Xumo, LLC(/ˈzuːmoʊ/ZOO-moh) is an Americaninternet televisionandconsumer electronicscompany. It is ajoint ventureofCharter CommunicationsandComcastthat operates thefree ad-supported streaming television(FAST) andadvertising video on demand(AVOD) serviceXumo Play,and developsdigital media playersandsmart TVs.The Xumo Play platform's service operations are based in theOrange Countysuburb ofIrvine, California.As of October 2020, Xumo Play has 24 million monthly active users.[1]
 | |
| Company type | Joint venture |
|---|---|
| Industry | Streaming media |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Headquarters | Irvine, California, United States |
Area served | United States Mexico Brazil Western Europe(select countries) |
Key people | Colin Petrie-Norris (CEO); Jiro Egawa(COO); Chris Hall(SVP,Product); Hirotaka Oku(SVP, Engineering) Stefan Van Engen (SVP, Programming & Partnerships); Fern Feistel (SVP, Marketing & Content Operations) |
| Products | Xumo TV, Xumo Stream Box and Xumo Play |
| Services | OTT Internet television Smart TV Operating System |
| Owner | Comcast(50%) Charter Communications(50%) |
| Parent | Xfinity(2020-2022) |
| Website | www |
It was originally a joint venture between Viant Technology andPanasonic;Viant's stake was later acquired byTime Inc.,and the service as a whole was acquired by Comcast in 2020—seeking to use it as a complement to its paid streaming servicePeacock.In 2022, Comcast announced that Xumo would become a joint venture with Charter; under the venture, Comcast also contributed its digital media player and smart TV businesses—which are based onXfinity's X1 software platform—into the company under the Xumo Stream Box and Xumo TV brands.
History
editXumo was founded in 2011 as ajoint venturebetween the Viant Technology subsidiary ofMeredith Corporation(then the parent company ofMyspace) andPanasonic.[2]
In 2015, onlyVizioand Panasonic offered the service. Other manufacturers added Xumo in 2016, includingLG ElectronicsandFunai.As of May 2016, 78 channels were offered, with a total of 100 planned. The primary target audience was described asmillennialswho are not satisfied withmultichannel televisionofferings.[2]
In February 2016,Time Inc.acquired Viant.[3]The Vanderhook brothers began the company in 1999 as advertisementbanners.com, changing the name to Interactive Media Holdings in 2003 and Viant in 2015.[4]
By July 2018, the Android app was live, available for download at theGoogle Play Store.By June 2019, according to CEO Colin Petrie-Norris, Xumo was available in over 35 million American households via a multi-screen distribution network ofsmart TVs,mobile, web, and streaming boxes. At the time, Xumo did not offer its service outside of smart TV platforms, including Channel Plus onLG'sWebOSsets[3]sold by Viant on some channels.[2]
Xumo has the capability to learn what users watch, adding frequently viewed channels and programs at the top of lists.[2]
On February 25, 2020, Comcast announced it would purchase Xumo from the Panasonic/Viant joint venture for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition of the service—which would continue to operate as an independent business, albeit within Comcast'scable televisiondivision—stems mainly from Xumo's partnerships with smart TV manufacturers (including LG, Panasonic, and Vizio), which would allow Comcast to use Xumo's placement to market or showcaseXfinityand other Comcast services as well as use its technology to develop additional streaming platforms. The company added content from theNBCUniversalprogramming library and the company's various television networks, along with adding its channels as a complementary part ofPeacock,akin to Paramount's utilization ofPluto TVto offer content from its cable networks following the formerViacom's purchase of the competitor of 2019.[5][6][7]
On November 19, 2020, Xumo announced it would begin producing its own original content for the service, starting with Bold Soul Studios's movieWhite Elephant.[8]
In April 2022, Comcast announced that it would contribute Xumo to a newjoint venturewithCharter Communications,which will also include retail sales of streaming devices and smart TVs using Comcast's X1 platform.[9]It was announced later in November that this joint venture would retain the Xumo name, with the streaming service slightly rebranded asXumo Play,and Comcast's Xfinity Flex and XClass TV rebranded as Xumo Stream Box and Xumo TV, respectively.[10][11]
In January 2023, Xumo announced plans to launch Xumo TV—a line ofsmart TVsfromElement Electronics—later that year.[12]It also launched Xumo TV models fromHisenseandTCL Technology(marketed under thePioneerbrand), which are exclusive toBest Buy.[13]
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A Xumo Stream Boxdigital media playerdevice, which will be distributed by Xfinity and Spectrum, along with retail stores. -
A Xumo TV manufactured by Hisense, demonstrating the "Entertainment OS" user interface to be utilized by Xumo-compatible devices.
Programming
editXumo is structured similarly to the pay television model, offering its content as designated channels categorized by program content type into 12 channel tiers:
- News – consisting of mainstream news and opinion channels, as well as partisan, commentary-based outlets reflectingprogressiveandconservativeviewpoints.
- TV & Movies – general entertainment and movie channels.
- Sports – includes live and previously aired events, sporting news and analysis programs.
- Kids & Family – channels aimed at children and family audiences.
- Food, Drink and Travel – culinary and travel-oriented lifestyle channels.
