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Dish subscribers lose access to local Scripps stations in channel dispute
Dish subscribers in 42 markets have lost access to local channels after the satellite giant and Scripps couldn't reach a deal.
Stanford, Scripps and Fitbit try using wearables to detect infections
Stanford, Scripps Research and Fitbit have unveiled an initiative that, if successful, would use wearables to catch the early signs of infection. The project will study data from five different wearables, each of which will have its own algorithm.
WSJ: Discovery, AMC and Viacom try a sports-free streaming bundle
The already crowded field of "skinny bundles" will soon feature another service vying for your attention (and wallet). As The Wall Street Journal reports, a host of broadcast networks are reportedly soft launching a new streaming platform stocked with their entertainment channels. Discovery Communications, Viacom Inc., A+E Networks, AMC Networks, and Scripps Networks Interactive will all be part of the service. But, the likes of ESPN and Fox Sports won't. That's because the new offering, dubbed 'Philo', will be a sports-free zone.
Underwater microscope offers a brand new look at sea life
Scientists have a hard time studying microscope sea life, and for good reason. Underwater scientific equipment can't study things at that scale, and bringing samples up to the surface frequently deprives them of that all-important natural context. Enter UC San Diego: its researchers have crafted the Benthic Underwater Microscope, the first undersea microscope that can study "millimeter-scale" activity in its native habitat. It combines a water-friendly computer with an imaging system that revolves around both a high magnification lens and a flexible, tunable lens that can see shapes in 3D. Combined with an LED ring light and fluorescence imaging, the system shouldn't be daunted by most water conditions or unusual specimens.
Deezer sells Stitcher less than two years after purchasing it
Podcast app/directory Stitcher is changing hands again, as this time Deezer is selling it to the E.W. Scripps company. That comes just 591 days after Deezer bought Stitcher in the first place, seeking to pair podcasts with its music library and a few months after the podcast app suffered a prolonged outage. According to Scripps, Stitcher has 8.5 million registered users and is installed on 50 models of cars, however it did not reveal how many of those users are active. Apparently it's enough to justify a $4.5 million purchase price a Wall Street Journal source described as a small acquihire, and the Stitcher team will join Midroll Media, a podcast producer and advertising network.
Google knows which words you have trouble spelling
To celebrate the culmination of Scripps' National Spelling Bee, Google decided to find out what words most Americans struggle with. The search engine aggregated every query that began with "how to spell" and then identified which one was the most popular in each state. Surprisingly, "diarrhea" isn't the word most people struggle with, which is "desert" and / or "cancelled," depending on where you live. Other terms that have users stumped include "neighbor," "vacuum," "gray" and "pneumonia" -- the latter of which is a preoccupation for the folks in Washington State, Missouri and North Carolina. We're not sure that the results say anything meaningful except to make us wonder why Utah and Arkansas are so preoccupied with leprechauns. Oh, and people who live in Massachusetts don't know how to spell Massachusetts. Here's a tip, then: It's spelled Massachusetts.
Researchers find a way to listen in on vehicular vibrations
The steady flow of vehicles is noisy enough as it is, but it also gives off a type of noise the human ear can't hear: seismic noise, or the vibration of the ground. Thus, vibrations given off by cars, trucks, trains, and airplanes on the runway among other modes of transportation haven't really been studied in depth -- until now. A team of researchers from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography have recently found a way to "hear" those vibrations using 5,300 geophones, screwdriver-like devices used to record ground movements. They placed a geophone every 300 feet in Long Beach for their study and soon realized that thanks to the devices, they could count airplanes and measure their acceleration on the runway and even detect larger vehicles like trucks on a highway. In the future, the same method could be used to monitor traffic, which could then lead to better roads and more road signals where they're most needed. [Image credit: Vincent_St_Thomas/Getty]
Lovefilm now streaming food and travel shows in the UK thanks to Scripps deal
Whether you're into comedy, drama, sci-fi or Vikings, Lovefilm Instant is slowly amassing TV content across a number of genres. Today, a deal with Scripps is adding shows from the Food Network and Travel Channel to Amazon's streaming service in the UK, much to the satisfaction of sofa-based jetsetters, wannabe chefs, and those who like to watch others battling with the meat sweats on Man v. Food Nation. Hundreds of episodes are available to watch right now, should you need inspiration for your next holiday or what to cook for dinner tonight. If you're like us, though, you'll just end up ordering pizza when you find you don't have the rare selection of spices needed to do that unpronounceable foreign delicacy justice.
Comcast, Scripps deal brings more internet streaming video on Xfinity TV
While some pay-TV providers are tied up in nasty battles with the studios that provide them content, Comcast and Scripps have just inked an agreement to bring the company's lifestyle programming to cable subscribers over the internet. As noted in the press release (embedded after the break) the multi-year deal brings HGTV, DIY Network, Food Network, Cooking Channel, Travel Channel and Great American Country to Comcast's TV Everywhere portal, via mobile (and "other" devices) and on Scripps websites. Probably not a minor element in the deal is the inclusion of support for Comcast's on the fly ad-insertion for VOD, which should push the efforts of both partners along, although potentially unskippable ads could be less viewer friendly.
