games.

In parallel, Xfinity also announced that it is launching Fox One on Xfinity Xumo Stream Box, giving Xfinity Internet customers access to every match in English alongside Peacock’s Spanish-language coverage.

“We’ve been on a deliberate journey to reimagine how fans experience sports in the home, rolling out new capabilities that make watching more immersive, intuitive and aligned with how fans engage today,” Comcast Vice President, Sports and Entertainment Vito Forlenza said. “The World Cup is the latest example of how Xfinity combines premium picture quality, low-latency streaming and interactive features to create a truly standout sports viewing experience, powered by our most intelligent and reliable Wi-Fi.”

The launch builds on efforts by Comcast to improve the live viewing experience for recent high profile events like the Olympics, NFL, the Super Bowl and NBC’s NBA coverage where the operator rolled out higher resolution video formats and features like Multiview, Fan View and AI-powered highlights.

It also comes at a time when consumers are increasingly frustrated by the difficulty of finding content, particularly sporting events, that are airing on a variety of different streaming platforms and Comcast is facing growing competition from mobile providers for broadband subs and pay TV subs.

That makes the new features an important test case in the operator’s efforts to convince consumers that its high-capacity networks can offer a host of features—such as low-latency 4K video and seamless access to both streaming and pay TV content without switching apps—that can’t be matched by competitors.

“The coverage shows we have the technical capabilities, we have the devices, we have the network, we have the wherewithal to provide the best sports experience in the market,” Forlenza said in an interview. “Our FIFA World Cup 2026 coverage is really the visual articulation of the value that we're bringing to our customers.”

As part of the coverage, the operator has created World Soccer Hub. Xfinity TV customers can simply say “World Cup” or “Copa Mundial” into the Xfinity Voice Remote to launch the hub, an aggregated, bicultural tournament destination that brings all live and on demand coverage from across networks and streaming services into one simple, seamless experience. The destination also provides quick access to Xfinity’s most advanced sports viewing features.

Comcast described the other notable features available for its World Cup coverage as follows:

• The fastest stream, sharpest picture and best audio with RealTime4K: All 104 matches from Fox and FS1, plus a match of the day from Telemundo will be available in Xfinity’s new RealTime4K technology. Delivered to the home over Xfinity’s superior network just seconds behind the action on the pitch, RealTime4K offers stunning contrasts, brilliant colors and lifelike detail with Dolby Vision and an immersive audio experience with Dolby Atmos.
• Never miss a moment with Create Your Own Multiview: Fans can watch up to four live events at once, selecting from World Cup matches and other simultaneously airing events to build a customized Multiview experience.
• Discover while watching with Fan View: A personalized, interactive companion experience, Fan View gives viewers an easy way to discover and immerse themselves in all the tournament action, without taking their eyes off the big screen. Customers can select their favorite countries to create a tailored viewing experience centered around the action that matters most to them, or browse the latest scores, stats, standings, and odds from across the tournament. Fan View also serves as the launchpad for Xfinity Clips, a new short-form video experience that makes it easy to watch highlights, features and key moments in a format inspired by the simplicity of leading social media platforms.
• Record and catch up quickly with AI Highlights: Available on DVR recordings of Fox’s and Telemundo’s game coverage, AI highlights automatically tag key moments like goals, penalty kicks, and amazing saves so fans can quickly catch up on the biggest action of the day.
• Take the tournament to go with Xfinity Stream and Xfinity Mobile: With the Xfinity Stream app, customers can watch live World Cup matches and coverage wherever they are. And with Xfinity Mobile, they can tap into Xfinity WiFi’s more than 23 million hotspots to get speeds up to 1 Gbps and stay connected to every moment on the go.

The FIFA World Cup also marks the launch of Fox One, the official English-language streaming platform of FIFA World Cup 2026, on Xfinity Xumo Stream Box, expanding how Xfinity Internet customers can watch the tournament.

With Fox One now available, streamers can watch every World Cup match in English alongside Spanish-language coverage via Peacock, bringing the entire tournament together in one streamlined, voice enabled experience.

