• by Karlene Lukovitz  @KLmarketdaily, April 7, 2020

Comcast is making on-demand programming from more than two dozen African-American, Latino and international networks and SVODs available free on its Xfinity X1 and Flex customers “in the coming weeks."

Comcast did not specify how long access to the programming will remain free.

No free-trial registration is necessary to access the content. Xfinity customers with X1 and Flex can say “free” into the Xfinity voice remote to access the expanded free content menu.

The move is part of a growing trend for subscription-based streamers and pay-TV networks to offer free content sampling to leverage pandemic-driven heightened viewership with the goal of driving paid subscription conversions.

Sling TV and HBO are also currently promoting free content access, for example.

In Comcast's case, the company is clearly hoping to win more customers for its paid platforms among growing ethnic segments.

A new survey from Hispanic marketing agency H Group found that 60% of Hispanics are now spending three to five more hours than usual watching streaming video.

The newly free options include Afro, Aspire TV, Black News Channel, Brown Sugar, Impact Network, kweliTV, Revolt, The Africa Channel and TV One; CBeebies, Cinelatino, Cine Sony, Cinema Dinamita MX, Kanal D Drama, Kids Central en Español, Pantaya, RCN Novelas, Universo, ViendoMovies and Vme Kids; and Filipino On Demand, Hi-Yah!, Kocowa (all programs subtitled in English) and TV5Monde.

In recent days, Comcast has also added the Hulu app to both the X1 and Flex to increase the platforms' value quotient.