Streaming and Leanback TV Surged In 2020

Roku and Amazon are not the only companies seeing big numbers from streaming customers. New data released by Comcast showed that their Xfinity customers took advantage of the streaming capabilities of their services during the pandemic-inspired home stretches.

Streaming saw the biggest viewing gains on Xfinity platforms in 2020. Overall, OTT viewing was up 73% year-over-year on X1 and Flex. Comcast saw major adoption of OTT programming on X1, with 78% of customers accessing OTT apps on the platform monthly, up from 68% last year. And of those customers, nearly 80% are using two or more apps monthly. It is probably no coincidence that more than 70 new streaming apps and channels including HBO Max, Hulu, Peacock and CBS All Access/Paramount+ became available on the Xfinity Flex program in 2020. The numbers show that with access to the services people want it might not particularly matter what company makes or sells the streaming box one uses.

Also interesting to note, it looks like people still enjoy TV the old-fashioned way. The live guide on Flex, which as of this year brings in the linear channels from services like Peacock, Xumo and Pluto into one integrated guide, is the second most-viewed destination on Flex behind the home screen.