A new report from the Wall Street Journal suggests Comcast could be working with mega-retailer Walmart to develop and promote smart TVs. The deal would represent yet another move from Comcast as it looks to position itself as a worthy streaming competitor alongside Roku, Amazon, and others.
According to the WSJ’s report, Walmart would promote smart TV sets with Comcast’s software installed. In return, the retailer would get a slice of revenue. Manufacturers were not disclosed, but it’s possible the sets would feature Walmart’s branding. The company already has a smart TV deal in place with Roku, where Walmart sells Roku-powered TVs under then Onn brand.
If the reports are true, it would give Comcast a larger opportunity to promote its new streaming service, Peacock. And investing more into the streaming industry makes sense for the company, especially after third quarter numbers showed Comcast’s pay TV business is losing subscribers.
In any case, WSJ says talks between Comcast and Walmart are still in the early stages, and it may not result in a deal in the end. Regardless, we’ll keep a close eye on the story and keep you updated as we learn more.