A substantial number of Comcast Xfinity customers will have access to Premier League Extra Time this weekend for the launch of the 2013/14 season. However, despite NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) being owned by NBC Universal, which is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation, not all Comcast markets will have the overflow channels available for opening weekend.
It’s disappointing news for soccer fans who presumed that since Comcast owns NBCSN that 100% complete access to Premier League Extra Time would be a given. From what we understand, Comcast’s national head office is on board but the rollout of Premier League Extra Time via Comcast’s On Demand feature is done on a region-by-region basis, hence the delay in all Comcast markets being ready for the August 17 launch. It comes down to a technology hurdle. For TV providers such as DirecTV, any changes they make to their programming offerings are immediately updated nationwide.
The Comcast regions that don’t have access to Premier League Extra Time for the opening weekend are working on getting it added to their On Demand programming. Here’s the message that appears on NBC’s Premier League Game Finder tool when Comcast is entered as a choice:
“Barclays Premier League Extra Time is available in select XFINITY markets, with the remaining markets expected to be added by the end of the year. Go to On Demand/Sports & Fitness/Premier League to see if you receive the Extra Time package.”
If you’re a Comcast Xfinity customer, your best bet is to visit the tool to see what it says, and then check your On Demand section (mentioned above) tomorrow to see if the game choices appear. For the opening weekend of the Premier League season, the four games on Premier League Extra Time are Norwich vs Everton, Sunderland vs Fulham, West Bromwich Albion vs Southampton, and West Ham United vs Cardiff.
Note that Comcast Xfinity customers can watch all of the other Premier League matches this weekend that air on NBCSN, NBC and mun2.
An important point to remember is that all Comcast Xfinity customers who subscribe to NBCSN will have access to NBC Sports Live Extra, so if your local Comcast market isn’t showing Premier League Extra Time games, you can watch them online instead.
