American telecommunications conglomerate, Comcast Corporation, has reportedly launched smart TVs which run on its operating system and will be sold at Walmart Inc. stores across the United States and on the retailer’s website soon.
According to reliable sources, the smart TV, coined the XClass TV, will be manufactured by Hisense Group and integrated on-demand, streaming, cable, and broadcast options along with Comcast’s software. It will support voice search as well.
The TV will be pre-loaded with various apps including Comcast’s streaming service Peacock and will come with a twelve-month premium subscription. The move will enable the company to attract more users in the highly competitive streaming market, which is mostly dominated by leading companies like Netflix Inc., HBO Max, and Disney+.
The launch comes amid the growing trend of cord-cutting among consumers, and efforts by Comcast to strengthen its presence in the streaming industry. The company had also launched another streaming TV model called Sky Glass earlier this month in the U.K. and a wireless streaming box XiOne in September 2021.
As both models run on Comcast’s software, the company will face strong competition from rivals including California-based streaming devices manufacturer Roku Inc., and Amazon.com Inc.
In related news, Japanese electronic products manufacturer, Sharp Corporation has partnered with Roku Inc. to sell smart televisions equipped with streaming capabilities from spring 2022, to make a comeback in the booming American consumer TV market after six years.
The Osaka-based electronic giant intends to launch 50-to-75 inch liquid crystal display televisions equipped with a superhigh-definition 4K display. These TVs will be produced at a Foxconn-run plant in Mexico.
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