Comcast Xfinity Stream App With Live Channels and On-Demand Shows Now Available on Apple TV

[AHDuke99]

nothing works still for me. The playback error. Doesn’t look like it’s happening until they fix it

 

[enricoclaudio]

I just installed the app in my daughter's Apple TV 4K at her house with my Xfinity credentials and I'm getting the TVAPP-00249 error as well. In my house, where I have Xfinity TV, it works perfectly fine. At my daughter's, my iPhone, iPad and MacBook Pro work totally fine with my Xfinity credentials, only the Apple TV 4K is the one having issues playing Live TV.

 

[redfirebird08]

Not surprised that the app is having problems. I could never get the Xfinity app to work on Roku. It's just more of the same now with Apple TV version. Comcast is a terrible company.

 

[Realityck]

Not surprised that the app is having problems. I could never get the Xfinity app to work on Roku. It's just more of the same now with Apple TV version. Comcast is a terrible company.

Check your app is picking up your home cable modem/gateway OK. You might have to power cycle each and then restart ATV and see if you get the same TVAPP-00249 error getting a live TV ch.

 

[svish]

This should make it more convenient!

 

[AHDuke99]

Not surprised that the app is having problems. I could never get the Xfinity app to work on Roku. It's just more of the same now with Apple TV version. Comcast is a terrible company.

I have never had an issue watching Comcast on a Roku even when I wasn't on Xfinity internet. But I cannot get it to work on Apple TV.

I really had my hopes up I could replace YTTV but I am sure it will take months for Comcast to fix whatever issue this is.

 

[tmmacops]

Worked for a bit yesterday and then over night, and starting this AM 00249 error. Should have known that anything Xfinity makes is garbage.

Keeping fingers crossed that T-Mo internet hits my area soon. I’ll can all Xfinity and go to Hulu Live or something. It’s not the cost anymore it’s the experience.

 

[squirrellydw]

the error everyone is getting TVAPP-00249 looks like it's because you are not on a local Comcast internet. I will be setting up a VPN in a week or two between my two houses and that should fix the issue.

 

[tmmacops]

the error everyone is getting TVAPP-00249 looks like it's because you are not on a local Comcast internet. I will be setting up a VPN in a week or two between my two houses and that should fix the issue.

Nope. On Xfinity 900Mbps connection. All on the same Wi-Fi. Works on the phone, and iPad. So not that…

 

[AHDuke99]

the error everyone is getting TVAPP-00249 looks like it's because you are not on a local Comcast internet. I will be setting up a VPN in a week or two between my two houses and that should fix the issue.

Unless Xfinity made the Apple TV app to where you must watch it on your home network, this is not correct. I have no issues watching live TV on a non-Xfinity network on my iPhone, iPad, Mac or anything else. I also had no issues watching Xfinity live TV on a Roku not on a local network.

 

[green94]

I’m genuinely shocked that they:
a) finally released an app for the ATV
b) it works well and looks pretty slick

 

[anthonymoody]

Posted this in the other (Realityck's) thread but it is probably helpful here too...

Some early insights for those interested:

• unlike several different smart TV app versions of this app, this one DOES include HD channels.
• those with channels that have become DRM'd such as certain movie channels and select others like Bally Sun and Bally Florida for me will be happy to know that those will play through this app.
• the app UI seems to be several steps above versions for smart TVs I own from Samsung and TCL. Fast, crisp, seemingly intuitive (so far).
• certain channels that won't show up in cablecard scans in HDHomeRun Prime do show up here. For example, through this I get Smithsonian Channel HD (channel 1477 where I am).
• it appears videos that have a DD5.1 soundtrack use it, not downing the audio to stereo only... but still investigating this one. Down in post #68, user enricoclaudio seems to have put this one to bed: NOT 5.1 unfortunately.
• On demand has a LOT of "free" content. I spot checked a few videos and they look and sound good.

Continuing to test and will add more if I notice anything else interesting relative to TV app versions or things lacking via cablecard alternatives.

