Comcast’s upcoming video platform could rival Facebook and YouTube

Comcast is preparing to launch a major new video platform with content from big-name partners in the coming weeks, Business Insider has learned. The platform is currently called “Watchable,” but there’s a small chance that could change before launch. The Information’s Amir Efrati previously reported that Comcast was thinking of launching a digital video service, but here are more of the details. Comcast is partnering with major digital publishers like Comcast-backed Vox and Buzzfeed, lifestyle, and comedy sites like AwesomenessTV, Refinery29, and The Onion, news sites like Mic and Vice, as well as legacy brands like NBC Sports to come up with a widespread digital-video platform that will rival YouTube and Facebook’s online video efforts. It will also rival the rumored video platform Verizon is preparing to unveil. The full list of partnering media companies is still being determined, sources say, but participants are committing to Comcast for up to a few years. As part of the partnership, the publishers have agreed to upload all unlicensed, original video content to Watchable for users to stream on demand. The content from the publishers will be bundled and curated for Comcast’s millions of Xfinity X1 box owners, and eventually Watchable will also be available on iOS and Android devices.