Comcast unveiled their newest way to watch cable. They announced their new streaming platform and it is called Flex. Flex is a new way for consumers to watch all their favorite programs from a Comcast service. Much like with Directv Now, Flex is another competitor to help the consumers. For a while now, the only true competitor from a big cable name was with Directv. Directv Now offered different pricing on different levels of cable and live TV programs. The different levels of programming allowed consumers to pick whichever gave them the channels they watched the most. Then, they could put add-ons a la carte style to their choice of the package from Directv Now. Flex is Comcast’s way to compete with that. Coming March 26, 2019, consumers can purchase a five dollar a month subscription service. This is aimed, according to Matt Strauss Vice President from Comcast’s Xfinity side, to appeal to people that cut the cord to cable services. It is an online internet only version of the services they offer with their Xfinity lineup.
The services will be available to those who have Xfinity and Comcast internet available to them already. Comcast is working on providing a free ad-sponsored version soon. Flex will allow those who don’t necessarily like Xfinity’s prices or services. Comcast has always been one of the big names in cable and internet in the industry to provide services that many aren’t willing to put up any longer. This is due to price hikes and not so clear advertising on their part to the consumers. Subscribed apps such as HBO and Showtime will be available to watch with Flex.
Strauss understands the new way to watch television is now through the internet. The cable is no longer how consumers want to get their networks. Strauss noted the internet connection has,
“Become the center of gravity.”
“This is an opportunity for us to play a role in how we make it easier for our customers to both onboard these devices and control these devices,”
Consumers are starting to notice streaming cable is becoming the better option to watch live television and all their favorite networks. Boxes and cables are no longer needed to watch TV.