- Comedy – comedy-based channels, consisting of curatedviral videoand digital content services.
- Entertainment – consisting of special-interest and viral video-based entertainment channels.
- Lifestyle – lifestyle, travel andhome shoppingchannels
- Pop Culture – entertainment news, science, technology,sci-fi,curated video andgeek culture-oriented channels.
- Science & Tech – science, technology and educational documentary channels.
- Music – consisting ofmusic videosand video concerts.
- Fashion – style-oriented channels.
As of February 1, 2020, Xumo carries over 190 channels packaging content acquired through various syndication and digital content deals. Current content partnerships for the service include the sister companyNBCUniversal,A&E Networks,Abrams Media,Advance Publications,CNET,Condé Nast,FBE,Sony Pictures,FilmRise,Fox Corporation,Fremantle,Jukin Media,Kabillion,Katz Networks,Meredith Corporation,NowThis,Paramount Global,PocketWatch,Refinery29,Stingray Group,This Old House Ventures,Time USA, LLC,Vin Di Bona Productions,andWarner Bros. Discovery.
Traditional television channels whose direct or curated feeds are offered on Xumo includeHistory,Fuse,USA Network(plus sister networkSyfy,E!,CNBC,MSNBCandSky News),NASA TV,MTV(plus sister networkShowtime,VH1andNickelodeon),Discovery Channel,CNN(plus sister networkHLN,HBOandCartoon Network),Euronews,Bloomberg Television,Newsmax TV,Scripps News,Fox News(and sister networkFox Business),Home Shopping Network(HSN),QVC,Jewelry Television,Reelz,Shop LC,BeIN Sports Xtra,andStadium.AVOD services whose feeds are carried on Xumo includeNBC News Now,ABC News Live,CBS News 24/7(plus sister networkCBS Sports HQandET Live),Cheddar News,TYT Network(structured as a hybridSVOD/AVOD service, but offered by Xumo as an AVOD offering), Nosey,Dove Channel,Law & Crime,Fubo Sports NetworkandPeople TV.
Availability
editXumo content can be streamed through a number of desktop, mobile and internet-connected TV platforms including:AndroidandAppleiOS/iPadOSdevices,Chromecast,Android TV,Apple TV,XfinityFlex,Amazon Fire TV,Roku,CoxContour Stream Player,LGChannel Plus and LG Channels set models, and Smart TV models manufactured byVizio,Panasonic,Sanyo,Philips,Magnavox,Samsung,HisenseandSharp Corporation.Outside of the contiguous United States, Xumo and its supported apps are currently available on LG Smart TV models powering its Channel Plus and LG Channels platforms distributed inCanada(on Channel Plus platforms runningWebOS3.5 or above),Mexico,Brazil,France,Germany,Spain,Italyand theUnited Kingdom(on LG smart TVs running WebOS 4.5 or above).[14]
References
edit- ^Hayes, Dade (2022-05-12)."Comcast's Xumo Launches 'What To Watch' Channel With Xfinity Curation Shown To Spur Fivefold Increase In Viewer Engagement".Deadline.Retrieved2022-11-13.
- ^abcdPalenchar, Joseph (May 5, 2016)."Xumo Bringing More Free Video Content To More Smart TVs".Twice.RetrievedMay 9,2016.
- ^abSpangler, Todd (May 3, 2016)."Time Inc.–Backed Startup Xumo Adds 10 Channels to OTT Service".Variety.RetrievedMay 9,2016.
- ^"About Us".viantinc.com.Viant.RetrievedMay 9,2016.
- ^Jon Lafayette (February 25, 2020)."Comcast Buys Ad-Supported Streaming Service Xumo".Broadcasting & Cable.Future US.
- ^Sherman, Alex (February 25, 2020)."Why Comcast agreed to buy Xumo, an ad-supported free streaming service".CNBC.com.NBCUniversal News Group.
- ^Todd Spangler (February 25, 2020)."Comcast Acquires Xumo Free-Streaming Video Service".Variety.Penske Media Corporation.
- ^Hepburn, Tmera (2020-11-19)."XUMO Announces Its First Original Content Partnership".Cord Cutters News.Retrieved2023-03-23.
- ^Hayes, Dade (April 27, 2022)."Pay-TV Leaders Charter And Comcast Form Streaming Joint Venture Built On Xfinity Flex".Deadline Hollywood.RetrievedApril 27,2022.
- ^Winslow, George (2022-11-02)."Comcast, Charter Streaming Joint Venture Branded as 'Xumo'".TVTechnology.Retrieved2022-11-03.
- ^Hayes, Dade (2022-11-02)."Comcast And Charter Name Their Streaming Joint Venture Xumo, Set Related Rebrand Of Flex And XClass TV & Outline Plans For Timing Of Launch".Deadline.Retrieved2023-05-11.
- ^"Comcast, Charter JV Xumo to launch smart TVs with Element".Fierce Video.January 5, 2023.RetrievedMarch 31,2023.
- ^"Comcast-Charter JV pitches Pioneer Xumo TVs exclusively at Best Buy".Light Reading.Retrieved2024-01-13.
- ^"About XUMO".Xumo.Viant Technology/Panasonic.RetrievedFebruary 25,2020.