New Xumo streaming box launches with Charter, Comcast to follow

Xumo, the streaming joint venture between Comcast and Charter Communications in the US, has launched a new Xumo Stream Box to Charter’s Spectrum homes, with plans to take the service to Comcast’s Xfinity footprint soon.

The box is powered by Comcast’s RDK-based Entertainment Operating System. The service opens with live video playing from the device’s primary video service app such as Spectrum TV, Xfinity Stream or Xumo Play.

The Stream Box comes with access to subscription-based and ad-supported streaming apps, including Apple TV+, Disney+, Hulu, Max, Netflix, Peacock, Pluto, Prime Video and Tubi as well as Xumo Play.

The device also enables search across apps via voice and features including favourite lists for different household members.

“Watching TV was designed to be a relaxing, lean-back experience, but today’s fractured entertainment landscape has added a level of complexity that makes finding something to watch more burdensome for consumers,” said Marcien Jenckes, president, Xumo.

“When we started Xumo, we set out with the ambition to take the decades of entertainment experience and technical innovation from Comcast and Charter and build a complete entertainment experience that breaks down the streaming silos and makes TV easy again. Xumo is streaming simplified, bringing a live TV experience together with all the top apps,” said Rich DiGeronimo, President, Product and Technology for Charter. “With Xumo Stream Box, customers have endless entertainment options simplified, with aggregated search across apps and curated content offerings based on the customer’s interests and subscriptions, which will be even more powerful as direct-to-consumer apps are included with Spectrum service.”

Xumo comprises three primary lines of business: Xumo devices, Xumo Play and Xumo Enterprises. Xumo Play offers a range of FAST and AVOD services.

The outfit recently launched its own range of Pioneer-co-branded smart TVs that will be exclusively available via Best Buy stores in the US. The new range will sit alongside Hisense-made Xumo TVs, but the range of models from Pioneer and the strength of their retail presence is likely to be greater.