Cable giant Comcast is reportedly poised to launch a mobile version of its Internet video storefront Fancast. According to Gizmodo, which cites "a reliable tipster," Comcast is currently wrapping negotiations with various partners in advance of the Fancast mobile app launch--in its current web incarnation, the site recalls platforms like Amazon's Unbox, offering consumers feature-film and television downloads to buy and rent. Gizmodo reports that Fancast heralds Comcast's attempt to expand its business into other sectors of entertainment separate from the cable market--the Fancast mobile app would support that ambition via partnerships with companies across the media landscape. Sprint is named as a probable mobile operator partner.
The notion of a multi-platform Fancast effort was first floated more than a year ago after Comcast acquired [1] movie ticketing service Fandango for an estimated $200 million. Touting Fancast as a one-stop programming resource spanning a range of platforms, including mobile, Comcast promised at the time that the service would enable its subscribers to identify and access information on new films on multiple platforms as well as pinpoint related mobile and Internet content. According to Comcast, subsequent iterations of the service will also enable subscribers to remotely program their DVRs via mobile device.
For more on the Fancast mobile effort:
- read this Gizmodo article [2]
Links:
[1] http://www.fiercemobilecontent.com/story/comcast-planning-multi-platform-content-service/2007-04-12
[2] http://gizmodo.com/5044999/leak-comcasts-mobile-store-is-actually-quite-promising