A Look at Our History
Comcast has come a long way since its start in Tupelo, Mississippi back in 1963. Experience our past by reading our timeline. Print Comcast Timeline (PDF)
1963
- Company founded by Ralph J. Roberts, Daniel Aaron and Julian A. Brodsky with purchase of 1,200-subscriber cable system in Tupelo, MS.
1969
- Company renamed Comcast Corporation from American Cable Systems and incorporated in Pennsylvania.
1986
- Comcast doubled in size to 1.2 million cable customers with the purchase of 26 percent of Group W Cable.
- Comcast made a founding investment in QVC.
1988
- Comcast purchased 50 percent of Storer Communications, Inc., raising the number of Comcast subscribers to over two million and making Comcast the fifth largest cable operator.
- Comcast entered the cellular telecommunications field with the purchase of American Cellular Network Corporation (AMCELL), whose New Jersey and Wilmington, DE service territory covered a population of two million.
1992
- Comcast combined its AMCELL properties with those of Metrophone, tripling the population area served to seven million.
- Comcast acquired Maclean Hunter's US cable operations, adding 550,000 customers and becoming the third largest cable operator with approximately 3.3 million customers.
- Comcast UK Partners went public.
- Comcast invested in The Golf Channel (along with Continental Cablevision, Cablevision Industries, Adelphia Cable, Newhouse Broadcasting and Times Mirror).
1995
- Comcast purchased a 57 percent stake in QVC.
- Comcast announced the acquisition of E.W. Scripps cable systems, adding 800,000 subscribers and bringing Comcast's customer total to 4.3 million.
- Brian L. Roberts named NCTA chairman.
1996
- Comcast launched its first broadband product. Comcast@Home high-speed cable modem service debuted in Baltimore, MD and Sarasota, FL markets in December of 1996.
- Comcast formed Comcast-Spectacor, a sports venture owning and operating the NHL Philadelphia Flyers, the NBA Philadelphia 76ers, the First Union Spectrum and the First Union Center. The company also announced the formation of Comcast SportsNet, a regional sports channel.
1997
- Microsoft invested $1 billion in Comcast.
- Comcast acquired a 50.1 percent controlling interest in E! Entertainment through a partnership with Disney.
1998
- Steve Burke named President of Comcast Cable.
- Comcast founder Julian A. Brodsky received NCTA's "Distinguished Vanguard Award."
- Comcast Cable announced the acquisition of Jones Intercable, Inc., gaining an additional 1.1 million customers.
- Comcast announced the acquisition of 406,000 subscribers from Prime Communications.
- Comcast UK Cable Partners is sold to NTL, Inc.
1999
- Comcast Cellular sold to SBC Communications of San Antonio, TX for $1.7 billion.
- Comcast acquired Greater Philadelphia Cablevision, Inc., a subsidiary of Greater Media, Inc., serving 79,000 cable customers in Philadelphia.
- Comcast and MediaOne announced a $60 billion merger. When the merger agreement was terminated, Comcast received a $1.5 billion termination fee and announced an agreement to acquire two million AT&T Broadband subscribers.
- Comcast Interactive Capital Group formed by Comcast veteran Julian A. Brodsky to make technology and Internet related investments.
2000
- Comcast completed the acquisition of Lenfest Communications, Inc., adding approximately 1.3 million cable subscribers.
- Comcast completed cable system swaps with Adelphia and AT&T Broadband, gaining Adelphia customers in Florida, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico and Pennsylvania and AT&T Broadband customers in Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Washington, DC.
- Comcast founder Ralph J. Roberts inducted into the Cable Hall of Fame.
2001
- Comcast completed the acquisition of Home Team Sports and combined it with Comcast SportsNet under a new division titled "Comcast Regional Sports Television."
- Comcast completed the acquisition of select AT&T Broadband cable systems in six states adding 595,000 customers.
- Comcast completed the acquisition of a controlling interest in The Golf Channel.
- Comcast completed the acquisition of Outdoor Life Network.
- Comcast completed the acquisition of 115,000 AT&T Broadband subscribers in Baltimore, MD.
- Comcast and AT&T Broadband announced their agreement to merge.