Anyone paying for the box lease and not really needing a big DVR might look into this. I don't recall what else the leased box offers but an AppleTV might scratch the itch for basic watching and some level of DVR storage (unclear what it is). Anyone who also owns an AppleTV may want to do some side-by-side comparisons of features to identify what the Xfinity box retains as exclusive vs. this app on AppleTV.

I'm still a big fan of Channels (app) with HDHomeRun devices to own my own gigantic-and-scalable DVR and solid integration of locals and cable channels (and doesn't count against the data cap)... BUT that doesn't deliver:

• Xfinity on demand (been using Peacock app for that),
• a few channels I should get but aren't available via cablecard, and
• any DRM'd channels that I'd have if I leased a box from Xfinity (been using individual apps like Bally Sports for that).

So this does deliver a few nice bonuses and can definitely be a great backup for my own purposes. At the price of free, what's not to like?

Thanks for this - I appreciate the write up and info/details. I'll use this for a few weeks before deciding whether to dump our boxes.

I first reported this news in Xfinity Stream app for Apple TV available

I laughed at "Made with love in Philadelphia"

Like all internet traffic on Comcast/Xfinity, it all goes against your data cap unlike the cable modem box receiving TV channels.

Ugh.

Why would anyone who has their TV service choose to log into an app on Apple TV, when they can just watch the same channel live on the same TV, or just DVR their favorite shows for later viewing?

I swear, this world...

Ditch the monthly fee for their boxes.

I’m genuinely shocked that they:
a) finally released an app for the ATV
b) it works well and looks pretty slick

Still getting used to it but so far agree. I love the fluidity of the guide, but search functions seem unduly buried, and the recording options for DVR don't seem so clear though maybe I'm missing something.

Also, the 1 minute buffer for pause/ff/rew isn't good obviously.

 

[maryannee]

I just have their internet. So if I accept the enable DVR cloud this will cost me $10 extra a month? Thanks.

Thank you - this is the part I assumed an immediate impact to my bill. I’m on an old plan that doesn’t include it so it looks like it would be $10/month extra from what I’ve found. And an easy thing to unwittingly accept.

I appreciate the help!

 

[TheColtr]

Too little too late. They should have prioritized this along with Xfinity stream on other tvs.

 

[uspino]

I was also getting error TVAPP-00249 trying to access outside of my home network (FIOS Internet where I am now). Then I connected the Apple TV to a WiFi VPN router connected to my home network (Xfinity), and it works just fine, local channels and everything. So I guess out-of-the-house connection is either prohibited or very flaky.

 

[FaustsHausUK]

Why would anyone who has their TV service choose to log into an app on Apple TV, when they can just watch the same channel live on the same TV, or just DVR their favorite shows for later viewing?

I swear, this world...

1. If you want to watch those TV channels in a different room of your house without hooking up another cable box.
2. If you are on vacation and you're in a hotel/Airbnb/whatever that doesn't have access to as many channels.
3. If there is an outage that impacts their TV service but not their Internet service (rarer than the reverse or a total outage, but it does happen).
4. If, like any other sane person, you prefer the tvOS UI to that in their clunky set-top boxes such as the underpowered Flex.

 

[tmmacops]

Not sure but my 00249 issue may be because I don’t use the Xfinity Gateway. I use an Arris modem and Nest Wifi. Odd that my phone works though.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Not sure but my 00249 issue may be because I don’t use the Xfinity Gateway. I use an Arris modem and Nest Wifi. Odd that my phone works though.

I use an Arris modem (purchased years ago and no longer on their approved list) too.

But here's an idea: if using wifi to AppleTV, temporarily run an ethernet connection to AppleTV so you can at least rule out/in the router. It would at least help you zero in on the potential cause.

 

[AHDuke99]

I was also getting error TVAPP-00249 trying to access outside of my home network (FIOS Internet where I am now). Then I connected the Apple TV to a WiFi VPN router connected to my home network (Xfinity), and it works just fine, local channels and everything. So I guess out-of-the-house connection is either prohibited or very flaky.

