Our kids are learning from home! We’re working from home! Never has there been a time when so many of us are at home. All that time online may have you testing the capabilities of your Internet. All that time in front of a screen may have you wondering what else is there to watch and what can you feel good about the kids watching.
Comcast Xfinity to the rescue!
Comcast knows these are unusual times. Not only are they providing free resources and perks for Xfinity subscribers, but they are also offering help for our community. We are honored to once again partner with them to share these resources with you.
Free Perks for Xfinity Subscribers & Others
“Our services have never been more important, and we’re doing everything we can to keep people connected to the internet,” said Dave Watson, Comcast Cable Chief Executive Officer, in a recent statement.
How is Comcast helping the community RIGHT NOW?
Kids need Internet access. Working adults need Internet access. Comcast has always been there for our community. By offering its Internet Essentials program free to new eligible customers for 60 days and opening up Xfinity WiFi hotspots, Comcast is putting their Internet capabilities to work to help families in our communities, across New Jersey and everywhere else Comcast serves, stay connected during this difficult time.
Xfinity WiFi Free For Everyone
Through June 30, Xfinity WiFi hotspots located in businesses and outdoor locations are FREE to allow anyone with a WiFi-accessible device to connect to the Internet. Typically a benefit for Xfinity Internet customers, they are currently available to anyone who needs them – including non-Xfinity Internet subscribers. For a map of Xfinity WiFi hotspots, visit www.xfinity.com/wifi.
Internet Essentials Free to New Xfinity Customers
Internet Essentials, the nation’s largest and most comprehensive broadband adoption program, is a way for low-income families and others to get affordable Internet access. Internet Essentials is normally available to all qualified low-income households for $9.95 a month. As part of Comcast’s response efforts, eligible new customers can receive 60 days of Internet Essentials service for free. This offer was recently extended through June 30 so more students can finish out the school year at home. The offer was extended again for the rest of 2020. Any new Internet Essentials customer can get 60 days of service for free if they sign up at any point now through the end of the year. After the 60 days, they can become an Internet Essentials customer for $9.95/month if they choose to continue. Learn more about Internet Essentials in our article, Affordable Internet Access for New Jersey Families. Visit www.InternetEssentials.com for more information.
Support for College Students
Xfinity is offering eligible university students who live in Comcast’s service areas and need internet service a Visa prepaid card worth about two months of internet service. No upfront fees, no installation costs. This offer is available to college students who live in households that aren’t existing Xfinity customers, through June 15.
9 Free Perks for Xfinity Subscribers
For Xfinity subscribers, Comcast has rolled out a number of perks to help customers stay connected and entertained. Take advantage of these benefits to give you more to watch as a family and after the kids go to bed.
Xfinity Watchathon Week is back!
Xfinity Watchathon Week lets subscribers across Xfinity X1, Flex and Xfinity Stream platforms watch hit shows and movies for free during the week of May 11-17, 2020. More than 10,000 television series and movies will be available for free from more than 70 networks and streaming services including
- Acorn TV
- A&E
- Aspire TV
- Bravo
- Bluprint
- Disney Channel
- Disney Junior
- DOGTV
- EPIX
- FOX
- HBO
- HISTORY Vault
- Hitz
- Lifetime
- Lifetime Movie Club
- NBC
- Nick Jr.
- MTV
- National Geographic
- Pantaya
- PlayKids
- SHOWTIME
- STARZ
- TBS
- USA Network
- VH1
- Hulu
Just say, “Watchathon” into your Xfinity Voice Remote to view all of the programming available during Xfinity Watchathon Week. If you don’t want to use the voice option let your remote guide you through the curated menus integrated in the guide.
Comcast Launches Xfinity Education Destination
Another great perk for Xfinity subscribers is Xfinity’s Education Destination. Created in partnership with Common Sense Media, Comcast has made nearly 2,000 hours of programming and thousands of free titles available to children and parents. Parents can access the educational programming, easily and quickly by grade level.
Xfinity customers with X1 or Flex can say “Education” or, if their voice search language is set to Spanish, “Educación,” into the Xfinity Voice Remote to access content available to them by grades “K-2,” “3-5,” “6-8,” and “9-12” and also “for all ages” currently including:
- Free programs from subscription video on demand services (SVODS) Bluprint, CuriosityStream, The Great Courses Signature Collection, Grokker Yoga Fitness, HISTORY® Vault, Kids Room and The Reading Corner.
- Additional free adult continuing education programming from these SVODS focused on the “Mind,” “Body,” and “Soul” spanning biographies; podcasts on a range of topics including technology and business; yoga; dance; food and cooking; fitness; wellness; ballets and operas; and gardening.