The company also stressed that this coverage is part of its ongoing push to improve the viewing experience for sports fans that will impact its future coverage of the NFL, NBA and other sports.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 also builds on Xfinity’s broader commitment to the global game. Beyond the tournament, Xfinity serves as a year-round destination for soccer, aggregating top European leagues, Latin American competitions, international tournaments, and domestic club matches into a single viewing experience.

It also offers World Soccer Ticket, a video package custom-built for soccer fans that includes nearly 60 channels and Peacock Premium, customers can enjoy more than 1,500 matches from the world’s top leagues, including Premier League, UEFA Champions League, Major League Soccer, LALIGA, Liga MX, the FIFA World Cup, and more, all in one place.

PHILADELPHIA—Comcast’s Xfinity has unveiled a suite of new features, including Create Your Own Multiview, for last night’s start of the NBA season that transform how fans find, follow and watch every game.

Create Your Own Multiview, allows fans to select four games of their choice. Another new feature, Fan View, provides a dynamic on-screen sports companion. The new features are accessible within NBA Zone, a personalized league hub that brings more than 1,300 NBA Games together at one seamless destination, making it effortless for customers to find games regardless of where they are airing, Comcast said.

“In today’s fragmented sports landscape, fans have to navigate a growing mix of networks and apps just to follow their favorite teams. Our goal is to make this easy,” said Fraser Stirling, global chief product officer at Comcast. “Nobody does basketball better than we do, and by bringing everything together into one simple, feature-packed experience, we’re removing complexity so our customers can simply sit back and enjoy everything the season has to offer.”

The new Create Your Own Multiview enables Xfinity customers to create their own personal sports viewing experience by choosing from select channels to watch up to four games at once, whether NBA games or other sports. Viewers can enlarge any of the games on screen and cycle through the audio of other games, it said.

The new all-in-one Fan View feature places scores, stats, standings, betting odds and team insights next to live action. It also helps fans discover and watch games across network channels and streaming services without having to take their eyes off the screen, it said.

Comcast Xfinity’s newly enhanced NBA Zone brings more than 1,300 NBA games into one destination regardless of whether they are airing on broadcast, cable streaming apps or FAST channels to make it easier for fans to find and watch games. Fans can personalize the destination with their favorite teams to find the live coverage, stats, news and highlights most important to them.

More information is available on the company’s website.

STAMFORD, Conn. —Charter Communications’ Spectrum News has reached a deal with Comcast to expand distribution of its local news channels to Xfinity TV customers in Connecticut, Northern New Jersey and Orlando and Tampa, Fla.

Spectrum News had previously launched in California in response to the Los Angeles wildfires and, under the deal, will remain available to Xfinity TV customers throughout the state, with local news for viewers in Sacramento and San Francisco.

The launches will create more local news competition for broadcasters in those markets. The Xfinity launch is part of an ongoing effort to expand the reach of the local and regional versions of Spectrum News, which were originally available only in certain markets serviced by Charter's Spectrum footprint.

“We are always looking for ways to bring our community-driven reporting to even more people, and this is an exciting opportunity to reach new viewers in some of the country's largest markets,” said Mike Bair, executive vice president of Spectrum Networks. “Unbiased local journalism is a key pillar of our society and, while local news coverage across the country is shrinking, Spectrum News is expanding to provide more access when people need it most.”

In the coming weeks, various local versions of Spectrum News will become available in these Xfinity markets:

• Spectrum News NY1 will be made available to Xfinity TV customers in northern New Jersey and Connecticut.
• Spectrum News 13 will launch to Xfinity TV customers in Orlando.
• Spectrum Bay News 9 will be seen by Xfinity TV customers in Tampa.

CHICAGO—Chicago Sports Network (CHSN) and Comcast have signed a carriage agreement that will bring CHSN, the exclusive television home of more than 300 local Blackhawks, Bulls and White Sox games, to Xfinity customers across the Chicago area.

Under the agreement, fans will be able to watch CHSN through Comcast’s Xfinity Ultimate TV package starting on June 6 on Channel 200 in Chicago.