If only I knew how to do this - maybe Comcast did code the AppleTV app to only work on Xfinity internet. I just don't understand why it doesn't give a message saying I need to be on the home network to use it.

 

[name99]

Posted this in the other (Realityck's) thread but it is probably helpful here too...

Some early insights for those interested:

• unlike several different smart TV app versions of this app, this one DOES include HD channels.
• those with channels that have become DRM'd such as certain movie channels and select others like Bally Sun and Bally Florida for me will be happy to know that those will play through this app.
• the app UI seems to be several steps above versions for smart TVs I own from Samsung and TCL. Fast, crisp, seemingly intuitive (so far).
• certain channels that won't show up in cablecard scans in HDHomeRun Prime do show up here. For example, through this I get Smithsonian Channel HD (channel 1477 where I am).
• it appears videos that have a DD5.1 soundtrack use it, not downing the audio to stereo only... but still investigating this one. Down in post #68, user enricoclaudio seems to have put this one to bed: NOT 5.1 unfortunately.
• On demand has a LOT of "free" content. I spot checked a few videos and they look and sound good.

Continuing to test and will add more if I notice anything else interesting relative to TV app versions or things lacking via cablecard alternatives.

Anyone paying for the box lease and not really needing a big DVR might look into this. I don't recall what else the leased box offers but an AppleTV might scratch the itch for basic watching and some level of DVR storage (unclear what it is). Anyone who also owns an AppleTV may want to do some side-by-side comparisons of features to identify what the Xfinity box retains as exclusive vs. this app on AppleTV.

I'm still a big fan of Channels (app) with HDHomeRun devices to own my own gigantic-and-scalable DVR and solid integration of locals and cable channels (and doesn't count against the data cap)... BUT that doesn't deliver:

• Xfinity on demand (been using Peacock app for that),
• a few channels I should get but aren't available via cablecard, and
• any DRM'd channels that I'd have if I leased a box from Xfinity (been using individual apps like Bally Sports for that).

So this does deliver a few nice bonuses and can definitely be a great backup for my own purposes. At the price of free, what's not to like?

Don't tell me, let me guess. ALSO not HDR content, right?

The cable companies seem determined to obsolete themselves into irrelevance, continuing to provide clearly inferior streams (both sound and image) compared to the substantially cheaper Prime or Netflix or Disney/Hulu.
Not a business model I understand...

 

[enricoclaudio]

If only I knew how to do this - maybe Comcast did code the AppleTV app to only work on Xfinity internet. I just don't understand why it doesn't give a message saying I need to be on the home network to use it.

My daughter has Xfinity Internet as well and I'm getting the error code over there using my Xfinity credentials but using my iPhone and MacBook Pro the streaming app works in her house. So it's not because you have another Internet provider.

 

[troy14]

Anyone know if this is locked to region? I have xfinity @ my home in the US but currently overseas for a bit and would be cool to use my ATV to watch live TV while I am in Europe.

 

[uspino]

Anyone know if this is locked to region? I have xfinity @ my home in the US but currently overseas for a bit and would be cool to use my ATV to watch live TV while I am in Europe.

It's never going to work out of the US unless you use a VPN. It dosn't even work outside of your home network, so you'll have to set up a VPN server at your home.

 

[AHDuke99]

My daughter has Xfinity Internet as well and I'm getting the error code over there using my Xfinity credentials but using my iPhone and MacBook Pro the streaming app works in her house. So it's not because you have another Internet provider.

Right, I don't think it is either. So far, I haven't found a fix to this anywhere.

 

[squirrellydw]

Unless Xfinity made the Apple TV app to where you must watch it on your home network, this is not correct. I have no issues watching live TV on a non-Xfinity network on my iPhone, iPad, Mac or anything else. I also had no issues watching Xfinity live TV on a Roku not on a local network.

this is what it seems like, I had a Roku before and it worked but with AppleTV it isn't. So it seems like they changed something with the AppleTV app that you need to be on the home network