- Educational series from networks and streaming services including Animal Planet, HBO, HISTORY®, Nick Jr., PBS KIDS, Prime Video, Smithsonian Channel and more.
- Spanish language programming available from networks including CBeebies, Discovery Familia and Kids Central.
- Firsthand interviews and historical narratives from Voices of the Civil Rights Movement, Comcast’s signature commemorative programming initiative honoring the impact and legacy of the movement.
An added bonus, Comcast enlisted the guidance of Natascha Crandall, Ph.D., a psychologist and educator to program the content across English Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies based on grade appropriate guidelines aligned with the current U.S. school curriculum.
Sneak Peek of Peacock Premium
Right now, Xfinity X1 and Flex customers can enjoy a sneak peek of Peacock Premium before its national launch on July 15. Peacock Premium will offer 15,000+ hours of blockbuster and classic movies and series from NBCUniversal and beyond – included at no additional cost for millions of X1 and Flex customers.
Customers need only say “Peacock” into their remote to start streaming Peacock Premium.
With Peacock Premium families can watch popular movies like Jurassic Park, E.T. and Curious George and original animated series Where’s Waldo? from DreamWorks Animation. Additional family programing includes Woody Woodpecker, Top Chef Jr., Beat the Clock, Friendly Monsters, Sabrina: The Animated Series, Fievel’s American Tails, Care Bears, Get Out of My Room, New Adventures of He-Man, Noddy in Toyland, Beethoven, Big Fun Crafty and Baby Einstein Classics.
New kids originals including Madagascar: A Little Wild, The Mighty Ones and TrollsTopia will also be available.
Hulu
Hulu is now integrated into Xfinity Flex and X1 customers’ TV experience. No more switching inputs. Customers can say “Hulu” into their Xfinity Voice Remote to launch the app and get to Hulu content. A Hulu subscription is required.
Movie Releases Available In Home
With families quarantining at home and looking for more entertainment options, Universal Pictures made a selection of movies available in-home on their global theatrical release dates. Titles like DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls World Tour, as well as The Hunt, The Invisible Man and Emma.
Easy Screentime Controls
Did you know that lunchtime has become the new dinnertime? It makes sense. We’re used to telling the kids to put away their devices and join the family for dinner. Now, with more of us home we’re having more family lunches. We don’t want that interrupted by the dings, bells, and vibrations of notifications going off.
You may have not needed this parental control tool before, but if you are an Xfinity xFi subscriber did you know you can pause your child’s Internet connection at anytime. With xFi you can even set time limits, schedules, adjust content restrictions and much more – great tools for helping parents manage this new WFH/learn from home reality. Learn more on their site at, Lunchtime is the New Dinnertime.
Flexible payment options
If you’re having trouble paying your Comcast bill, help is available. Comcast knows how important your Internet connection is right now. Comcast will not disconnect a customer’s Xfinity Internet, Xfinity Mobile, or Xfinity Voice service, and will waive late fees, so long as you contact them. Their care team can also offer flexible payment options or other solutions to customers in need. Call 1-800-XFINITY for help.
Protect what’s Connected
With everyone at home and connected to multiple devices, you want to make sure you’re protected. Xfinity xFi Advanced Security is FREE to all customers that lease an xFi gateway from Comcast. Using AI, it automatically protects devices connected to your home WiFi network from online threats.
Test your WiFi
Are you concerned that having everyone ‘on’ at the same time is affecting your connection and the speed of your network? Xfinity subscribers can run an xFi speed test that monitors and reports the speeds you’re experiencing on your specific device to ensure its operating at the level you need it to. xFi will then provide tips and tricks on how to better optimize speeds for your devices in your home.
One more perk for Comcast Xfinity Subscribers
If everyone is working in different spots across your home to have their Google Meets and Zoom sessions, and you’re finding a weaker signal in a particular corner of your home, xFi pods can help. While not free, xFi pods allow Xfinity subscribers to extend and amplify their WiFi coverage to hard to reach areas of the house. Learn more about xFi pods at https://www.xfinity.com/learn/internet-service/wifi/xfi-pod-3pack.
These are difficult times, but we can get through them. Taking advantage of all the Comcast resources and benefits is a great way to help us do just that.
Want to learn more about Comcast Xfinity?
Read our past articles.
- Comcast Makes the Internet Accessible for People with Disabilities
- 50+ Xfinity Voice Commands for Moms
- Affordable Internet Access for NJ Families
- Introducing Xfinity Mobile for Families
- How to use Xfinity Parental Controls
- Family Time Made Amazing & Easy with Comcast Xfinity Services
Visit their website at https://corporate.comcast.com.