Here's Why Comcast and Netflix Are Working Together — Tech Roundup

Rivals Netflix and Comcast team up to make for a more seamless consumer experience using the two services.
By Bret Kenwell ,

Netflix (NFLX) - Get Report is coming to a Comcast (CMCSA) - Get Report X1 platform near you. Netflix stock initially shot up over $100 per share on the news that customers who use Comcast X1 would be able to access the streaming giant's content.

So why would either -- considering at first glance that they appear to be complete rivals -- enter into such an agreement? 

Well, it's simple actually. Streaming has only gained momentum and it's clear it's not going anywhere. That's a big win for companies like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon (AMZN) - Get Report via Prime video.

So rather than fight it, Comcast is embracing it. Well, sort of. The company's move now allows its customers to have a more seamless experience and puts all of their entertainment into a sort of "hub." 

For Netflix, its customers that also use Comcast X1 now have a more convenient access to the service, rather than flipping through their smart TV or using a streaming device like an Apple TV or a Roku. It also gives the company access to Comcast's 22 million subscribers.

The service is expected to be available later this year.

Shares of Netflix closed at $97.91 Tuesday, up 1.3%, while shares of Comcast closed at $65.01, down 0.4%.

Some 120,000 people, right now, are waiting for a transplant. At least one company is aiming to reduce -- and possibly eliminate -- that number. Who? Why Apple (AAPL) - Get Report of course. The tech company announced this morning that on its iOS 10 update due out later this year, users will be able to sign up as donors.

Apple has teamed up with Donate Life America so users can make "organ, eye and tissue" donations to those in need, according to TechCrunch.

Now, if they missed their chance, had second thoughts or simply forgot to sign up to be a donor at the DMV or a secretary of state office, iPhone users will be able to do so with a few swipes and clicks on their iPhone via Apple's health app.

It's hard to find a negative way to spin this. It's great that a company like Apple, with millions upon millions of iPhone and other iOS device users, will be able to increase the number of donors and (hopefully) reduce the long waiting line of patients looking for help.

Shares of Apple closed at $94.99 Tuesday, down 0.95%.

It feels like the ongoing saga of Yahoo! (YHOO) has been going on for years -- literally. When Alibaba (BABA) - Get Report was going public, Yahoo! was in the news for what was supposed to be a "windfall" of profits. But after going public, shares of Alibaba collapsed and so did Yahoo! stock.

Then there was the spinoff of Alibaba, which never materialized and now there's the auction for Yahoo!'s core business. As for what defines "core business," it's mostly considered the non-Alibaba and non-Yahoo! Japan business, but it depends on whether real estate and patents are involved too.

The bids for the latest round are set to end tomorrow, with the final selection process set for a few weeks from now. Among the leaders are Dan Gilbert, who is backed by Warren Buffett, and Verizon (VZ) - Get Report , who has AOL CEO Tim Armstrong leading the way after the former acquired the latter.

Armstrong has a strong connection with Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer (both previously worked at Alphabet's Google (GOOGL) - Get Report unit). Also, it was rumored for some time before Verizon acquired AOL that AOL would be a possible buyer of Yahoo!.

So you can see how it's all intertwined. With the bids reportedly coming in around $5 billion and below, a sale might not happen at all if the company isn't being valued high enough. Lucky for us, we should know soon enough.

Shares of Yahoo! closed at $37.50 Tuesday, down 1.3%.

Comcast, Apple and Alphabet are all holdings in Jim Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS Charitable Trust Portfolio. Want to be alerted before Cramer buys or sells CMCSA,AAPL or GOOGL? Learn more now.

This article is commentary by an independent contributor. At the time of publication, the author held no positions in the stocks mentioned.

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