Comcast will launch short-form video platform in coming weeks

Comcast has long been rumored to be developing a short-form video platform, but now it appears the platform has a name and a time frame. Apparently, the platform could be called “Watchable”—although the name is not set in stone yet—and it will be launching in the next few weeks.

Business Insider reports that Comcast's platform will host videos produced by Vox and Buzzfeed, which are backed by Comcast, in addition to videos made by “lifestyle and comedy sites like AwesomenessTV, Refinery29, and The Onion, news sites like Mic and Vice, as well as legacy brands like NBC Sports.” The video producers have agreed to let Watchable stream any unlicensed, original videos, which will be curated for Comcast customers that have an Xfinity X1 set top box, so the Web videos would appear alongside more traditional TV.

Video producers might be interested in distributing to Comcast's new platform because of its advertising muscle. A source speaking to Business Insider said that the company wouldn't pay its short-form video producers any licensing fees, but they would a portion of any advertising revenue. Also, the deals will be non-exclusive, so producers will be able to post the video in multiple places.