Press release from Business Wire
Comcast Begins National Launch of X1: Next-Generation Cloud Enabled Television Platform and Introduces the X1 Remote Control App
<p class='bwalignc'> <i><b>X1 Video Platform Transforms Traditional TV into Integrated Entertainment Experience – Complete with Apps, Sleek Navigation, Personalization and Social Media Tools</b></i> </p> <p class='bwalignc'> <i><b>Available in the Coming Weeks in Boston; More Markets to Follow This Year</b></i> </p>
Monday, May 21, 2012
Comcast Begins National Launch of X1: Next-Generation Cloud Enabled Television Platform and Introduces the X1 Remote Control App09:00 EDT Monday, May 21, 2012
PHILADELPHIA & BOSTON (Business Wire) -- Comcast, one of the nation's leading providers of entertainment,
information, and communications products and services, announced today
it will launch its next-generation television experience, Xfinity TV on
the X1 Platform, and a new X1 remote control app in the coming weeks.
This cloud-enabled platform, unlike any other video service existing
today, delivers the world's largest collection of video and transforms
the TV into an entirely new integrated entertainment experience. These
new products will launch in Boston with several major markets planned to
follow this year, and will be available to new Xfinity Triple Play with
HD/DVR service customers at no additional cost.
“The X1 platform makes the TV smarter, richer and more personalized –
and that's only the beginning. Our goal is to leverage this platform to
redefine the entertainment experience for our customers,” said Marcien
Jenckes, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Video Services for
Comcast Cable.
“X1 is a giant leap forward, essentially transforming our video product
from a hardware experience to a software experience, allowing us to
innovate faster and more aggressively.”
The X1 platform incorporates IP technology, using cloud servers on
Comcast's network that allow Comcast to integrate interactive,
customized apps and social media features with its traditional video
services to create an entirely new television experience. This is part
of Comcast's ongoing and evolving effort to take advantage of IP
technology to constantly bring new innovation and features to market.
Showcased this week at NCTA's The Cable Show 2012 in Boston,
highlights of X1 include:
A main screen with a sleek new user interface that integrates a
customer's video experiences and enables one-click access to a highly
visual display of entertainment options
Unified search and instant play, along with recommendations, with the
ability to find entertainment content in seconds from TV listings, DVR
recordings and Xfinity On Demand using a new smart remote
Specially tailored-for-TV features such as customized social
networking and music, radio, sports, traffic and weather apps
Equipped with a new hybrid DVR set-top box with tru2way and IP
capabilities that delivers an advanced personalized TV viewing
experience as well as an enhanced remote control that offers greater
responsiveness and does not require a line-of-sight connection to the
set-top-box
X1 Remote Control App
The new companion X1 remote control app enables customers to use motion
and gesture control to drive their TV experience through the
touch-screen of their handheld iPhone and iPod touch. For instance,
customers can swipe their device to page through the interactive TV
guides on their television screen; program personalized short-cuts and
favorites (“Quick Links”) on the TV, and even shake the device to pause
On Demand content playing on the television. In addition, customers can
use the devices' virtual keyboard to search among and play tens of
thousands of video choices on their TVs faster than ever before – even
faster than using the traditional remote control. The remote provides
the ability to filter by genre and HD; control the DVR and interact with
social media tools and apps.
“The X1 remote app unites the TV screen with customers' mobile devices
by creating an integrated experience between the customers' swipe
controls on their device and the viewing experience on the TV – they
truly mirror each other,” said Sree Kotay, Senior Vice President and
Chief Software Architect for Comcast Cable. “By building this new app,
we've made the remote control smarter and more functional…and just plain
fun.”
X1 (formerly Xcalibur) has been in customer trials in Augusta, Ga.,
since 2011.
About Comcast Cable
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (www.comcast.com)
is one of the nation's leading providers of entertainment, information
and communications products and services. Comcast is principally
involved in the operation of cable systems through Comcast Cable and in
the development, production and distribution of entertainment, news,
sports and other content for global audiences through NBCUniversal.
Comcast Cable is one of the nation's largest video, high-speed Internet
and phone providers to residential and business customers. Comcast is
the majority owner and manager of NBCUniversal, which owns and operates
entertainment and news cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast
networks, local television station groups, television production
operations, a major motion picture company and theme parks.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50284211&lang=enMedia:Comcast CorporationAlana Davis, 215-286-5211alana_davis@comcast.com
