Comcast heads up Stream

Media giant Comcast has become the latest US cable company to enter the streaming race after revealing details of its own over-the-top service.

Stream will cost US$15 a month, providing access to 12 networks including CBS, NBC and Bravo as well as premium cablenets such as HBO. It will be accessible via laptops and mobile devices, and offer an on-demand and cloud-based recording.

It will become available to Comcast broadband customers in Boston later this summer before being rolled out to subscribers nationwide in 2016.

Stream follows similar streaming launches from HBO, Showtime and US pay TV provider Dish Networks, which unveiled plans for its offering, Sling TV, six months ago.

Sling TV costs US$20 per month and makes live cable television available through internet-connected devices such as Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Google Nexus Player for tablets, smartphones, computers and TV sets.