Following a similar effort around the 2018 Winter Games in PyeongChang, Comcast has kicked off a content hub on its X1 platform dedicated to the 2018 FIFA World Cup that will feature integrated access to live matches in English and Spanish, full-game replays, real-time analytics and game and team stats.
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The X1-facing initiative for the big soccer tourney will feature Telemundo’s and Fox’s live World Cup coverage, as well as web-delivered video, and the ability to navigate and search for that content using the X1 voice remote (Comcast noted that more than 1.5 billion voice commands were generated on X1 in Q1 2018). Via the Xfinity Stream app, Comcast subs will also be able to view live matches offered on Telemundo, Universo, Fox and FS1 and access game replays and highlights on an on-demand basis.
Comcast said it will also, for the first, time, let its pay TV customers receive notifications on TVs and smartphones when their favorite team is about to hit the pitch. In the smartphone setup, users can receive text messages with the alerts and a direct link to the Xfinity Stream app, Comcast said.
For X1 boxes, the integrated Sports App will provide a way for viewers to set up recordings and watch live matches and access real-time stats from matches.
Taking advantage of its deep metadata capabilities that can distill and decipher what’s occurring inside a TV show, movie or sporting event, viewers who record World Cup games to the DVR will have the ability to jump to goals and other high-impact plays during the match.
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Comcast said X1 subs with also be able to view Telemundo’s 4K coverage of the World Cup on a VOD, next-day basis, similar to how the service provider handled 4K fare tied to the 2018 Winter Games. To view those games in those advanced formats, Comcast subs will need a 4K-capable X1 box and a 4K television.
Among the elements, the World Cup Home hub will serve as the umbrella for all World Cup content offered via X1. A World Cup Channels feature will provide curated highlights from the tournament, including top goals, trending highlights, interviews and match analysis.
