Comcast Corp - CMCSA STOCK NEWS

Comcast announced it will provide 13,000 BIPOC-owned small businesses with grants, technology makeovers, and marketing services through its Comcast RISE initiative. Since November, nearly 2,500 businesses have been selected, including 500 that will receive $10,000 grants in May, totaling $5 million awarded. The program focuses on long-term mentorship and partnerships with organizations like Ureeka to enhance business success. Comcast RISE aims to support historically overlooked communities with marketing resources and technology upgrades to help them thrive.

Comcast Advertising has appointed Rick Mandler as vice president of growth strategy to enhance revenue growth and market share. This newly created role aims to develop audience-based media solutions through collaboration across the organization. Reporting to Chief Growth Officer Pooja Midha, Mandler will leverage his extensive experience in TV and digital media to support Comcast's global marketing efforts. Mandler previously held a senior vice president position at true[X] and has a 26-year history at ABC and Disney, bringing significant expertise to this pivotal role.

Comcast has achieved a significant 10G milestone by successfully conducting the first live lab test of the Full Duplex DOCSIS system-on-chip (SOC) device, developed by Broadcom. This technology is poised to enable multigigabit upload and download speeds over its hybrid-fiber coaxial network. The Full Duplex standard enhances network efficiency, allowing Comcast to increase upstream speeds without diminishing downstream capacity. The test demonstrated throughput exceeding 4 Gbps, with plans for further optimizations. This development lays the groundwork for future enhancements in broadband service delivery worldwide.

Comcast Advertising has appointed Tony Sanchez as VP of Customer Experience. In this role, he will lead the division’s customer experience strategy and programs, including the Net Promoter System. Sanchez aims to innovate customer and employee experiences and collaborate with Comcast's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion teams. Previously, he was VP of Operations for the Customer Experience Product team and significantly contributed to the success of the Xfinity Assistant, which saw a 445% year-over-year increase in usage.

On April 16, 2021, Comcast announced plans to launch 25 WiFi-connected "Lift Zones" in Connecticut to provide free internet access to low-income families. Currently, 13 sites are operational, while 12 are planned for late spring. These initiatives, in partnership with community organizations, aim to support students and families during the pandemic. The effort complements Comcast's Internet Essentials program, which has connected over 10 million low-income individuals since 2011, including 176,000 in Connecticut.

Comcast has announced new 5G unlimited data options for its Xfinity Mobile service, priced at $30 per line for four lines, targeting competition with major carriers. The service combines nationwide 5G and over 20 million WiFi hotspots, leading to high customer satisfaction ratings. Pricing starts at $45 for one line, with discounts for multiple lines. Additionally, customers can get a free Motorola one 5G ace phone when adding a line. The offering aims to provide flexibility and significant savings of up to $400 annually for Xfinity Internet customers.

FreeWheel, a Comcast Company, has introduced a pioneering technology that enables addressable video advertising on both digital and linear TV platforms. This innovation allows advertisers to utilize aggregated data for targeted campaigns from a unified platform. Currently in pilot with Comcast and Charter, it marks the industry's first comprehensive addressable audience targeting solution across all screens. The technology enhances advertisers' ability to reach specific audiences while improving measurement of campaign performance. FreeWheel plans to extend this offering to other MVPDs later this year.

Comcast Business has announced enhancements to its ActiveCore SD-WAN solution, featuring AI and machine learning for improved network traffic management. These upgrades allow for application-level recognition and prioritization, streamlining the routing of network traffic for distributed workforces. The enhancements enable organizations to better support critical applications, improve network uptime, and deliver superior user experiences. Comcast Business has been a leader in SD-WAN technology since its partnership with Versa Networks in 2017, positioning itself as a key player in the enterprise market.

Vevo has integrated with FreeWheel's Strata platform, providing local spot buyers access to Vevo's inventory. This partnership enables advertisers to reach approximately half of the U.S. population, particularly targeting younger, harder-to-reach audiences. With 150 million monthly viewers, Vevo's local market presence is unmatched. The integration streamlines local ad workflows, allowing for engaging music video content, thereby enhancing brand recall. Strata, trusted by over 1,100 agencies, optimizes campaign planning and execution across TV and video platforms.