According to CNET, Comcast is overhauling its Xfinity TV packages starting this Wednesday, July 10th. The revamp introduces five new plans: TV Core, Sports & News TV, World Soccer Ticket, TV Plus, and TV Premium. Every single package now includes the X1 4K TV box, a voice remote, DVR, and features like multiview at no extra equipment cost, with all fees rolled into one price and no contracts. Peacock is excluded from the TV Core, Plus, and Premium plans, but customers can add it through Comcast’s streaming shop. Existing customers can switch to the new plans, and those with other Xfinity services like internet get additional discounts.
The End of Cable Hassle?
Look, this is a direct and necessary shot across the bow of every live TV streaming service out there. Comcast is basically admitting that the old cable model—with its labyrinthine fees, two-year contracts, and $10/month box rentals—is a dead man walking. By bundling the hardware and ditching the contract, they’re trying to match the flexibility of a YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV. But here’s the thing: it’s still a cable box. You’re still getting a piece of physical hardware from Comcast, which is a very different experience from using an app on your own Roku or Apple TV. The convenience of an all-in price is huge, but it’s a different kind of lock-in.
The Peacock Problem and Streaming Shop
So, the most awkward part of this announcement? Peacock, which Comcast owns, isn’t included in three of the five main TV plans. That’s wild, right? It tells you everything about the fragmented state of streaming. Instead, they’re pushing customers to their “virtual streaming shop” to add it on. This is clearly Comcast trying to position its TV platform as a central hub, not just for linear channels but for all your streaming apps and bundles, like their own StreamSaver. They want to be the aggregator, the one bill, the single place you go. It’s a smart defensive play, but will people who’ve already cut the cord want to go back to a box?
Is This Enough to Save Pay TV?
I think this is a fantastic move for anyone who’s still clinging to a traditional cable package or who wants live TV but hates streaming’s app-jumping. The value proposition is suddenly much clearer. No more “promo rate” shock after 12 months. No more arguing about equipment fees. But let’s be real: the fundamental challenge remains. The content people want is increasingly siloed in specific streaming apps. Comcast is making the *delivery* of traditional pay TV painless, but the *content* equation is still a mess. This simplifies the bill, but does it solve the bigger problem? Probably not. But for Comcast, it’s a necessary step just to stay in the game.