“On behalf of the entire CHSN team, we’re proud to welcome Comcast’s Xfinity TV customers to a network built exclusively for Chicago sports fans,” said Jason Coyle, president of Chicago Sports Network. “With more than 300 live Bulls, Blackhawks, and White Sox games each year, along with original programming that highlights Chicago’s pro, college, and high school sports, CHSN delivers the most comprehensive and locally focused coverage available. This deal allows us to reach even more fans across the city and suburbs, deepen connections, and reinforce CHSN as the home for Chicago sports all day, every day.”

CHSN also offers direct-to-consumer subscriptions for internet customers via CHSN.com, the CHSN app (iOS and Android), and connected TV platforms including Roku, Apple TV, Google TV, Amazon Fire TV and Samsung Smart TVs. Plans start at $19.99/month for one team or $29.99/month for all three.

“We are excited to bring the White Sox, Bulls, and Blackhawks to fans across the region with the launch of CHSN for Xfinity TV and Comcast Business customers,” added Chris Smith, senior vice president, Comcast Greater Chicago Region, in a statement.

PHILADELPHIA—Comcast’s Xfinity has announced that Sunday Night Soccer on MLS Season Pass is now available for free to customers. The access will start with the May 18 games.

Apple has a 10 year deal valued at $2.5 billion to offer MLS Season Pass.

The weekly matches will be available within the channel guide on Xfinity X1 and the Xfinity Stream app throughout the duration of the season, making them easy for customers to find and discover alongside all their other favorite sports channels, the operator reported.

“Since we kicked off our partnership with Apple and MLS earlier this year, we’ve seen a great response from customers. They’re enjoying MLS 360 and tuning in to the integrated match channels consistently week after week,” said Vito Forlenza, vice president, sports entertainment, Comcast. “Adding Sunday Night Soccer for free introduces even more customers to all the excitement of the season and continues our commitment to deliver greater value at no additional cost.”

The announcement builds on Comcast’s and Apple’s previously announced content distribution agreement to deliver MLS Season Pass.

MLS Season Pass feature every MLS game with no blackouts, along with in-depth coverage and analysis, exclusive content, and more. Xfinity currently offers free access to MLS 360 for all Xfinity customers and integrates every MLS Season Pass match into the channel guide on X1 and the Stream app.

MLS Sunday Night Soccer on X1 and Stream will launch Sunday, May 18 at 7 p.m. ET when Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF take on Orlando City SC, followed by LA Galaxy meets LAFC. All Sunday Night Soccer matches on Xfinity will be available in both English and Spanish with enhanced production and dedicated studio programming.

PHILADELPHIA—In the run-up to the start of the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournament, Comcast has expanded Xfinity Multiview to more X1 devices, giving millions of additional customers the ability to watch up to four live games at once, all on the same screen.

“With 164 basketball games airing over the course of a few weeks, March is the perfect time to introduce Xfinity Multiview to more customers in a big way,” said Vito Forlenza, vice president, sports entertainment, Comcast. “Now, they don’t have to choose between games, miss a buzzer beater when flipping channels, or set up another TV on a makeshift stand in their living room - all the action is right there on the same screen.”

Xfinity Multiview will be available throughout the duration of both tournaments, ranging from two to four pre-selected men’s and women’s games playing simultaneously. Customers can simply say “March Madness” or “multiview” into their voice remote to see the multiview options available. Once in the multiview experience, customers can toggle between channels to switch audio and select any game to jump into full-screen mode.

Comcast reported that Xfinity Multiview joins a host of other features Xfinity offered to customers during the tournaments, including:

• A comprehensive tournament hub that brings together all live men’s and women’s coverage into one easy-to-use destination.
• An interactive Sports Zone app, a companion viewing experience that enables fans to follow the latest brackets, scores, schedules and stats from across the tournament when watching a single game or within multiview so they never miss a moment of the action.
• Live odds, game lines and prop bets for tournament matchups via Xfinity Odds Zone. Easily accessible within the Sports Zone app, Odds Zone gives fans an easy way to watch and wager with either DraftKings or FanDuel without having to take their eye off the TV.
• The option to favorite any men’s or women’s team so customers can create a personalized viewing experience centered around the teams that matter most to them, including the option to receive game start notifications and/or post-game highlights directly to their X1 device or phone.
• Other notable features for live sports include: Enhanced 4K, the best picture and audio quality delivered to the home in the fastest way possible; aggregated, personalized sports hubs, which make finding any game fast and easy; and Odds Zone, a companion experience where fans can watch and wager with leading sportsbooks from the TV.