- Comcast acquired an additional 10 percent interest in E! Entertainment as part of the AT&T Broadband acquisition.
- Comcast received Multichannel News' "Innovator Award for Local Programming" for CN8, The Comcast Network.
2002
- Brian L. Roberts named Chief Executive Officer of Comcast Corporation.
- Comcast founder Daniel Aaron inducted into the Cable Hall of Fame.
- Money Magazine named Comcast one of the top five performing stocks over a 30-year period.
- Comcast named one of six companies with the best annual report disclosures by S&P.
- Comcast launched G4, a network dedicated to entertainment, news and information about video games and the interactive entertainment industry.
- Comcast launched high-definition television service.
- Comcast launched video-on-demand service.
- Comcast and AT&T Broadband completed their $47.5 billion merger, combining systems to serve 21 million video customers in 38 states, with 6.3 million digital video customers, 3.3 million high-speed data customers, and 1.3 million cable phone subscribers.
2003
- Comcast named "Operator of the Year" by leading industry trade publication Multichannel News.
- Comcast founder Julian Brodsky inducted into the Cable Hall of Fame.
- Mark Coblitz received NCTA's "Vanguard Award for Science and Technology."
- Comcast sold its 57 percent stake in QVC to Liberty Media for $7.9 billion.
- Comcast and Radio One announced the creation of new television network TV One.
- Comcast founder Ralph J. Roberts received the "Trustees Award" from The National Television Academy.
- Comcast acquired the approximate 8.6 percent interest in The Golf Channel (previously held by the Tribune Company) giving Comcast 99.9 percent ownership.
- Comcast, in conjunction with the Chicago Blackhawks, Bulls, Cubs and White Sox, announced the formation of Comcast SportsNet Chicago.
2004
- Brian L. Roberts named Chairman of Comcast Corporation.
- Comcast signed strategic agreements with Gemstar-TV Guide and Microsoft to develop enhancements to the user interface and the functionality of its service offerings, such as the interactive programming guide and VOD and DVR service. In addition, Comcast and Gemstar formed an entity to develop and enhance interactive programming guides.
- Comcast completed the acquisition of TechTV Inc. TechTV and G4 began operating as one network available to 47 million cable and satellite homes nationally, providing video and computer game-related programming.
- Comcast acquired an additional 10.4 percent interest in E! Entertainment Television (giving Comcast a total interest in E! of 60.5 percent), and a 100 percent ownership interest in International Channel Networks (which operates AZN Television) after a stock exchange agreement with Liberty Media Corporation.
- Communications Technology magazine named Comcast "Operator of the Year."
- Julian A. Brodsky received Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing (CTAM) "Chairman's Award."
- Comcast introduced new Video Mail feature.
- Consumer Electronics Association named Comcast "Best DTV Cable System."
- David L. Cohen received City Year of Greater Philadelphia's "Lifetime of Idealism Award."
- Brian L. Roberts named one of "America's Best CEOs" by Institutional Investor magazine.
2005
- Comcast launched Digital Voice service.
- Comcast secured the broadcasting rights to NHL games through the 2007 season (with the option for more seasons) on the Outdoor Life Network.
- Comcast partnered with PBS, HIT Entertainment and Sesame Workshop to launch PBS KIDS Sprout, a 24/7 linear channel designed for preschoolers.
- Comcast and Time Warner agreed to jointly acquire the assets of Adelphia Communications and swap select systems, giving Comcast 1.7 million video subscribers.
- Comcast CEO Brian L. Roberts named one of "America's Best CEOs" by Institutional Investor magazine for the second year in a row.
- Comcast completed a transaction with a group of investors to acquire a 20 percent interest in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.
- Comcast acquired the cable systems of Susquehanna Communications for $775 million and gains 225,000 video subscribers.
- Comcast announced the creation of Comcast Interactive Media (CIM), a new division that will develop and grow the company's Internet businesses, including the Comcast.net portal.
2006
- Comcast named one of "America's Top 50 Corporations for Multicultural Business Opportunities" by Hispanic Business magazine.
- Comcast and Jake "Body by Jake" Steinfeld launched ExerciseTV.
