Comcast rolls out AnyPlay live TV streaming to Apple's iPad

Digital services giant Comcast introduced its new AnyPlay functionality to Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPad, enabling tablet owners to view live TV around the home even if someone else is watching a different program on the living room television.

The new AnyPlay device extends programming included within the subscriber's linear Comcast Xfinity TV package to a variety of web-enabled displays. "The AnyPlay device works the same as any other set top box in the home, but instead of delivering the incoming channel lineup to a television, AnyPlay delivers the lineup to the Wi-Fi router on the home network," explains Comcast senior vice president of video product development Mark Hess on the Comcast Voices blog. "The router then distributes the secure video signal to the iPad or Xoom over your home's wireless network. So as long as your tablet is within range of the home wireless router, you can turn it into another television screen."

Looking beyond the iPad, Comcast said it plans to expand AnyPlay to the Android-powered Motorola Xoom tablet in the imminent future. For now, free AnyPlay services are limited to Xfinity HD Triple Play customers in the Denver and Nashville areas, with additional markets on tap.

Comcast expanded its Xfinity TV live streaming application to tablet devices a year ago. The app now offers 8,000 hours of free, on-demand movies and TV shows available for viewing both inside and outside the subscriber's home. Hess adds Comcast will soon extend Xfinity TV to Microsoft's (NASDAQ:MSFT) Xbox 360 and Samsung connected TVs.

For more:
- read this Comcast Voices blog entry

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