Comcast Begins Rolling Out 'AnyPlay' Live TV Streaming for iPad

Back in September, we reported on a leaked document from cable and Internet provider Comcast revealing details on the company's forthcoming "AnyPlay" live television streaming service. While Comcast is not the first cable provider to bring such a product to market, it is the largest cable and Internet provider in the United States.

comcast introducing anyplay
Comcast today announced that it has begun rolling the AnyPlay service out to its customers, beginning with Xfinity HD Triple Play customers in Denver and Nashville. More markets will be added in the coming months, with the service initially launching for the iPad only but joined in the future by the Motorola Xoom.

Here's how it works...the AnyPlay device works the same as any other set top box in the home, but instead of delivering the incoming channel lineup to a television, AnyPlay delivers the lineup to the Wi-Fi router on the home network. The router then distributes the secure video signal to the iPad or Xoom over your home's wireless network. So as long as your tablet is within range of the home wireless router, you can turn it into another television screen.

The AnyPlay service is accessed via the company's existing Xfinity TV app for the iPad, which also offers thousands of hours of on demand movies and TV shows available for viewing both inside and outside of the home.

Related Roundup: iPad
Tag: Comcast
Buyer's Guide: iPad (Buy Now)
Related Forum: iPad

Popular Stories

AirPods Pro 3 Mock Feature

AirPods Pro 3 Just Months Away – Here's What We Know

Friday April 18, 2025 5:16 am PDT by
Despite being more than two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven...
CarPlay Hero

Apple Releases Wireless CarPlay Fix

Wednesday April 16, 2025 11:28 am PDT by
If you have been experiencing issues with wireless CarPlay in your vehicle lately, it was likely due to a software bug that has now been fixed. Apple released iOS 18.4.1 today, and the update's release notes say it "addresses a rare issue that prevents wireless CarPlay connection in certain vehicles." If wireless CarPlay was acting up for you, updating your iPhone to iOS 18.4.1 should...
iphone 16 pro models 1

17 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 17

Thursday April 17, 2025 4:12 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models simultaneously, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you skipped the iPhone...
Beyond iPhone 13 Better Triad

Apple's 20th Anniversary iPhone May Finally Go All Screen

Tuesday April 15, 2025 6:31 am PDT by
Apple is preparing a "bold" new iPhone Pro model for the iPhone's 20th anniversary in 2027, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. As part of what's being described as a "major shake-up," Apple is said to be developing a design that makes more extensive use of glass – and this could point directly to the display itself. Here's the case for Apple releasing a truly all-screen iPhone with no...
maxresdefault

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Sunday April 13, 2025 7:52 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of April 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and ...
iOS 19 Roundup Feature

iOS 19 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday April 15, 2025 7:37 am PDT by
The first iOS 19 beta is less than two months away, and there are already a handful of new features that are expected with the update. Apple should release the first iOS 19 beta to developers immediately following the WWDC 2025 keynote, which is scheduled for Monday, June 9. Following beta testing, the update should be released to the general public in September. Below, we recap the key...
top stories 2025 04 19

Top Stories: iPhone 17 Pro Rumors, CarPlay Bug Fix, and More

Saturday April 19, 2025 6:00 am PDT by
This week saw rumor updates on the iPhone 17 Pro and next-generation Vision Pro, while a minor iOS 18.4.1 update delivered not just security fixes but also a fix for some CarPlay issues. We also looked ahead at what else is in Apple's pipeline for the rest of 2025 and even the 20th-anniversary iPhone coming in 2027, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more! iPhone 17 ...
Apple TV Plus Feature 2 Magenta and Blue

Apple TV+ Available at Significantly Lower Price Until Next Week

Friday April 18, 2025 11:42 am PDT by
Apple TV+ is currently available at a much lower price than usual, but time is running out if you want to take advantage of the offer. In the U.S., new and qualified returning customers can subscribe to Apple TV+ for just $2.99 per month, for three months. Afterwards, regular pricing of $9.99 per month applies. The offer is available in the Apple TV app, and at tv.apple.com, through April...

Top Rated Comments

BC2009 Avatar
173 months ago




Hahahahahahahahaha


Not happening any time soon

Actually they said the Xoom version was coming soon (go back and read the article). What puzzles me is "why Xoom?" Is the Motorola Xoom the best selling Android tablet? Hasn't the Transformer overtaken it? Does running on the Xoom represent some least-common-denominator benchmark that means your app is likely to run on other Android tablets? It seems to me that there have been many many Android tablets since the Xoom and that the Xoom never sold that many units anyway. If I were them, I would advertise "Android coming soon".
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
IzzyJG99 Avatar
173 months ago
Brighthouse Cable has one of these applications. It's nice, but has a bit of hook to it..

1.) You have to be in your home.
2.) Have to have internet provided through Brighthouse.
3.) You don't get all the channels.

Comcast it seems will be doing the same, which is to be expected. Annoying, but tolerable as they may be. It's enjoyable for watching TV in bed.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rsands1 Avatar
173 months ago
I'm thinking the fine print is something like this....

Comcast "AnyPlay" now available to HD TriplePlay Subscribers only. Some restrictions may apply. "AnyPlay" wifi receiver at $22.99/month required for wireless television service. 50mb Cable Modem service at $79.99/month required for "AnyPlay" streaming. Subscription to Comcast's HD TriplePlay at $99.99/month required. Only 1 device can access "AnyPlay" in your home at one time. Optional "AnyPlay" Double Service for an additional $12.99/month required for multiple device streaming. $35 activation fee required for installation and $10/month "wireless support fee" per device, per home. All channels not available at launch. New Subscribers can sign up now for only $129.99 per month to receive HD TriplePlay + AnyPlay Service in your home. 5 Year Contract Required. Current customers can lick our left nut and continue paying full price while we periodically raise your bill without informing you and on top of that charge you late fees when you don't pay...you broke loser.

Or something along those lines : )
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
doubletap Avatar
173 months ago
So you VPN back into your home's network from afar and you get live tv anywhere in the world?

dt
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
icrew Avatar
173 months ago
So really it's just a Slingbox, but not as good?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
FakeWozniak Avatar
173 months ago
Comcast is Frustrating

<gripe>
I am one of the few that opts to replace the Motorola DVR with a TiVo. When you do this you lose the On-Demand and Pay-Per-View capability, but you gain control over your own equipement (as far as TiVo lets you). I get to download any program and burn it to DVD or put it on my iPad.

When using the Xfinity iPad application, I can't watch anything because it doesn't see a Motorola or other lesser cable box on the network some how. I hope this upgrade solves that problem. Can't wait until they roll it out to my neighborhood. But that's the thing troubling me... Why is this rolled out region by region. It should be just a feature of their service.

I really hope Apple because a Virtual Cable Company and I can pick my show's ala-cart. My only requirement from Apple (or traditional cable companies) is that I can burn programs to offline storage. I've always been able to VCR programs, and in the 21st century, I shouldn't lose that ability.

To Add, it's an interesting concept if Apple were to get into being a Virtual Cable Company. A channel could be just a show, or it could be interest-based like Reality, Game Shows, Talk Shows, etc. It's still be an advertising based model, or pay for no commercials model. The commercial model would have Apple integrating the iAd service into television now, replacing the networks commercial stream. Basically, Apple pays the content providers for each show then offsets the cost with either premium pricing (no ads) or their own add stream, which now goes mainstream, not just in-App on iPhone/iPad/iPod. This would change the game in the advertising world. iAd will be major business for Apple.
</gripe>
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)