Cox happy with X1 trials, makes official announcement about San Diego deployment

Calling its customer and employee trials of its white-label version of Comcast's (NASDAQ: CMCSA) X1 platform successful, Cox Communications said that it will deploy the service, called Contour, to customers in San Diego, Calif.

"We are always looking for ways to expand and enhance our video experience for our customers," said Steve Necessary, VP of product development and management. "After extensive testing of the X1 platform, we are confident that the new technology will take Contour to the next level, evolving the experience across multiple screens and devices inside the home."

Cox confirmed in September that it was testing the service in the San Diego market with only select customers. In its announcement today, it said it has also been conducting trials in Georgia. 

"Since we first launched Contour, we have been pleased with the results and we are confident that the new Contour experience will be well received by our customers," added Necessary.

Cox signed an agreement in January 2014 to license the cloud-based X1 video platform from Comcast. Canada's Shaw Communications has a similar X1 licensing deal with Comcast. Shaw just signed on to deploy Arris' DCX3635 video gateway, a device that not only supports the Moxie video interface, but also Comcast's X1 video system. 

The new Contour service will utilize Comcast's X1 search and recommendation engine, allowing customers to search among 35,000 on-demand programming titles. A 2-terabyte, RDK-based DVR, meanwhile, will allow for the recording of six shows at once. 

In addition to TV Everywhere apps, Cox customers will also have access to X1's voice control technology.

Comcast said last month that it's now installing 40,000 X1 set-tops per day and that it has deployed the platform across 50 percent of its footprint. The MSO credits the cloud-based advanced video delivery system with significantly reducing its subscriber churn. Comcast had its best third quarter video subscriber performance in nine years. 

For more:
- read this Cox press release

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