I read today on GigaOM that Comcast is introducing a new service called Fancast Xfinity TV. Click this link to read about all the details.

While Comcast’s new tagline may be “TV Everywhere” it is not yet, unfortunately, “TV for Everyone.”  As an expat who lives in Russia, I have very limited access to American TV. Hulu doesn’t allow international IP address to access its service even when I go through an onion router. iTunes is prohibatively expensive when if one watches a half dozen shows, as my wife and I do. Thus, one is almost “forced” into the bittorrent world, albeit reluctantly (go to a cocktail party where there are more than 3 expats and within 5 minutes the conversation will inevitably focus on bittorrent tools and tips).

What would be very cool is if Comcast were to enable anyone, anywhere in the world, to buy a monthly subscription to Comcast and therefore, to gain access to all the programming available on Fancast Xfinity TV. Currently, Comcast is offering 30 channels through this new channel. I am sure that there are thousands, if not tens of thousands, of people around the world who would jump at the opportunity to legally watch programming through Xfinity.

I can’t imagine that there are any technical reasons why Comcast couldn’t open up this new service to anyone. Heck, leave the ads in the shows for all I care. I just want to be able to gain access to the shows I want, where I want, and when I want. It is crazy that Comcast wouldn’t welcome folks, like myself, who are willing to pay full rates to watch their content.  This is how Hollywood can ultimately “kill” bittorrent.

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