Comcast Forays Streaming Arena With Smart TV Launch

Comcast Corp CMCSA collaborated with the Chinese manufacturer Hisense Home Appliances to launch XClass TV, intensifying rivalry with Roku Inc ROKU and Amazon.com Inc AMZN.
The new TV prices are $298 for a 43-inch model and $348 for a 50-inch.
The sets go on sale this week in select Walmart Inc WMT stores.
Smart TVs have become famous for making it easier to watch services like Netflix Inc NFLX, Bloomberg reports. Roku and Amazon sell streaming devices that connect to TV sets.
The smart TV marks the cable provider's first product offer directly to consumers beyond its territories, including Philadelphia, Houston, and Chicago, inviting competition with Samsung Electronics Co Ltd SSNLF and VIZIO Holding Corp VZIO.
The report added that Smart TVs could drive Comcast's advertising business with greater visibility into people's viewing habits. It could also provide a distribution boost to the company's streaming service, Peacock.
When customers buy an XClass TV, they get Peacock Premium, which costs $4.99 a month, free for a year.
Price Action: CMCSA shares closed higher by 1.92% at $54.24 on Tuesday.