Photo: Comcast
Comcast is partnering with Amazon to bring its video service, Amazon Prime video to its X1 service, which is a Pay-TV package that integrates on-demand and live programming through a combined hardware product and software platform.
Why it matters: Cable and satellite providers are competing with the big subscription video on-demand (SVOD) companies, like Amazon, Hulu and Netflix, to retain customers, but they also need those companies to retain their Pay-TV subscriber base with marketing deals.
The details: Prime Video content will be integrated on Comcast's X1 platform in the U.S., and available within X1's search feature and remote control functions.
- X1 subscribers will also be able to access titles for rental or purchase and add on a selection of over 160 Prime Video Channels, including Showtime and STARZ.
Comcast already lets their X1 Pay-TV consumers access other SVODs, like Netflix and Youtube, with just a single click or voice command on its X1 remote.
The big picture: Most Pay-TV companies, like AT&T, Verizon, etc., broker these type of deals with digital streamers to be able to market the packages to consumers.
- It's important that they do so, because many of the ~120 million television households in the U.S. are quickly dropping their expensive Pay-TV packages for cheaper, digital bundles in a process dubbed "cord-cutting."
Go Deeper: Cord cutters will outpace previous projections and grow more than 30% this year