Comcast, Walmart Have Had Exploratory Talks About Producing a Smart TV

Comcast wants its video-streaming technology to become embedded in the guts of smart TVs to power internet media apps — and retailing giant Walmart may be among its first partners in the effort.

Walmart and Comcast have engaged in very early discussions about potentially creating a cobranded, internet-connected TV that would run a version of the cable operator’s X1 software to provide access to over-the-top services including NBCUniversal’s Peacock, according to a source familiar with the talks. The talks were first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

But the two companies have so far held only a few initial conversations about such a hypothetical smart TV product and not at an executive-leadership level, the source added, indicating that a deal may not come together.