Atlantic Broadband, Grande Communications and RCN have announced distribution partnerships with Netflix, becoming the first cable providers in the United States to integrate the streaming over-the-top (OTT) video service into their existing television offerings.
The Netflix App will be fully integrated into the TiVo service via customers’ existing set-top box (STB), so that customers that subscribe to Netflix will be able to access Netflix in addition to live TV, video-on-demand (VOD) and other Web content via the television, thus eliminating the complexity of multiple boxes, remote controls, input ports and cables. Customers can use their TiVo DVRs to search, browse and select Netflix content.
“Now, watching Netflix is as easy as changing the channel,” said David Isenberg, chief marketing and strategy officer, Atlantic Broadband. “The ever-expanding selection of titles on Netflix is a tremendous complement to Atlantic Broadband’s existing portfolio of Live TV, HD channels and on-demand programming. Integrating the world’s leading Internet TV network with the world’s best DVR platform underscores our commitment to delivering customers what they want – instantly.”
TiVo President and CEO Tom Rogers added, “Our view has long been that the marriage of linear television and streaming over-the-top (OTT) TV is the future of television, and Netflix has clearly emerged as a must-have OTT service. Today’s announcement underscores the transformative nature of the TiVo technology and its proven ability to enable OTT providers to be seamlessly integrated into a pay-TV platform. TiVo is the common technological thread bridging the gap for the first time here in the U.S. between operators and OTT services to help them deliver a superior and more complete offering to their subscribers.”
The deals follow similar models that Netflix has in place with Virgin Media in the UK and Com Hem in Germany.