Comcast and the vMVPD Fubo have announced that Xfinity Internet customers with a Flex or Xumo Stream Box have another option for a live TV service with the launch of Fubo, a sports-first live streaming service that brings together more than 400 sports, news and entertainment networks.

The app is also available on Xumo TVs, currently sold across the U.S.

"Live sports is best enjoyed on the big screen - in fact, 95% of Fubo viewers are watching their favorite content on connected and smart televisions," said Isaac Josephson, senior vice president of product management, Fubo. "We're thrilled to add Comcast's Xfinity Flex, Xumo TV and Xumo Stream Box streaming platforms to Fubo's suite of TV devices. A big shout out to the many teams across Fubo and Comcast for their hard work in bringing our premium user experience to Comcast streaming customers."

“For many consumers, one of the first things they look for in a streaming service is whether it provides access to their favorite sports,” said John Dixon, senior vice president, entertainment, Comcast. “With a huge collection of sports-focused channels ranging from local broadcast to national networks covering the biggest and smallest of sports, Fubo is a great addition to the growing catalog of streaming options available on our platforms.”

Fubo joins a growing list of both subscription-based and ad-supported live streaming services now available on Flex, Xumo Stream Box and Xumo TV, including Xfinity Stream, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, Xumo Play, Tubi, Pluto, and more.

Xfinity Internet customers looking to learn more about Xumo Stream Box, which is available at no additional cost with their broadband service, can visit https://www.xfinity.com/learn/xumostreambox. More information on Xumo TV can be found here: https://www.xumo.com/products/xumo-tv.

TORONTO—Rogers Communications has signed a 10-year agreement with Comcast to bring the latest Xfinity products and technology to Canadians. 

As part of the agreement, Rogers will be deploying a new streaming device powered by Comcast’s Entertainment OS operating system for streaming devices and smart TVs as well as new connectivity technologies and an expanded suite of home security products and features that have been developed by Comcast and Xfinity.

The agreement builds on an existing tech partnership between Rogers and Comcast, which was already supplying pay TV and broadband technologies to Rogers. The new agreement would further expand the use of Comcast’s devices and technologies, which are already used on Comcast's systems and are licensed to other operators like Cox Communications.  

“Our partnership with Comcast builds on our legacy of bringing Canadians the best networks, entertainment and services in the world,” said Tony Staffieri, president and CEO, Rogers Communications. “Canadians want to be connected to the best entertainment, anywhere, without interruption and we’re proud to partner with Comcast to make this a reality.”

As part of this agreement, the latest broadband, smart home and connectivity products available to Xfinity customers will be coming to Canada through Rogers starting later this year. 

"As a world leader in converged experiences inside and outside the home, this platform will make it easy and simple for Rogers’ customers to connect to what they love with a seamless experience, whether on the big screen in their home or their smartphone on the go,” added Staffieri. 

"Building on our nearly decade-long partnership with Rogers, we’re thrilled to deliver the next-generation of our incredible entertainment and connectivity products, like Entertainment OS and the latest gateways, to millions of customers across Canada,” said Dave Watson, chief executive officer of connectivity and platforms, Comcast. “Now, with the addition of these new products and services, even more customers in North America will be able to take advantage of Comcast and Xfinity’s innovative technologies.”

In announcing the agreement to supply a new device powered by Entertainment OS, the companies noted that the average Canadian subscribes to nearly twice as many streaming apps than five years ago and broadband data usage at Rogers has grown 200% in the same period. 

