Roku’s streaming boxes can be used to view content from services like HBO GO and Showtime but the facility is not available to those who subscribe to Comcast, which happens to be the biggest pay-TV network in the country. There’s a dispute between Roku and Comcast which stops this from happening but things might be about to change in the very near future.
Re/code discovered a filing made by Roku with the Federal Communications Commission which revealed that it reached a deal with Comcast on November 25th after negotiating the matter for “several months.” Among other things, Comcast has agreed to authenticate “HBO GO and Showtime Anytime apps on Roku video streaming devices.”
In simple terms, this means that Comcast subscribers who have access to HBO or Showtime will now be able to use their Roku device to stream content from these sources. The filing doesn’t mention exactly when these apps will go live for Comcast subscribers but expect an announcement soon given that the a deal was struck last month.
Roku’s devices can already be used to stream content from a variety of other sources, but HBO GO and Showtime provide access to some of the most sought after shows, so Comcast subscribers will certainly be happy that the dispute has been resolved.