Charter and Comcast to partner on new streaming platform, giving Apple TV a run for its money

Charter and Comcast have announced a partnership in creating a new streaming platform on 4K streaming devices and smart TVs. The new streaming platform will compete with Apple TV, Roku and Google.

Comcast will license its streaming platform and hardware, Flex as well as Xumo, which it acquired in 2020. It will also sell XClass TVs at retail stores. Charter is bringing a $900 million investment to the table.

The products Charter and Comcast create will feature loads of free ad-supported content. There will be more than 200 unique streaming channels as well as popular apps like Peacock. It’s not sure if Apple TV+ will be a featured app, but it’s likely we’ll see Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, and others on the platform.

Xumo will continue to operate as a free global streaming service available through the joint venture’s products and third-party devices. Charter will offer the 4K streaming TV devices and voice remotes beginning in 2023. Comcast will offer its Flex streaming service as a streaming device to customers.

Our new venture will bring a full-featured operating platform, new devices, and smart TVs with a robust app store providing a more streamlined and aggregated experience for the customer. This venture, which will expand the options available to consumers in the video market, can compete with national media platforms and adds to our already extensive range of Spectrum TV apps that are compatible on all customer-owned streaming devices.

Tom Rutledge, Charter Chairman and CEO

It looks like there is time before Apple and other companies with hardware and services will notice the new competitor. We haven’t seen the new Apple TV hardware in a while. Last year, the company released the Apple TV 4K at its Spring Unleashed event. The new Siri remote is included, as well as HDR and Dolby Vision. Were we able to see an upgraded device at WWDC June?

On the streaming service side, Apple TV+ original content has won countless awards recently. It’s continuing to pump out hit content that viewers love to watch. Check out the running guide for what you can watch on Apple TV+.