Mediacom Communications announced last week it had reached agreements with subscription streaming services Netflix and Hulu to provide its customers access to both.
"We believe Hulu is the perfect complement to Mediacom's Internet service offerings," said Mediacom's Executive Vice President of Operations John Pascarelli in a news release. "Hulu brings a robust video selection to our customers who want to supplement their traditional cable service with online content at home or on the go."
"At Hulu, we believe users should have the ability to consume their favorite content when, where and how they want," said Hulu's Senior Vice President of Distribution Tim Connolly in the news release. "Even with the rapid growth in streaming video, there is a huge audience that consumes television through the innovative services provided by cable providers, like Mediacom, and we want to be there for them too."
Hulu is a premium streaming television destination that offers full libraries of hit series such as "Empire," "South Park," "CSI," "Nashville" and current season programming from five of the six top broadcast networks. For a monthly fee, Hulu subscribers have the ability to stream a broad library of content from numerous programming networks including ABC, Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, Comedy Central, FOX, FX, MTV, NBC, Nickelodeon and TNT. Hulu also offers the most comprehensive collection of classic films from The Criterion Collection, as well as its own library of Hulu Originals.
Mediacom plans to provide pricing and other particulars for Hulu, including its availability date, in the near future.
Netflix also will become available as an app on Medicom customers' set-top boxes.
A provider of Internet, video and phone services to 1.3 million customers in 22 states, Mediacom is the latest U.S. cable operator to offer its customers seamless access to Netflix through the TiVo enabled set-top.
"Striking this agreement with Netflix is another great example of Mediacom taking steps to simplify and enrich the customer experience inside the home," Pascarelli said. "Adding the easy functionality of popular services like Netflix to the TiVo set-top box gives Mediacom customers far greater access to content and underscores the superior quality of our high-speed Internet service."
In Netflix's ISP Speed Index, Mediacom has recently been rated among the top U.S. broadband providers for Netflix streaming during primetime. Once Mediacom completes construction of a direct connection to the Netflix network this summer, the quality of its customers' Netflix video experience should only get better.
"Mediacom is making it even easier for consumers to watch Netflix on their TVs," said Netflix's Global Head of Business Development Bill Holmes. "This combination of traditional cable services with Netflix's online content significantly enhances the experience of Mediacom customers."
Mediacom's TiVo experience will offer customers a one-stop experience for searching, locating, and viewing popular video programming from a range of sources including Netflix and other online content providers, live TV channels, digital video recordings, and Mediacom's on-demand library. Mediacom's TiVo customers will need to have an existing Netflix subscription or subscribe to Netflix in order to utilize the Netflix app.