Skip to main content

Comcast takes aim at Netflix, Hulu Plus with new Streampix VOD service

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Cable giant Comcast announced today the launch of its new video streaming service, Streampix. While Streampix takes direct aim at competing services like Netflix and Hulu Plus, the service will only be available to Comcast cable subscribers.

The $5-per-month service gives subscribers access to all 75,000 TV shows and movies that are currently available on Comcast’s Xfinity On Demand, XfinityTV.com, and through the Xfinity TV app. (Streampix will also be included for “free” as a package option.) Comcast says it also has plans to release versions of Streampix for the Xbox 360 and Android-powered mobile devices.

Comcast’s Streampix launch partners include Disney-ABC, NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution and Cookie Jar Entertainment. This provides Streampix with a number of TV series, and movies. According to the press release, Streampix selections include:

TV
“30 Rock”
“Grey’s Anatomy”
“Heroes”
“Lost”
“Married…with Children”
“The Office”
“Ugly Betty”
“The Secret Life of the American Teenager”

Movies
Analyze That
Brokeback Mountain
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Ocean’s Eleven
Stuart Little
When Harry Met Sally
The Big Lebowski

Kids’ programming
“Inspector Gadget”
“Paddington Bear”
“Strawberry Shortcake”
“The Suite Life of Zack & Cody”
“Wizards of Waverly Place”

While Streampix is, on its own, cheaper than either Netflix or Hulu Plus (both of which cost about $8 a month for streaming services), we can’t see Streampix stealing away customers — mostly because you have to already pay for cable to have access to Streampix. That said, it’s possible that someone who has Comcast cable service may choose Streampix rather than sign up for Netflix, but we don’t see too many people canceling their Netflix service just because Streampix is now available.

Editors' Recommendations

Andrew Couts
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Features Editor for Digital Trends, Andrew Couts covers a wide swath of consumer technology topics, with particular focus on…
Combined Disney+/Hulu app to launch in beta in December
App icons for Hulu and Disney+ on Apple TV.

It's finally happening. After months of rumors, followed by an actual announcement, a combined app with content from Disney+ and Hulu will launch in beta status in December 2023, ahead of an official launch in the spring.

And, well, that's really all we have at the moment. Disney CEO Bob Iger dropped the news on the company's fiscal fourth-quarter earnings call on November 8. (The company ends its fiscal year on September 30.)

Read more
Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ get new pricing schemes this fall
Disney Plus on Roku.

Disney+ — and along with it, fellow Disney-owned streaming services Hulu and ESPN+ — have never had the simplest of pricing schemes. And this fall they're going to get a little more complex -- and more expensive. And more countries are getting more options.

First up: Canada and some European nations will get the ad-supported option for Disney+ starting November 1, 2023. It'll run $8 in the former, and 5 pounds or 6 euros in the latter. Current subscribers will stay in the ad-free plan unless they actively decide to switch.

Read more
New My Netflix tab looks to make streaming on the go a bit easier
The My Netflix section of the Netflix app on an iPhone.

Netflix today rolled out a revamp of its mobile apps that aims to make it that much quicker to find something to watch when you're on your iPhone. The new "My Netflix" section is a one-stop shop tailored to you with easy shortcuts. The update is available now for iOS and is coming to Android in early August, the company said in a blog post.

The idea is when you're away from your home network, the My Netflix tab will give priority to recommendations for content that you've saved or downloaded. The Home tab is still there, as is search — it's just that Netflix is trying to make the former "Downloads" section a little easier to use.

Read more