Comcast is in advanced talks to acquire video streaming company Xumo, the Wall Street Journal reported. The negotiations with Xumo come as Comcast’s NBCUniversal is getting ready to launch its own streaming service Peacock in April 2020.
Xumo is a joint venture between Viant Technology (owned by Meredith Corporation) and Panasonic and was started in 2011. It provides an app which is readily available on mobile devices and many smart TV platforms, offering free, ad-supported video streaming. The company also licenses its tech on apps or integrations for companies like LG, Vizio, Sharp and Hisense. Xumo does not require a set-top box or dongle.
While Peacock may have ad-supported elements and could be free for current pay-TV subscribers, it’s not quite clear what it would have in common with Xumo. Comcast is set to unveil details of its Peacock service on January 16.
The report comes just days after Comcast entered into a long-term carriage deal with Starz that includes continuing access of Starz networks on Xfinity TV and future carriage on Peacock.
Along with the pay-TV agreement, the companies also announced that NBCUniversal will license content from Starz parent Lionsgate for Peacock.
Source: https://www.broadcastprome.com/news/comcast-in-advanced-talks-to-buy-free-tv-service-xumo/