Rogers Communications has announced a 10-year agreement with Comcast that will see its Entertainment OS and 10G internet connectivity technology introduced in Canada.
Currently in use by SKY, Foxtel and XUMO, Entertainment OS is designed to provide a seamless user experience across multiple devices, promising “less searching and more watching” with intuitive navigation features, aggregating live TV and subscriptions, including gaming, into a single user destination.
In addition to the introduction of a new device powered by Entertainment OS, the partnership also includes broadband and smart home tech, and an expanded suite of home security products developed by Comcast and Xfinity.
“Our partnership with Comcast builds on our legacy of bringing Canadians the best networks, entertainment and services in the world,” said Tony Staffieri, President and CEO, Rogers Communications. “Canadians want to be connected to the best entertainment, anywhere, without interruption and we’re proud to partner with Comcast to make this a reality.”
Rogers says the average Canadian now subscribes to nearly twice as many streaming apps than five years ago with broadband data usage at Rogers growing 200% in the same period. According to research commissioned by Rogers, the majority of Canadians (55%) say they are overwhelmed by the number of streaming apps. Half say searching for content is time consuming, and 45% admit they sometimes can’t find the show or sporting event they want to watch. The study also found accessing all streaming apps on one platform is the most appealing TV feature.
The company told Broadcast Dialogue that commercial details will be shared as the new product rolls out with no changes to its current IgniteTV platform in the interim.
10G, storm coverage tech
Comcast’s 10G internet connectivity devices that will enable multi-gig symmetrical speeds on Rogers “roadmap to 10G,” also falls under the agreement. Rogers says it will also be the first internet provider in Canada to offer a product designed to maintain connectivity when a storm hits, trees are down, or a customer experiences a local outage. Dubbed “Storm-Ready WiFi” for Xfinity customers in the U.S., the device is equipped with cellular backup and a rechargeable battery to keep customers up and running for hours. When the power goes out, the customer’s network automatically transitions to cellular back-up so they can continue to use the internet. The device also doubles as a wi-fi extender to deliver a strong signal to hard-to-reach corners of the home.
Rogers says the announcement builds on its commitment to bring the best global innovations to Canadians, including its SpaceX and Lynk Global partnership to enable satellite-to-mobile coverage
Shared with investors at the company’s Annual General Meeting, Q1 2024 results were highlighted by total revenue and total service revenue increases of 28% and 31%, respectively, driven by revenue growth in Rogers’ Cable and Wireless business. Media revenue decreased by 5% in the quarter primarily as a result of lower subscriber revenue, and lower revenue at Today’s Shopping Choice, partially offset by higher ad revenue.
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