- Comcast and Sony announced the creation of a new multi-platform horror network - FEARnet.
- Comcast and WalMart partnered to offer broadband, video and phone services to WalMart's "Connection Centers."
- Institutional Investor magazine named Comcast one of "America's Most Shareholder- Friendly Companies."
- Comcast CEO Brian L. Roberts named one of "America's Best CEOs" by Institutional Investor magazine for the third year in a row.
- Institutional Investor Magazine named John Alchin and Larry Smith as two of "America's Best CFOs".
- Dave Watson, Executive Vice President of Operations for Comcast Cable received NCTA's "Vanguard Award for Marketing."
- Lawrence J. Salva, CAO and Controller, named to Treasury and Risk Management Magazine's 2006 "100 Most Influential People in Finance" list.
- Comcast and Time Warner announced the dissolution of a joint venture. Comcast received systems in Houston, TX and gained 1.7 million subscribers.
- Comcast On Demand service topped three billion total views.
- Comcast launched an unprecedented HD programming initiative to offer 100 hours of high-definition video-on-demand programming.
- Comcast reached one million Digital Voice customers.
- Comcast named "Operator of the Year" by leading industry trade publication Multichannel News.
- Outdoor Life Network (OLN) changed its name to VERSUS and announced the network's distribution has surpassed 70 million homes.
- Brian L. Roberts inducted into the Cable Hall of Fame.
- Comcast announced the creation of Comcast Entertainment Group, a new division established to oversee the company's West Coast entertainment properties that currently include E! Entertainment Television, The Style Network and G4.
- FEARnet, the first multi-platform horror network debuts on demand, online and on mobile devices.
- Comcast and NBC Universal announced an agreement to offer hit shows from NBC, USA Network, Bravo and Sci Fi Channel On Demand.
- Comcast and CBS introduce free On Demand episodes of primetime CBS shows for Comcast Digital Cable customers.
- Comcast to offer High-Speed Internet service on Amazon.com.
- Comcast and The Walt Disney Company announced long-term comprehensive distribution agreements securing carriage for Disney Media Networks' products and services.
- Comcast acquired The Walt Disney Company's 39.5 percent ownership stake in E! Networks. E! Networks, which includes E! Entertainment Television and Style Network, becomes wholly owned by Comcast.
- Comcast takes gaming national with GameInvasion.net™.
- Tony G. Werner named Chief Technology Officer for Comcast Cable.
- Comcast named one of "America’s Best-Managed Companies" by Forbes Magazine.
2007
- Michael J. Angelakis named new Chief Financial Officer for Comcast Corporation, succeeding John R. Alchin and Lawrence S. Smith who both retired in 2007.
- Institutional Investor magazine named Comcast one of “America's Most Shareholder-
Friendly Companies.”
- Comcast CEO Brian L. Roberts named one of “America’s Best CEOs” by Institutional
Investor magazine for the fourth year in a row.
- Comcast announced its two million Comcast Digital Voice® customer milestone.
- Comcast acquired Patriot Media for a net cash investment of approximately $483 million and gains 81,000 video subscribers.
- Comcast purchased Daily Candy from Pilot Group.
- Comcast reached an agreement to acquire Fandango, the nation's premier destination for movie information, showtimes and ticketing, and one of the Web's top entertainment sites.
- Brian L. Roberts delivered industry first keynote address at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
- Comcast Interactive Media launched Fancast.com.
- Institutional Investor magazine named Comcast one of “America's Most Shareholder-
Friendly Companies.”
- Comcast CEO Brian L. Roberts is named one of “America’s Best CEOs” by Institutional
Investor magazine for the fifth year in a row.
- Comcast announced eight billion On Demand views.
2009
- Comcast CEO Brian L. Roberts is named one of “America’s Best CEOs” by Institutional
Investor magazine for the sixth year in a row.
- Comcast Corporation became the third-largest residential phone service provider in the United States.
- Comcast increased its multiplatform sports lineup to include more than 5,000 live sporting events - offers programming from all of the major professional sports leagues, and the best of college sports, to millions more customers at no additional cost.
- Comcast began its national rollout of high-speed wireless data service - Comcast High-Speed 2go™.