New research commissioned by Rogers also found that the majority of Canadians (55%) say the number of streaming apps is overwhelming. About half (50%) say searching for this content is time-consuming and admit they sometimes can’t find the show or sporting event they want to watch. The study also found accessing all streaming apps on one platform is the most appealing TV feature.

The new devices would help address those issues, simplifying the access to apps and content, the companies said. The new Entertainment OS powered platform will bring live sports, entertainment and news, on-demand, and streaming apps into one, simple view so customers spend more time watching and less time searching with the award-winning voice remote and integrated interface. 

In addition, Comcast will be supplying technologies based on its 10G Internet efforts. Through this agreement, Rogers will offer its customers the latest gateways developed by Comcast, enabling them to experience 10G technologies, like multi-gigabit speeds, ultra-low lag and even better reliability. 

Rogers will also be the first internet provider in Canada to offer a product designed to maintain connectivity when a storm hits, trees are down, or a customer experiences a local outage. Dubbed Storm-Ready WiFi to Xfinity customers in the U.S., the device is equipped with cellular backup and a rechargeable battery to keep customers up and running for hours. When the power goes out, the customer’s network automatically transitions to cellular back-up so they can continue to use of the Internet. The device also doubles as a WiFi extender to deliver a strong WiFi signal to those hard-to-reach corners of the home. 

Building on the existing Self Protect service available to Rogers’ customers, Rogers will soon launch new home security hardware, including sensors, to complement the existing options of cameras and doorbells, with the added benefit of on-demand emergency dispatch at the touch of button. 

Commercial details will be announced as products and services are made available, starting later this year, the two operators said. 

LOS ANGELES—Cineverse Corp. has launched its AsianCrush and RetroCrush streaming services on Comcast's Xfinity and Xumo streaming devices, expanding the reach of the services to millions of new households across the US. 

AsianCrush which is dedicated to bringing viewers the best of pan-Asian entertainment, and RetroCrush, which offers classic anime titles, are both available as subscription video on demand (SVOD) add-ons for an additional monthly fee.

With today's launch, AsianCrush and RetroCrush are now available on Xfinity X1, Xfinity Flex, Xumo Stream Box and Xumo TV. 

"We have thoroughly enjoyed being part of Comcast's innovative mission to deliver the world's best content with ease to their customers," said John Stack, Senior Director of Business Development at Cineverse. "And in that spirit, we're so excited to offer AsianCrush and RetroCrush to a new enthusiast audience on Xfinity."

AsianCrush and RetroCrush join existing Cineverse SVOD channels already available on these devices including Docurama (super-serving fans of documentaries), Dove Channel (family programming), Fandor (indie film), Midnight Pulp (cult movies and TV shows), and Screambox (horror).

NEW YORK & PHILADELPHIA—ViacomCBS owned stations and networks won’t be going away for Comcast customers anytime soon, as the two sides have come to terms on a renewed content carriage agreement.

The deal will continue retransmission consent of 23 CBS-owned TV stations in 15 markets across the U.S., including CBS-owned CW affiliates. It will also continue the distribution of entertainment and sports channels like Showtime, Smithsonian Channel, Pop TV and CBS Sports Network to Xfinity customers.

Something new to the deal is the addition of the CBS All Access digital subscription on-demand and livestreaming service to Comcast’s Xfinity X1 and Flex platforms later in 2020. ViacomCBS says this is the first time the CBS All Access app will be available on an MVPD-based set-top box.

In addition, the agreement covers TV Everywhere availability of programming from CBS Television Network and CBS Sports Network to Xfinity customers on CBS.com, the CBS app and Xfinity Stream. Showtime Anytime will also continue to provide Xfinity Showtime subscribers with unlimited access to its content online and on mobile devices.

The markets impacted by the deal are: New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Boston, Detroit, Minneapolis, Miami, Denver, Sacramento, Pittsburgh and Baltimore for CBS-owned stations; and Philadelphia, San Francisco, Atlanta, Tampa, Seattle, Detroit, Sacramento, Pittsburgh and Baltimore for CW affiliates.

Also, two MyNetwork affiliates will be available in Boston and Miami, and the CBS-owned independent station will be available in New York.

