Top 5 Tech Articles You Might Have Missed – Week Ending October 23, 2015

Re/code reported that Comcast is planning to offer cellular services, using spectrum provided by Verizon.  This move will enable Comcast to provide its customers with Internet, TV, home phone and...

Re/code reported that Comcast is planning to offer cellular services, using spectrum provided by Verizon.  This move will enable Comcast to provide its customers with Internet, TV, home phone and cell service. It is likely that Comcast will test out Wi-Fi™ first with Verizon before rolling out other services commercially.

Following the footsteps of a number of media companies that launched over-the-top (OTT) services, Disney is planning to introduce a subscription streaming service next month in the UK called the Disney Life. According to BBC News, the service will include movies, TV series, books and music.

RCR Wireless published an analyst’s take on the growth of the Wi-Fi market and the opportunities ahead. The story noted that as service providers are evolving their business models to better meet consumer demands, we will see the creation of new Wi-Fi-based services.

According to Future Market Insights, the global Video on Demand (VOD) market is expected to reach $263 billion by 2016, reported Rapid TV News. While North America remains a major market for VOD services, Asia Pacific is on its way to become the world’s second largest VOD market by 2020.

MediaPost covered a study by Altman Vilandrie & Co., showing the importance of TV Everywhere to Millennials. Of note, 54 percent of younger Millennials are more likely to subscribe to a service provider offering TV Everywhere capabilities.

  1. Comcast Moves Closer to Offering Cell Service, Activates Deal With Verizon (October 21, 2015) By Ina Fried Re/code: In recent months, the cable giant notified Verizon it intends to exercise its option to resell cellular service using the carrier’s network, according to a source familiar with the company’s plans. Comcast and several other cable operators got the option several years back as part of a spectrum deal with Verizon.
  2. Disney to launch Netflix video streaming rival in UK (October 22, 2015) By Chris Foxx, BBC News: Disney is to launch its own subscription-based video streaming service in the UK.
  3. Analyst Angle: High-growth areas for Wi-Fi based services (October 21, 2015) By Adlane Fellah, WiFi360, RCR Wireless: As more Wi-Fi services enter the market, consumer demand increases.
  4. Asia on course to become second largest VOD market (October 20, 2015) By Rebecca Hawkes, Rapid TV News: The Asia Pacific is set to become the world's second largest video-on-demand (VOD) market after the US, accounting for over 22% of the US$103 billion global industry by 2020.
  5. TV Everywhere Key To Attracting Millennials (October 19, 2015) By Aaron Baar, MediaPost: Millennials might be more inclined to subscribe to pay television services if their current (or potential) providers were to make a more concerted effort to demonstrate how the services can be used anywhere, on any device.