TORONTO — Rogers Communications has begun rolling out a new streaming platform called Ignite SmartStream for its broadband subscribers, with select customers getting a first look last week.
Ignite SmartStream integrates popular streaming apps such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, hayu, YouTube, Rogers’ Sportsnet Now and more, with voice search. Live TV is not currently available on the streaming platform as Ignite TV remains the place for that.
That said, SmartStream users can get a suite of Corus Entertainment TV channels if they also subscribe to the broadcaster’s StackTV package within Amazon Prime Video.
The new platform is equivalent to Comcast’s Flex service – which is part of the X1 suite of technology Rogers licenced from the big U.S. cableco. Comcast launched Flex in 2019.
Ignite SmartStream competes with the likes Amazon’s Fire TV stick (which has an Alexa-powered voice remote) and Roku, each of which pulls a range of apps together all in one place with integrated search.
Those two devices also offer AppleTV+ and Disney+ but neither are yet available on Flex in the States or SmartStream. A Crave app is also available in Canada through the Firestick and Roku.
Rogers’ new $5/month service (on top of an Ignite Internet package) is aimed at cord-cutters or cord-nevers who want an easy way to search for and consume content across a number of apps. It comes with a small, pre-loaded IP-connected box and the same voice remote as the full Ignite TV service. All apps on SmartStream can be found on the main Ignite TV service, too.
For more information and to view an introductory video, please click here.