- Comcast launched a technical trial of On Demand Online with approximately 5,000 customers from across the U.S. to test Comcast’s new “authentication” technology via Comcast.net and Fancast.com.
- Comcast and General Electric announced that they signed a definitive agreement to form a joint venture that will be 51 percent owned by Comcast, 49 percent owned by GE and managed by Comcast. The joint venture will consist of the NBC Universal (NBCU) businesses and Comcast’s cable networks, regional sports networks and certain digital properties and certain unconsolidated investments.
- Comcast Corporation launched an innovative new service called Fancast XFINITY TV nationally. The new website gives customers an “anytime anywhere” entertainment experience - at home and on-the-go - at no additional cost.
- Comcast released a new version of the Comcast Mobile App available for the iPhone® and iPod touch® that includes a remote DVR programming service (rDVR). The free downloadable app serves as a single access point to some of Comcast’s most popular services including Comcast.net email; visual voice mail; address book sync; real-time TV listings and trailers of On Demand movies.
- Neil Smit is named President of Comcast Cable Communications.
- Comcast unveiled Xfinity® as the new brand for their technology platform and products.
- Comcast began rolling out Xfinity® High-Speed 2go wireless service to consumers.
- Comcast and General Electric announced that Steve Burke will serve as Chief Executive Officer of NBCUniversal upon the close of Comcast’s acquisition of 51% of NBCUniversal from GE.
- Comcast officially launched xfinityTV.com - offering 150,000 video choices online - and introduces the Xfinity® TV app.
- Comcast announced that its On Demand service reached a total of 18 billion views since it launched in 2003.
- The Xfinity® Mobile app became available to Android™-powered devices.
2011
- Comcast and Samsung Electronics Co, Ltd. announced a partnership to bring the Xfinity TV app to Samsung smart televisions and tablets.
- On January 28, 2011, Comcast and General Electric completed their transaction to form NBCUniversal, LLC.
- Steve Burke became Chief Executive Officer of NBCUniversal.
- Comcast launched video streaming on the Xfinity TV app for the iPad®, giving subscribers access to nearly 3,000 hours of movies and TV shows both in and out of the home.
- Comcast launched Xfinity 3D, a new 24-hour, next-generation 3D channel.
- The popular Xfinity TV app was made available for Android-powered devices.
- Xfinity TV was launched in Spanish, delivering a wide array of Spanish-language choices available anywhere, anytime - on TV, On Demand and online. Comcast also announced the launch of www.XfinityTV.com/latinoTV, the new Internet destination offering hundreds of Spanish-language movies and shows online for free to Comcast digital customers.
- Comcast introduced Xfinity Signature Support, a 24x7 end-to-end technical support and equipment protection program for the growing number of home electronics devices.
- Comcast Corporation and NBCUniversal created a Joint External Diversity Advisory Council to advise senior leadership on their diversity efforts and initiatives. The Council, which is comprised of leaders from various organizations and minority groups, represents the interests of African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanics and Women along with veterans, Native Americans, people with disabilities, and the lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender (“LGBT”) community.
- Comcast began an effort to launch ten new independent networks over the next eight years.
- Comcast began offering ‘Extreme 105’ residential Xfinity Internet service to more than 40 million homes across the U.S.
- NBC Sports Group reached a 10-year television and media rights deal with The National Hockey League, taking the partnership through the 2020-21 season.
- Comcast opened the Spanish-language Center of Excellence in Miramar, Florida. The center is exclusively dedicated to handling sales calls from Spanish-speaking consumers across the country.
- Comcast celebrated ten years of community service and marked $10 million in charitable giving during the company’s 10th Comcast Cares Day.
- Comcast became the only pay TV provider to offer current TV shows from all four major broadcast networks on Xfinity On Demand - ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC.
- Comcast became the first provider to stream content from five premium channels via the Xfinity TV app - HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, Starz and Encore.
- The Xfinity Triple Play Self-Install Kit was introduced, enabling customers to install and activate their Xfinity TV, Voice and Internet services at their convenience.
- Comcast introduced Metro Ethernet services for Mid-Sized Businesses.
- Comcast introduced 100 Mbps Internet new speed tier for business customers.
