Comcast-Charter’s new streaming joint venture predicts the next chapter in the streaming war

It’s Comcast-Charter’s new streaming easy to overlook last week’s announcement that Comcast and Charter had formed a joint venture to capture national market share in streaming video distribution. But the two biggest cable companies in the United States could play a long game. That could lead to a chapter in the streaming war.

Charter and Comcast announced that they had developed a 50/50 initiative to bring the Comcast Flex streaming platform to more American homes.

Comcast will license Flex for Charter, giving Charter’s Spectrum subscribers access to the interface. Comcast will and contribute to its smart TV (XClass) business and ad-supported free streaming service Xumo for enterprises.

For its part, Charter will make an initial contribution of US$900 million to fund costs and expansion. Additionally, starting in 2023, Charter will offer Flex-powered devices and voice-controlled remote controls. While Flex is not a new product, this partnership almost doubles the potential installer footprint.

At first glance, Comcast and Charter started this partnership years later. Roku, Amazon, Apple, also Google have been making streaming aggregation tools and software for more than a decade. Samsung Smart TVs come with their built-in streaming platform. Plus, Netflix’s disclosure last week that it was losing subscribers for the first time in more than a decade suggests. That streaming subscriptions may have peaked in the United States, at least for now.

“It’s hard to imagine how successful they will be given the long years we’ve invested in our platform and our competitors. Said Anthony Wood, CEO and founder of Roku of Comcast Charter, during its Comcast Charter Earnings Conference Thursday.

Wood adds that it has historically been difficult for the company to compete with Roku on streaming. As rivals like Comcast and Charter have thriving businesses. In contrast, streaming is Roku’s sole focus. However, according to research firm Conviva, Roku is the #1 streaming from the widescreen device. Followed by Amazon Fire TV and Samsung.

However, Comcast and Charter have one significant advantage that other streaming competitors don’t have — technicians come to the house.

Advantages of home court

Almost every person or family who moves into a new house or apartment needs to set up a broadband connection. Comcast and Charter is the nation’s most extensive high-speed home broadband line.