Comcast today added AirPlay support to its Xfinity Stream app, allowing Comcast cable subscribers to use AirPlay to stream content from an iPhone or iPad to an Apple TV or another AirPlay-enabled speaker or set-top box. Comcast says that Xfinity customers can stream live news and sports, on demand movies and shows, DVR recordings, and more, providing "new ways" for customers to enjoy programming both when at home and at other locations.

The Xfinity Stream app has been available on the Apple TV since mid-2022, but AirPlay support will give Xfinity subscribers a more convenient option for viewing their content on devices they do not own, such as when visiting a friend or staying in a hotel that has an Apple TV or other AirPlay-enabled device.

As TechCrunch points out, this is functionality that the Xfinity app has long been lacking. Comcast competitor Charter has offered AirPlay support in its Spectrum app for several years.

Article Link: Comcast Xfinity Stream App Gains AirPlay Support

The most frustrating thing about Apple's ecosystem is when their proprietary standards prevent a specific feature they had before their rivals from working.
That and Siri.
Pave the way for others instead of going your own way next time.

Well it’s about time! Cannot wait to lose my cable box.

Awesome! Welcome to 2010!

Does a developer actually have to work to support Airplay? I thought it basically came for free via system wide screen sharing. I thought the only reason why an app didn't "support" it was because they specifically disabled it.

This may be a dumb question but, if you "Need to be a Comcast cable subscriber" why would you need to airplay anything? You're already paying for cable.

snak-atak said:

Well it’s about time! Cannot wait to lose my cable box.

Just download the Xfinity app to your Apple TV. U will get all channels you get with the cable box. No need to stream with Airplay. I've been doing this for months. Xfinity app also available for Amazon fire.

Can’t believe comcast has a better app than Netflix now.

OR, and hear me out on this one Comcast, I can cancel my Xfinity subscription and not have to deal with nonsense like your terrible app update cycle anymore! Sounds like a win-win to me.

This is actually a nice surprise. Since they charge extra for additional cable boxes in your home they have incentive not to allow this. I’m currently using Apple TVs as “cable boxes” on two TVs in the house, and this lets you watch live TV on any AirPlay 2 TV with no additional hardware cost at all!

I'm currently paying Comcast $270 a month for cable/internet/phone! So awesome!

raindogg said:

This may be a dumb question but, if you "Need to be a Comcast cable subscriber" why would you need to airplay anything? You're already paying for cable.

From the article:

a more convenient option for viewing their content on devices they do not own, such as when visiting a friend or staying in a hotel that has an Apple TV or other AirPlay-enabled device.

snak-atak said:

Well it’s about time! Cannot wait to lose my cable box.

I just got rid of the 2 flex boxes I had in the bedroom TVS for the app. The flex Boxes (No coaxial) were awful since the first time I would tun them on in a day there would be a communication error. always worked on the 2nd attempt made it a PIA with Harmony. I ended up using home assistant to just turn on and off those 2 TVs after I went into my kitchen for the first time of the day. But still wasn't perfect.

The Stream app isn't great but way better than the Flex boxes and for now saving $15 per month I was paying to rent ht boxes. I hate how many clicks it takes to select a channel and scrolling the guide is rough but I am hopefully for future improvement.

Wait…. When did I miss that the stream app finally came to Apple TV??? Silent launch?

xmarcuswildx said:

Wait…. When did I miss that the stream app finally came to Apple TV??? Silent launch?

I've had it for about 2 months but I had no idea it was released or anything I only found out because a buddy of mine at Xfinity asked why I was still renting 2 boxes I hardly used. Maybe the soft launch was an involuntary beta test.

MacRumors said:

Comcast today added AirPlay support to its Xfinity Stream app, allowing Comcast cable subscribers to use AirPlay to stream content from an iPhone or iPad to an Apple TV or another AirPlay-enabled speaker or set-top box.

I guess if you wait forever, eventually things happen. Anyway about time.

You also have the comcast streaming app on tvOS now so airplay is not as important as awhile back.

Does streaming through the Apple TV Xfinity app count towards your data cap?? If so, boooooo....

csnwbd2251 said:

Does streaming through the Apple TV Xfinity app count towards your data cap?? If so, boooooo....

If you're at your residence anything not associated with Comcast TV via a set-top -box goes against your data cap. That goes for any non-comcast streaming from an internet host such as YouTube also. The only way it doesn't go wifi wise is when you are on someone's else's free wifi.

jdclifford said:

Just download the Xfinity app to your Apple TV. U will get all channels you get with the cable box. No need to stream with Airplay. I've been doing this for months. Xfinity app also available for Amazon fire.

Same with the Spectrum TV app, you can get the entire channel lineup plus a search function for external movies, documentaries and TV shows that may be included with your subscription. No need for set-top box or AirPlay.

I had issues for years with the ROKU Xfinity App Beta. Every day I would have to authenticate which could take 5 minutes up to 25 minutes or longer with a phone call to Xfinity. I finally switched to Fios after Comcast sent out a new "faster" Modem and everything was sluggish and didnt work properly. then two months later Xfinity brings the App to TV...doh

I know Xfinity wants to have monthly subscriptions with boxes but this makes so much sense in that they just need to upkeep an App and not worry about hardware issues or supply issues with new boxes/returned boxes.

raindogg said:

This may be a dumb question but, if you "Need to be a Comcast cable subscriber" why would you need to airplay anything? You're already paying for cable.

You don't have to have a STB connected to every TV if you want to stream. Heck, you don't need any STB at all. They charge monthly fees on those things.

Attirex said:

I'm currently paying Comcast $270 a month for cable/internet/phone! So awesome!

So take action to reduce the cost. Ideas:

• Dump their boxes (and the leases that go with them) and use the app on AppleTVs
• Reduce broadband speed to what you actually need.
• Switch to a competitor and get new competitor deals.
• Threaten to switch to a competitor and probably get Comcast's new competitor deals. Walk if they don't bend.

The key to managing costs is in the managing. As a consumer, you can flex all consumer options to get yourself a better deal... either from them or from a competitor. Even in a scenario where there are no competitors, work out a way to drop them for 30 days and they'll offer you the brand new subscriber options again.

WiseAJ said:

Can’t believe comcast has a better app than Netflix now.

Netflix has been getting as arrogant and user hostile as Comcast used to be for a while now, and Comcast is getting a bit better due to competition.

WiseAJ said:

Can’t believe comcast has a better app than Netflix now.

They are not comparable. Want to compare Peacock also?

jdclifford said:

Just download the Xfinity app to your Apple TV. U will get all channels you get with the cable box. No need to stream with Airplay. I've been doing this for months. Xfinity app also available for Amazon fire.

That’s a good point. Thanks for that. I do like having the option of using AirPlay when ATV isn’t available like when visiting family or on vacation, though. More options means less reliability on outdated technology such as old cable boxes.