New Comcast customers who order internet have the option to install their own modem and software instead of having to wait for a technician to come out to their home. By choosing the self installation, the customer will avoid the service fees.

The regular charge to have the technician come out is $99, but it will only cost the customer $40 to do it themselves. It costs about $30 for the self-installation kit and about $10 for shipping.

For an unspecified time, Comcast will waive the self-installation fee for customers who pick up the kit at one of the 18 Comcast stores in the Houston area. This will also allows them to avoid the $10 shipping fee and the wait for delivery.

Comcast's head of the Houston-area market, Tony Speller, believes this do-it-yourself option will make customers' lives a lot easier. He knows customers have busy lives and this way they won't have to wait for a technician.

Comcast states that connecting a cable between the outlet and modem and then installing the software will only take about 30 minutes, so it is perfect for those customers who feel comfortable around computers.

News Corporation, NBC Universal and Comcast recently announced a comprehensive distribution agreement in which Comcast's Comcast.net and Fancast.com will serve as key distribution sites for News Corp. and NBCU's recently announced online video venture. Under the agreement, Comcast will also provide available non-exclusive content for domestic distribution on NBCU and News Corp's site from Comcast Networks, including E!, Style, G4, Versus and Golf Channel and will become the venture's first non-equity content provider.

In addition, the companies announced the new online video venture will utilize media management and video distribution technology from thePlatform, Inc., a Comcast subsidiary and a leading provider of broadband and mobile video publishing solutions.

"We're delighted that the nation's largest cable provider will be a major player in this new venture," said Peter Chernin, President and Chief Operating Officer of News Corporation. "News Corp. and NBC have long histories with Comcast and we're committed to expanding our relationship in this new media universe. We believe there is a wealth of opportunities to exploit broadband distribution to benefit both our businesses."

"We are very excited by the positive response our new venture with News Corp. has generated," said Jeff Zucker, President and CEO, NBC Universal. "Comcast's participation is yet another affirmation of our strategy to place top-quality, protected content in as many places as possible."

"We are pleased to have the best of NBC and Fox's TV content available to our customers on Comcast.net and Fancast.com," said Steve Burke, Chief Operating Officer, Comcast Corporation, and President of Comcast Cable. "Making TV content available on multiple devices will enable our customers to view their favorite shows on television, online and on video-on-demand."

Distribution across Comcast sites will include Comcast.net, and Fancast.com, a new entertainment site launching this summer that will enable users to view video as well as search, discover and manage both TV and movie content.

NBC Universal and News Corporation's recently-announced video site will launch in the summer with thousands of hours of full-length TV programming, clips and movies, representing premium content from more than a dozen networks and two major film studios. The new venture's content will be distributed via some of the most-popular sites on the Web, including AOL, MSN, MySpace and Yahoo. The new NBCU/News Corp. joint venture will have offices in Los Angeles and New York.

For more information, check out the press release.

Comcast recently announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Fandango, a site dedicated to movie information, showtimes and ticketing, and one of the Web's top entertainment sites. The company also announced plans to launch Fancast.com, a new national online destination that will enable consumers to search, discover, manage and enjoy their entertainment experience across many devices and channels, including television, computers, DVDs and wireless services.

Comcast has a major Internet presence, through Comcast.net, which is now a top 10 site with more than 2.5 billion page views, more than 80 million videos viewed and 15 million unique visitors per month. Comcast says it will leverage its experience as the nation's largest buyer of video content, serving nearly 25 million cable customers and 11.5 million broadband customers, to expand its existing video-centric Web sites and create a new online destination, Fancast.com.

Fandango, which is a top online brand and destination where millions of people visit every month to learn about movies and purchase theater tickets, will be an integral component of the Fancast user experience. Fandango.com is already a top entertainment site and one of the nation's largest movie sites with between 4 and 5 million unique visitors each month. Fandango has long-term, exclusive relationships with many national theater chains that provide it a consistent, unique and dedicated audience of entertainment-oriented consumers. Working closely with these exhibitor partners, Fandango will continue to pursue its core mission of being the leading online destination for movie theater information, showtimes and ticketing at Fandango.com.

Fancast, which will launch this summer, will be a national entertainment site where people can search and discover television and movie content, while managing their viewing experience across multiple devices. With Fancast, consumers will be able to search for their favorite shows, movies, actors and actresses, as well as enjoy the video content on the site. Fancast will provide consumers with a place to discover when their favorite shows or movies are "on," and where they can view them via television, video-on-demand, online or on other devices.

Both Fandango and Fancast will be managed by Comcast Interactive Media (CIM), a division of Comcast which develops and operates Internet businesses focused on entertainment, information and communication. Fandango will provide key commerce capabilities for CIM sites and will be an additional source of traffic and revenue. CIM sites, including Comcast.net and Fancast.com, will prominently feature Fandango, which will significantly expand Fandango's current audience.

"Fandango is one of the strongest entertainment brands online as well as a dynamic, profitable business with a superb management team and rapidly growing advertising revenue," said Amy Banse, President of Comcast Interactive Media. "Adding Fandango to Comcast Interactive Media and creating Fancast.com will enable us to leverage our combined assets to offer consumers an outstanding entertainment experience."

"Comcast will enable us to expand our reach with moviegoers, enhance our product, and grow Fandango into an even bigger brand and stronger business," said Chuck Davis, Chairman and CEO of Fandango. "Fandango is all about helping consumers with their entertainment decisions - and we're excited that Comcast will enable us to deliver our content and services to an even wider audience."

For more information, check out the CNET News article Comcast to acquire movie tickets site Fandango.