Scripps Networks channels (Food, HGTV, etc.) restored to AT&T's U-Verse
That was fast. HGTV, Food Network, DIY Network, Cooking Channel and GAC are back on the dial for U-Verse customers now that parent company Scripps Networks and AT&T have worked out an agreement. Unfortunately, there's no fiery press release to remark on this time, AT&T's website only says that it's satisfied to reach a fair deal that "helps us with important strategic content initiatives." 'Nuff said. [Thanks, Jay]
U-verse loses HGTV, Food & other Scripps networks during latest carriage dispute
Well, we can't say we weren't warned. It appears AT&T and Scripps Networks have been unable to reach a price for the family of TV channels including HGTV, Food Network, DIY Network, Cooking Channel and GAC, resulting in them disappearing at 1 a.m. last night. Naturally, each side has issued press releases (included after the break) and put up websites accusing the other of being unreasonable, unfair, and undoubtedly being the cause of the mess though curiously this time around it's the content provider Scripps claiming U-verse refused an extension while negotiations continued. In the meantime, AT&T suggests subscribers check out TLC and others on a free preview to fill the gap -- we'll see how long that lasts, it's the real Bobby Flay or nothing where we come from.
U-verse preps customers for carriage disputes and missing channels
Already involved in a carriage dispute with Hallmark Channel, AT&T's gotten out in front of a possible new carriage dispute with Scripps Networks Interactive by notifying customers what channels they could lose at month's end. Others are also on the block unless a new deal is worked out, including FamilyNet, EWTN and Bloomberg, but Scripps' DIY Network, Food Network, HGTV and others are the most notable. Our friends at ZatzNotFunny recently linked up a Bloomberg article detailing the rising number of retrans fee disputes and discussing the reasons behind them, as content providers and operators continue to try to squeeze profits out of their existing business model while still expanding into new ones, all without raising rates so rapidly customers complain. [Thanks, Salman]
NASA's robot submarine achieves perpetual motion, of a sort
The Sounding Oceanographic Lagrangrian Observer Thermal Recharging (SOLO-TREC) autonomous underwater vehicle is, well, quite a mouthful. It's also the first submarine that can run a sizable percentage of forever without requiring a charge. When the 183-pound buoy dives, cooler water temperature causes a liquid wax-like substance inside to solidify, squeezing out oil that drives a hydraulic generator; when it surfaces, the wax softens once again, ready for another round. Every dive produces 1.7 watt-hours of electricity, enough to power all the instruments, GPS and buoyancy-control pump on board. It's like a drinking bird that never runs out of water. Designed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Scripps researchers, the thermal engine is envisioned as an oceanography tool... but since the US Navy also has a finger in the pie, don't be surprised if it plays a minor role in the coming robot apocalypse as well.
Food Network, HGTV are back on Cablevision
It took three weeks, but Scripps & Cablevision have settled their differences, allowing Food Network and HGTV to return to New York area cable customers this afternoon. Both sides had plenty of tough talk New Year's Day when the channels disappeared, but all that's faded into the general "we're glad to be back on" PR-speak. Terms of the agreement weren't disclosed but we hear Bobby Flay and Guy Fieri will be suiting up for the Knicks tonight, which could explain the lengthy negotiations.
It's 2010 - Fox is still on TWC (for now) but Food & HGTV are off Cablevision
As two digits flipped over last night we waited to see if Fox and Time Warner Cable would work out their differences or turn channels dark.... and waited... and waited until we finally dozed off. As it stands, thanks to a series of extensions and ongoing negotiations, the channels are still on, but there's no new deal. As long as that remains to be the case, many football fans and several members of the government should be quite pleased, but in a New Year's Day surprise, Cablevision has rid itself of two networks on its service - Food Network and HGTV. While we've been upset by reports of some odd aspect ratio stretching on HGTV, these channels have their own fans that are upset to see them missing. Cablevision's posture seems to be that they won't be coming back, but parent company Scripps has already launched campaigns at ILoveHGTV.com and ILoveFoodNetwork.com for viewers to appeal for their return. We'll keep an eye on the ongoing Fox/TWC spat, though we're sure they wouldn't suddenly let channels go dark right before the Sugar Bowl tonight, would they?
Food Network HD launches June 30
Scripps Networks launched HGTV HD recently, and their second high definition television station is due up in just a few days. Food Network HD begins airing on June 30, both on several U.S. operators. An unspecified large satellite provider (Dish?), Wide Open West, Buckeye Cable and Sunrise Network subscribers will be the first to enjoy HDTV and Fine Living programming in high definition. They also announced that they have made an agreement to distribute HGTV HD in Japan. Does anyone have HGTV HD or live in an area getting Food Network HD soon? The only bad thing about these announcements is that most people still don't have the channels yet. Filling out these niche areas with high-def programming will draw more people into the fold. Even if Extreme homes of Europe doesn't pique your interest now, how many times are you really going to watch Ring of Fire?
HGTV-HD is in the building
High definition may not have Oprah yet, but Scripps Networks thinks they are launching the high definition "killer app" for women, with the just launched HGTV-HD. We've been telling you about the coming HGTV-HD shows and Food Network HD for a little while now, and at least a few of you might be lucky enough to catch it. It will be interesting to see how quickly these channels get added to cable and satellite lineups, we still don't have MHD in my area.Stunning sports pictures and blockbuster movies have attracted mostly men so far, so do you think this is the channel that will get your wife/girlfriend/sister/mother interested in HD?Thanks Scott K. for the tip!
