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According to a report from Variety, Comcast and Sky are planning to launch streaming services that will be “smart” in more ways than one. As an increasing number of consumers cut the cord and ditch cable, providers have scrambled to develop new streaming services that can keep them in the game. While those efforts have been mostly focused on content, with the emergence of original programming being a major factor in keeping customers interested, there’s another element that’s poised to become increasingly important: artificial intelligence. Read on to learn more about these forthcoming streaming services and how AI will impact their success.
Comcast’s New Streaming Service for Kids
Comcast’s upcoming streaming service for kids has been generating a lot of buzz. The service is designed to give parents access to family-friendly content like Sesame Street, Blue’s Clues, and The Little Mermaid. It will also include edu-tainment programming such as Dora the Explorer, Thomas the Tank Engine, and Curious George. Comcast’s new service will also include a parental control feature that allows parents to select what their children can access. The service is expected to launch in 2020, and it will be available to Comcast subscribers who pay an extra $5 per month for their broadband service.
Sky’s New Smart Streaming Service
Sky has been one of the leading providers of cable and satellite TV in the UK for decades, but the rise of online streaming has threatened its dominance. In an effort to remain competitive, Sky has been developing a new streaming service that will include AI features such as recommendation algorithms, automated search functions, and personalization options. It will also allow viewers to watch content they’ve purchased from other streaming services, such as Amazon Prime Video, without having to download it to their computer first. Sky’s new service will also incorporate an AI-driven virtual assistant that can help users discover new content and schedule their viewing options.
What to expect from Comcast and Sky’s new streaming services
One of the biggest challenges facing streaming services in general is discoverability — finding the content you want to watch either in the first place or once you’re already watching it. Comcast and Sky’s new streaming services will feature AI-enabled search, recommendation, and discovery functions that will address this issue. Through the AI component in their new streaming services, Comcast and Sky will be able to identify what individual viewers like, what they’re interested in, and what they’ve watched in the past. This information will allow them to provide personalized results based on users’ preferences and tastes. Comcast and Sky are also expected to incorporate AI into the user interfaces on their streaming services. The virtual assistants that power these features can anticipate viewers’ needs and answer questions before they’re even asked.
Netflix Discoverability Problem
Netflix is one of the biggest and most successful streaming services on the planet. In recent years, however, the company has suffered a growing problem with discoverability. Since its focus is on the creation and distribution of original content, Netflix has stopped showing viewers suggestions for other shows and movies that might be of interest. This has led to a huge drop-off in the percentage of users who are browsing for other content. In the next few years, however, Netflix will introduce a more AI-driven recommendation feature that will address this problem. Netflix’s new recommendation algorithm will automatically recommend content based on a combination of viewer data and algorithms. Netflix’s recommendation tool will also be personalized to each user, based on his or her viewing preferences.
The Future of Video Streaming is on Smart TV Apps
One of the biggest changes in the way we use media is the move toward using mobile devices and away from traditional computer-based viewing. The most popular streaming service in the U.S., Netflix, has made the move away from traditional computer-based viewing, but the majority of its users still watch on standard computer screens. A growing number of streaming services are now offering their shows on smart TV apps. Comcast’s new streaming service will be available on smart TVs, as will Sky’s new streaming service. Comcast’s streaming service for kids, however, will be available only on smart TVs. Comcast’s service will also be available on mobile devices, but Sky’s streaming service will be limited to smart TVs.
The Bottom Line
In the coming years, streaming services will become increasingly smart thanks to the incorporation of artificial intelligence. Comcast’s new streaming service for kids will use AI to recommend content and enable parental control, while Sky’s new streaming service will use AI to enable personalized search. Netflix is expected to introduce a more AI-driven recommendation feature that will be available on smart TVs and other device types. In the near future, streaming services are going to become much smarter and more personalized, which will be a welcome change for viewers.