Fancast XFINITY TV National Beta Launch: A Guide to Get Started
We’ve blogged about On Demand Online a number of times here on Comcast Voices, and now is the time for Comcast customers to take it for a spin themselves. Fancast XFINITY TV, the new name for On Demand Online, is now available in a national beta.
We started testing Fancast XFINITY TV with a technical trial this summer and into the fall. We got lots of great feedback, tweaked some things, and now we want to hear from even more people (millions and millions of you).
The Fancast XFINITY TV national beta gives Comcast customers a quick and easy way to watch thousands of hours of cable programming, most of which has never been available online before for no additional cost. You can watch shows from 27 networks, including HBO, Cinemax, TNT, Discovery, CBS, AMC, Hallmark and more, from the comfort of your computer screen. This month you’ll be able to watch things like: The Sopranos (every episode) and Curb Your Enthusiasm from HBO, Crash (Starz), Man vs. Wild (Discovery) and The Closer (TNT). We also have tons of blockbuster and independent movies like Slumdog Millionaire, Juno, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, Milk and Wall-E from our network partners.
During the national beta you’ll have to be a Comcast customer who subscribes to both digital cable and our Internet service to use Fancast XFINITY TV. We’re working on making this service available to digital cable customers on any ISP and you can expect that to be available next year.
Today, you’ll be able to watch Fancast XFINITY TV content from home or on-the-go on up to three separate computers. As you click around in the beta be sure to let us know what you like, and what you don’t like about the product.
Don’t worry if you have any trouble with any aspect of Fancast XFINITY TV, we expect that you might have some questions and we’ve setup a number of different ways for you to get help. Through the Fancast Help section you can access an email address, chat options, and a special toll-free number you can call to get help. One final thing to be aware of: we’re using your Comcast.net email address as your login for Fancast XFINITY TV. If you don’t know what your Comcast.net email address and password use the help page to either call or email us and we’ll get you setup right away.
Once that’s all set, simply visit comcast.net or fancast.com and sign in with your Comcast email username and password. Thanks to our authentication technology, developed by Comcast Interactive Media, your login allows us to figure out what content your subscription entitles you to see (for example, if you subscribe to HBO you’ll gain access to HBO’s programming on Fancast XFINITY TV with a simple click of the mouse).
This national beta is only the beginning of Fancast XFINITY TV. We’re working on a new user interface, lots of cool new features, and making sure that the service is compatible with all of the system configurations that exist in all of your homes. We’ll continue to add these features and more in the first half of next year.
Now, if you’ll excuse me I need to catch up on some episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm.
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Comments (17)
So why do I get the message: "Please wait a moment while an updated version of our video player plugin loads. When it finishes, playback will start automatically..."
forever when trying to watch HBO on a Mac????? NetFlix works flawlessly and is only $10. Somebody's has gots to go!
I subscribe to comcast xfinnity with access to HBO SHO etc. When I want to play a move from Fancast I am told to download the new fancast player, but then the instalation will not run. What needs to be done?
The way Xfinity doesn't work on Macs is crap. I can watch most TV, but when accessing HBO, Showtime, etc. I am locked out. Really why the incompatibility with Os X and Snow Lepoard? Mac users should get a discount for not being able to access full services. Get with it Comcast!...Uverse and DirectTV are courting me!
I agree with another member: this explains what Xfinity is, which the commercial DOES not. Especially the Verizon commercials which bombard the TV screen which makes it sound like Comcast is merely changing it's name. I'm really glad I read this -- I can hardly wait to try it!
This is the best description of XFINITY TV that I have seen or heard yet!!!!!!!!!
I really look forward to start using it.
I am trying too get this .and watch tv...thank you comcast!!!
I am a reasonably satisfied Comcast internet and cable customer. I have just been subjected to a forced 3 day work week and need to cut expenses. Also I have personally lost interest in the voluminous junk programming on cable, network, and all other forms of programming as if it were worth anything. I would pay to get some of the sports. I feel the quality of the entertainment is stupid low and interrupted too often by mindless commercials to be worth my time.
This is why I will be cancelling cable TV completely soon, even if it means doing without television REDSOX coverage. I will listen to the radio. Heavy Sigh!!
Your XFinity service will function essentially identically to HULU as far as I am concerned. So far I don't have to pay anything extra for that. If they start charging me for that, I will stop using it. If you think I am going to pay for XFinity you are completely mistaken!
On the other hand, should you wish to give me what I want with cable, give me "a la carte" so I can purchase only your internet service and NESN HD from you. I am not stupid, I realize you won't do that if you lose money with it. This is why you don't already offer it. But if you did, then you will have a happy customer. Until that time I will go without any cable service. This is because I can get the basic HD network channels over the air with a small antenna and certainly won't miss the great quantity of trash on your hundreds of channels HD or otherwise that you advertise so heavily.
I like the internet service you offer because it is bundled with the virus subscription. As soon as there is a less costly alternative with equal product bundle, I will stop being your customer.
Good luck with XFinity
David A Johnson
I believe Comast is somewhat late coming out with XFINITY since I have been using Netflix for a while now. Most all new DVD players now have an ethernet connection where by paying $8.99 a month, you have unlimited streaming of great movies and also a DVD mailed as soon as you send the last one back, including BluRay. Movies are setup online on Netflix's site called a Queue, then when selecting Netflix on the DVD palyer, you can select any movie you placed there. Netflix just announced the Nintendo Wii will be supporting movies, also the PS3 gaming console. I noticed that new Sony Bravia HDTVs have that feature also. Sure, your newer PC may have an HDMI connector to watch them on your TV but go to that trouble with cabling and a computer sitting on your living room. So now, I am only paying for high speed internet and watching local news and weather off the air by using rabbit ears. Stop by Best Buy where they will explain it all.
Fancast XFINITY TV is a great service/ I already pay almost $200 a month for Comcast Cable and was disapointed to find out in order to access Premium Content such as HBO/Cinemx on XFINITY TV you have to also have Comcast High-Speed internet. Their website did not clearly state this either. Competition is stiff in this market. If you are a Premium Comcast Subscriber download of Premium conent should not require a subscription to Comcast High Speed Intenret.
Warining Dr. Smith. FANCAST xfinity tv only allows download of Premium content (HBO/Cinemx/Starz et) if you had both 1) Subscribtion to that service Comcast Cable AND 2) Comcast High-Speed Internet. What a rip-off.
Will I be able to participate in the beta using TIVO with my comcast cable cards?
I love the opportunity to view TV shows on my laptop
;0 I love comcast.com
I'm glad to hear about the new service but your email notification was nice the first time. No need to spam me every 30 minutes with the same message. After # 6 I think I get it.
on my mac it prompts me to update my flash player but when i try to do so it won't install because adobe says the flash i'm trying to install is older than the one I have.
:-(
Comcast myDVR is already online in parts for the Eastern Division (including Philly). Check for Availability here: www.comcast.net/mydvr
Wow this is awesome! Can't wait to watch some HBO on Comcast/Fancast XFinity TV On Demand Online online! Will Comcast XFinity TV Online On Demand work with Cinemax too? I was considering canceling my subscription because otherwise its way too expensive, but now I will seriously reconsider.