The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

PHILADELPHIA—Comcast has announced a new promotion that will see any existing or new Xfinity internet-only subscribers receiving an Xfinity Flex 4K UHD streaming device as a free inclusion. With the Xfinity Flex platform, powered by Xfinity X1 technology, users have the Xfinity Voice Remote, a redesigned guide and access to popular streaming services and free movies and TV shows.

Xfinity Flex features include a personalized user guide with universal voice control, including a home page with live, immersive titles; a “Free to Me” destination with more than 10,000 titles; live streaming from networks like ESPN3, Pluto TV, Tubi TV, Xumo, Cheddar, YouTube and SkyNews; access to popular streaming services; an update grid guide that compiles available live programming from networks and apps, as well as what is new to the platform; the ability to rent and purchase titles from the digital store and pair Movie Anywhere accounts; browse and listen to music on Amazon Music, Pandora, iHeartRadio and XITE using the voice remote; and later this year, the ability to upgrade Xfinity TV on X1.

Beyond the TV, the Xfinity Flex system can help manage connected home devices, like see what devices are connected to the network, setting parental controls, pausing Wi-Fi access, accessing camera feeds, arming or disarming the home security system and finding an Xfinity mobile phone.

“Today’s internet customers need more than speed—they want wall-to-wall Wi-Fi coverage, simplified control of their connected home and the best streaming experience,” said Matt Strauss, executive vice president of Xfinity Service, Comcast Cable. “With Xfinity xFi and Xfinity Flex, we are including all of that and more with our internet service, all in one place, on the best screen in the home.”

The deal includes an Xfinity Flex box and Xfinity Voice Remote at no additional cost of the Xfinity internet service. Any additional boxes are available for lease for $5 per month, per box.

Students on college campuses really enjoy watching live TV, mainly on their laptops, according to Comcast statistics. The company released a summary of aggregated from its Xfinity On Campus service show that college students prefer watching live television, then video on demand, followed by DVR content. In the last two years, the service -- which includes access to live and on demand programming from 100+ broadcast, cable and premium channels anywhere on campus-- has doubled in size on college campuses. Xfinity On Campus now reaches more than 130 college campuses around the country.

The data shows students particularly enjoy watching content on their laptops over other mobile devices, especially on Thursdays and Sundays during primetime.

The data, compiled from January 2018 through June 2018, showed:

• Live TV Matters: 44 percent of total video consumption was live, followed by video on demand at 37 percent, and DVR at 19 percent.
• TGISunday and TGIThursdays: Students spend the most time watching TV on Sundays and Thursdays, while spending the least amount on Saturdays. And 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. is still the most popular viewing time across all days of the week.
• Biggest Screen Wins: Even without TVs, students still revert to the biggest screen available; twice as much consumption happens on computers and laptops verses mobile devices.
• Sports Reign: Live sports dominated the top 10 most-watched programs, fueled by the NBA and NFL playoffs, the Winter Olympics, Super Bowl, and the NCAA basketball tournament.
• Must-See TV: Among the most popular live programs were This is Us, Grey’s Anatomy, The Bachelor, Jersey Shore: Family Vacation, Riverdale, The Good Doctor, Keeping up with the Kardashians, grown-ish, Modern Family and Law & Order: SVU.

“Tens of thousands of students use Xfinity on Campus every day to watch TV and that’s enabled us to identify some interesting viewing trends, like the significant portion of live programming college students are watching, including sports, scripted drama and reality TV,” said Mike Gatzke, Vice President, Video Subscription Services, Comcast Cable. “Xfinity on Campus is helping us learn a lot about what, how and when students watch, and ultimately enabling us to further enhance and improve our service to offer them the best entertainment experience across devices, anywhere on campus.”

PHILADELPHIA—Comcast Xfinity announced an update to its TV app for mobile devices that will enable access to live feeds of ABC and NBC broadcasts, but only in select markets. Updates were also given to the app’s VOD features and ability to buy on-demand content. Comcast reports that it currently is limited to signals offered in the broadcasters’ owned-and-operated markets.

Read the full story on TV Technology’s sister publication Multichannel News.