- Comcast announced that it is streaming nearly 6,000 hours of On Demand content through its Xfinity TV® app - double the content since launch - from 25 programmers to the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.
- Comcast announced that consumers watched 20 billion entertainment choices On Demand since the service was launched in 2003.
- Comcast Interactive Capital, the venture capital affiliate of the Comcast Corporation, is combined with the Peacock Equity Fund, the former venture capital affiliate of NBCUniversal and General Electric, to form a newly combined fund called Comcast Ventures - with a portfolio of investments valued at approximately $750 million.
- Comcast announced the launch of its landmark Internet Essentials program, which provides low-cost Internet service, affordable computers and digital literacy training to families with children eligible for a free lunch under the National School Lunch Program.
- Constant Guard, Comcast’s ongoing online security initiative, is the most comprehensive suite of online protection services provided by any major ISP in the U.S. that is included as part of an Internet subscription. In addition, we introduced IDENTITY GUARD®, which provides identity and fraud protection both online and offline.
- Xfinity Home Security expanded into six additional markets - Philadelphia, Portland, Jacksonville, Sarasota/Naples, Chattanooga and Nashville. Additionally, the Xfinity Security app, became available on Apple’s iTunes App Store®.
- The International Olympic Committee (IOC) awarded the U.S. media rights to the 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020 Olympic Games to NBCUniversal for $4.38 billion.
- Comcast and Skype announced a partnership to bring a new HD video calling experience to the television for Xfinity customers in 2012.
- Comcast announced that it is working with leading technology and content providers to deliver the company’s next-generation Xfinity TV experience. This new experience will transform the way consumers watch television with a new guide and user interface making the TV screen more interactive, personal and social.
- Brian L. Roberts demonstrated the first 1 Gbps connection over a live broadband network by downloading close to nine hours of content in about 90 seconds.
- NBCUniversal completed the purchase of The Blackstone Group’s 50% interest in Universal Orlando. NBCUniversal and its affiliates became 100% owners of Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Universal CityWalk located at Universal Orlando Resort. The enterprise value of the transaction was $3.165 billion.
- Comcast and NBCUniversal partnered to launch dynamic ad insertion in On Demand programming. The partnership further leveraged On Demand service as an advertising platform and allowed clients to more effectively target their marketing messages.
- The Xfinity Mobile app became available on BlackBerry® devices.
- Comcast expanded the carriage of nine Hispanic networks - Azteca America, Galavision, HITN, LATV, -mun2, Telefutura, Telemundo, Univision and nuvoTV - by approximately 17 million total subscribers.
- Comcast named "Operator of the Year" by leading industry trade publication Multichannel News.
- Comcast was awarded the title of fastest residential and business Internet Service Provider in the nation by PC Magazine.
- NBCUniversal’s Telemundo acquired exclusive Spanish language U.S. media rights to FIFA World Cup soccer from 2015 through 2022.
- Comcast launches updated XfinityTV.com. Site features new look, easy one-click access to the best and most current TV shows and movies and more tools to personalize the viewing experience.
- Comcast announced a partnership with Microsoft to bring Xfinity On Demand to the Xbox 360.
- SpectrumCo, LLC, a joint venture between Comcast Corporation, Time Warner Cable, and Bright House Networks, agreed to sell and transfer its 122 Advanced Wireless Services spectrum licenses covering 259 million POPs to Verizon Wireless for $3.6 billion. The companies also entered into several other long-term customary commercial agreements with Verizon Wireless, including agreements where they will act as each other’s sales agents, an innovation technology joint venture for the development of technology to better integrate wireline and wireless products and services.
- Neil Smit was named Chief Executive Officer for Comcast Cable Communications.
- NBCUniversal announced a new and extensive media rights agreement to extend its NFL rights package through the 2022 season. The new agreement included many enhancements broadening the exposure of NFL content on NBC, and across other NBCUniversal platforms.
- Comcast Corporation partnered with Comcast-Spectacor and The Cordish Companies to create XFINITY Live! Philadelphia, a dining and entertainment district in South Philadelphia set to open in the spring of 2012.
- Comcast becomes the first large ISP in North America to start deploying IPv6.
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