Comcast Corp. announced its plan to bring the advanced X1 cable service to Los Angeles and New York in efforts to expand its presence in other markets.
The X1 cable service provider plan is slated to give Time Warner Cable subscribers premium services such as higher Internet speeds, various Internet applications, voice control and viewing recommendations.
"We'll be within the first markets in a year," Comcast's president and CEO Neil Smit told Reuters.
A year ago, Comcast announced its acquisition deal with Time Warner Cable, Inc. (TWC) for $45 billion as part of a strategic move to gain access to TWC's subscribers in areas that have seen slow growth for the past few years. The company reportedly regards Los Angeles and New York as huge opportunities that have been dominated by paid satellite-run television services and video services from Verizon up until this point. The acquisition deal will allow Comcast to gain a stronger presence not only on the east and west coasts but also in Texas.
During an interview at the Los Angeles cable industry show, Smit expressed confidence in the transition. He said the move should be relatively easy, given TWC's modern and advanced cable boxes that are compatible with Comcast's X1 OS.
Meanwhile, Comcast is still waiting for regulatory approval regarding the acquisition. If granted approval, some believe "ripple effect" will occur that'll transform the pay-TV industry, USA Today reports. Speculators suggest that the biggest pay-TV players are already preparing for the aftermath of the merger.
Comcast has also agreed to transfer about 1.4 million TWC subscribers to Charter Communications to increase its customer base to 5.7 million. The movement was made in preparation of the deal, which, according to the Washington Post should be approved by the Federal Communications Commission to improve market price and competition.
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