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Discovery+ starts streaming in the US on January 4th for $5 per month
Discovery+ is launching its on-demand streaming on January 4th at a starting price of $5 per month.
Discovery's streaming service could package 17 channels for $5 a month
Discovery could launch its own streaming service. CEO David Zaslav (above) said that he's considering bundling the 17 channels his company picked up in last year's Scrips Networks Interactive acquisition into a service that'd cost between $5 and $8 per month.
Netflix courts HGTV fans with its first home makeover series
Netflix appears to be looking to pull in more of that HGTV crowd, as Deadline reports that the streaming service just ordered its first property-focused original series. With a working title of Amazing On The Inside, the show will reportedly feature homes that look ordinary on the outside but have incredible interiors that reflect their owners' passions and identities. Deadline says Netflix has ordered 12 30-minute episodes.
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.
Discovery acquires HGTV parent company in $14.6 billion TV deal
Discovery Communications is acquiring Scripps Networks Interactive in a $14.6 billion deal announced today. Once finalized, Discovery will produce around 8,000 hours of original programming yearly and 7 billion short-form video streams monthly. It will also control approximately 20 percent of ad-supported, pay-TV audiences in the US and host eight of viewers' top 10 favorite channels.
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.
About the Bloggers: Anne Stickney
About the Bloggers introduces you to the people behind WoW Insider. You can find articles on more WI staffers in earlier About the Bloggers entries. What do you do for WoW Insider? Oh, man. I write Know Your Lore on Sundays, along with the roleplay column All the World's a Stage. On Mondays, you can catch the Weekly Podcast Roundup. On Thursdays, I write World of WarCrafts, and every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, I write up The Daily Quest. In addition, I sometimes fill in on The Queue, pop in on the WoW Insider Show when asked, and I do those little guide graphics on the side of the site, too. In short, I write. A lot. And I wouldn't have it any other way.
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]
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?
CBS, Comcast On Demand Online partnership faces off premium vs. free internet streaming; 17 cable channels jump onboard
After stocking up on premium networks with HBO and Starz, Comcast's On Demand Online project has added its first broadcast TV partner, CBS. One of the worries regarding TV Everywhere / On Demand Online has been what it would mean for free streaming portals like Hulu, with broadcasters potentially shifting content behind pay-tv walls to keep people from dropping cable and satellite TV subscriptions. CBS has been the notable Hulu holdout, although it has also pushed forward with free streaming on its website, including March Madness and even upping the resolution of its Flash video to 1080p. Further conflicting the issue? 17 more cable networks (A&E, AMC, BBC America, DIY Network, Fine Living Network, Food Network, Hallmark, HGTV, History, IFC, MGM Impact, Sundance Channel, WE tv, E!, The Style Network, G4 and FEARnet) have also announced plans to join the 5,000 subscriber trial. Just like the previous agreements, it appears customers should expect access during the trial to reflect a lot of what CBS and the others already offer through standard VOD but now with more placeshifting goodness. While media execs watch the bottom line, we're just hoping the stated CBS strategy of "open, non-exclusive distribution of our content in a consumer friendly way" (from the press release, available in full after the break) could push Hulu to add more HD, or at least unblock the PlayStation 3 & Windows Mobile.
HGTV and Food Network to begin HD simulcast
For a large chunk of HD aficionados, we won't even give a show a chance if it's not being brought to us in at least 720p. Still, for those sick and tired of having SD and HD programs on HGTV and Food Network on separate schedules, your life is about to get a whole lot better. All exaggeration aside, both of the aforementioned networks are set to start simulcasting their "standard-definition and high-definition feeds to cable and satellite affiliates beginning March 31." Potentially more interesting was the note that Food Network "plans to ramp up its production of high-definition programs and is upgrading its Chelsea Market studios in New York to full high-definition capability." So yeah, some of your favorite shows may get shuffled about a bit at the month's end, but that's what your HD DVR is there to manage, right?
Cox adds five HD channels to Las Vegas lineup
The giving just keeps on spreading, and that's just the way we like it. Shortly after Northern Virginia got hooked up with 11 new high-definition options, it looks like Sin City has been blessed with five of its own. Reportedly, TLC HD, HGTV HD, Food Network HD, Discovery HD and CW HD landed in Cox's Las Vegas, Nevada region, and have been assigned to channels 722, 723, 724, 727 and 734, respectively. According to AVSForum members residing in Vegas, the channels were supposed to go live yesterday, so for those who've had a chance to check it out, did Cox deliver?[Thanks, D2point0]
Cablevision adds HGTV, Food Network to HD lineup
There's been a rash of new HD announcements coming from all over the cable landscape lately, and now it's Cablevision's turn. The provider has added the HD-flavors of HGTV and Food Network to the lineup across its entire network. The new goodies will show up on channels 730 and 766, respectively. This double-dose of "lifestyle" programming arrives just in time for the holidays and brings Cablevision's iO TV HD tally to 44. Sure, the number lags behind that of HD-count leader DirecTV, but it's nothing to shake a stick at. But we'd really like to see Cablevision use up a more substantial portion of the that 500 HD channel capacity!
Time Warner Cable expanding HD lineup in San Antonio
It's that time again -- you know, the moment when San Antonians that rely on Time Warner Cable (partly owned by Time Warner, parent company of AOL, which owns Engadget) can look forward to even more HD channels when they flip on the set. TWC has been doing its part to add a (small) number of high-definition stations of late, including a few here in the Raleigh market this month, and those dwelling in south-central Texas should now be able to view the Lifetime Movie Network (LMN), Food Network HD, HGTV HD and The History Channel HD. We know, it's not the most enthralling list of additions, but hey, we'll take what we can get.
FiOS gets three new national HD channels
The FiOS fun just isn't in Florida anymore. Those three new HD stations that randomly appeared on some people's lineup are now nationwide. The addition of HGTV, Food Network, and LMN (Lifetime Movie Network) brings their HD lineup to a boastful 27 stations. While Comcast and TWC are turning off their analog streams to make theoretical room for new HD stations, and ticking off more than just a few people by doing so, Verizon is slowly but surely adding national high-def stations. Fiber-optic has quite a bit of room thanks to a totally digital stream but unfortunately, it's not available everywhere just yet.
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!
