Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA) and LG Electronics USA announced Xfinity TV customers will be able to access their cable service via the Xfinity TV Partner app on 2017 and 2018 LG webOS 4k/UltraHD smart TVs beginning in 2018.
The app will allow Xfinity TV customers to watch live and on-demand video programming, including local broadcast and public, educational and governmental (PEG) channels, as well as cloud DVR recordings on LG sets, led by LG's OLED and SUPER UHD TVs.
"With our award-winning webOS user experience, Comcast customers will be able to take advantage of an easy-to-use interface and fast application performance on 2017 and 2018 webOS-enabled TVs," said Matt Durgin, head of Content Innovation for LG Electronics USA. "Working with Comcast will bring these experiences to our customers so they can seamlessly enjoy their favorite content on our award-winning 4K UltraHD TV lineup without the need for a set-top box."
LG has joined the Xfinity TV Partner Program, which Comcast launched last year to expand the range of retail devices customers can use to access Xfinity programming. Leveraging HTML5, the Partner Program provides a common framework that smart TV, TV-connected and IP-enabled retail device manufacturers can use to develop an Xfinity TV Partner app for their device so that Xfinity TV customers can access their cable service in their homes without the need for a set-top box.
"We remain committed to giving Xfinity TV customers more options for watching their favorite programming in the home, so we're thrilled to partner with LG to bring our app to their TVs," said Michael Gatzke, vice president, Video Subscription Services, Comcast. "We recognize that today's consumers are looking for more choices in how, when and where they access their entertainment, and via partners like LG we can expand the range of devices they can use in the home to do just that."
Comcast expects to launch a beta of the Xfinity TV Partner app on LG Smart TVs, starting with 2017 models, early next year.