Comcast launches free and expands access to streaming and premium network plans for Xfinity X1 and Flex subscribers this week

EXCLUSIVE: Comcast announces “Free This Week,” a new year-round program that offers subscribers to the Xfinity X1 pay TV package and Flex streaming package a more regular selection of free streaming and premium network programming.

The new offering replaces the annual Watchathon week, which the company says has been a popular draw for customers for 10 years. X1 and Flex also previously offered free TV week around Thanksgiving.

This week’s free shows will be made available in one place, and a variety of shows will also be available on Xumo’s Xfinity Stream app and XClass TV. As of September 30, Comcast had about 16 million residential cable subscribers in the US, almost all of them on X1. Since the service launched in 2017, nearly 4 million Flex devices have been distributed to Comcast broadband customers. (Flex technology will also be licensed to a new streaming joint venture between Comcast and Charter.)

To celebrate the new year, the first two weeks of Free This Week will offer free access to wellness programs such as The Great Courses, Gaia, One Day University, Gaiam TV, Sweat Factor and Jillian Michaels’ FitFusion. Future participants include HBO Max, Showtime, Revolt, History Vault, Lifetime Movie Club, and others to be named, according to Comcast.

The company describes the transition as an “evolution” in its customer retention strategy. New data from Xfinity shows that when a network or streaming service lifts the subscription gate, viewership typically doubles, even for a few days.

“At Xfinity, we strive to provide our customers with the best entertainment experience, making it easier for them to access all the programs they subscribe to and discover new programs that may be of interest to them,” said Sophia Ahmad, EVP and CMO, said. Comcast cable. “With Free This Week, we offer our customers the opportunity without obligation to discover something new every week of the year, building on the great successes previously seen with events such as Watchathon Week and Free TV Week.”