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WBAL-TV switches on HD news in Baltimore, Maryland
Charm City residents refusing to tune into SD news have had their sets locked on FOX 45 for months now, but 2009 is offering the city of Baltimore yet another option. Starting this weekend, WBAL-TV has flipped the high-def switch on its local news, meaning that you can now catch your favorite NBC talking heads in an all new light. So, locals -- are things much improved? Studio shot is after the break.[Thanks, Ryan and Michael]
Comcast readies DOCSIS 3.0 rollouts for Chicago, Atlanta, Baltimore and Ft. Wayne
Comcast promised us all a few months back that it would be bringing its wicked fast DOCSIS 3.0 technology to a handful of other big markets before too long, and today the carrier has chosen to reveal the next four places where said service will be made available. The high-speed internet service, which is capable of hitting 50Mbps down / 5Mbps up, will be launched "over the next several weeks" in Chicago, Atlanta, Baltimore and Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Don't see your city listed? Hang tight -- the next wave should be announced in the not-too-distant future.
Seven new HD channels headed to Comcast viewers in Severna Park, MD
Comcast viewers in Severna Park, Maryland won't be able to enjoy any new high-def channels before the Christmas break (barring any unforeseen changes in plans), but they will be treated to seven new ones in January. According to a local, the carrier has sent out a message to subscribers that FOX Business HD (220), Planet Green HD (230), Toon Disney HD (243), Lifetime Movie Network HD (247), ESPNews HD (256), MGM HD (258) and Biography HD (219) will be added on or around January 19, 2009. Now, let your patience be tested.[Thanks, Ryan]
Verizon's FiOS TV expansions: November 29, 2008
It's a holiday week here in America, so we'd expect the employees at Verizon to be taking it halfway easy. To that end, just two new locales granted the company cable franchises over the past seven days: Maynard, Massachusetts and LaPlata, Maryland. Both cities are a major step closer to having yet another programming option, though there's no exact mention of a go-live date. Ah well, at least a pair of places get to be thankful, right?Read - Massachusetts expansionRead - Maryland expansion
Verizon gears up for FiOS rollout in 27,000 Aimco apartments
It's incredibly obvious that one of Verizon's main opportunities for growth in FiOS TV is locking down contracts with housing facilities and apartment complexes, and while we've seen some small to medium-scale rollouts before, this one takes things to a whole 'nother level. Last year, the provider inked a deal with Aimco that would eventually bring fiber-based FiOS services to residents of some 27,000 apartments in 11 states across the nation. Now, 100 Aimco properties from coast to coast will be lit up with FiOS TV / internet / digital voice services prior to the onset of 2009, and that should make for quite a few happy tenants this holiday season.[Image courtesy of Apts247]
Verizon gives patrons a taste of FiOS TV / internet in new Columbia, MD store
We've seen Verizon push its fiber-based FiOS TV and high-speed internet services in some rather odd locations, but at least store patrons won't be baffled when they see the demonstration kiosks in the carrier's new Columbia, Maryland store. Located at 8835 Columbia 100 Parkway in Suite B, the store offers up a "home theater setting where shoppers can relax in plush chairs and see for themselves what all the excitement is about as they experience FiOS TV on high-definition TVs." Better still, subscribers can swap or drop off FiOS TV set-top-boxes / remotes at the store, and they can even phone up friends in the southeast and brag about their proximity to the service. And you know they (you) will.
Reminder: Come meet WoW Insider at the midnight launch
Today's the day! After years of speculation and months of waiting, Blizzard is finally officially releasing Wrath of the Lich King. More than a few people have grabbed their copies already, but the vast majority of us are heading out to midnight launches all over the country (and indeed, the world) to pick up the game's second expansion.Blizzard has their own launches planned (there's a rumor going around that the NYC event is canceled, but we've confirmed that's not true -- everything is still on as planned), and so do we here at WoW Insider -- in all the places that we're going out to take pictures and grab our own copies, we're inviting you to come along with us and say hi. We've reprinted all the meetups after the break -- I'll be in Chicago, we'll have people at the Blizzard events in Anaheim and Austin, and in North Carolina, California, Maryland, Minnesota and Florida, and our own Jennie Lees is hosting an event in Scotland. Take a look after the break, and if you happen to be in the area, definitely come out and meet us.No matter where you are, good luck getting the game, and have a terrific time. We'll be around tonight with coverage of the event as it happens, interviews with devs on the scene, and of course in-depth coverage of our (and your) first steps into Northrend. Today is the day!
Comcast adds FOX News / SPEED / FX HD in Anne Arundel County, MD
Are we sensing a trend here? Just days after Comcast blessed Augusta, Georgia with SPEED HD, FX HD and FOX News HD, we saw another southern town (Charleston, SC) get the same trio with a few extras on the side. Today, we've learned that these three channels have also been added in Anne Arundel County, MD. We know how Comcast likes to add three at a time and all, so don't be surprised to see these very stations pop up in your Comcast EPG in the very near future.[Thanks, Ryan]
Verizon gets political with FiOS1 local TV channel in DC Metro Area
Now here's an interesting one. Verizon, the carrier who offers up FiOS TV, is actually getting set to launch its very own channel. Granted, it'll only be available to FiOS TV users -- and for now, users in the Washington, DC Metro area -- but still, it's a touch peculiar (albeit useful). For FiOS subscribers in Northern Virginia and parts of Maryland, you'll now be able to tune into Channel 1 (FiOS1, predictably), which will reportedly act as a "one-stop shop for local weather, traffic, news, sports and community features." From now until November 4th, however, it will be airing "rebroadcasts of the three presidential debates and the vice-presidential debate, as well as key speeches from the Democratic and Republican conventions." There's no mention of FiOS1 making a debut in other areas (nor of it going HD), but we'd keep an eye out on Channel 1 just in case.Update: Seems FiOS1 has been available for a tick, but it's the political coverage that's changing things up. Thanks, urfloormatt!
Verizon brings new features to Interactive Media Guide in MD / VA
Verizon's Interactive Media Guide has been on the rollout path since July of last year, but now customers in Maryland and Virginia can look forward to even more of that delicious interactivity. Beginning this very moment, FiOS TV users in the aforementioned states will have access to a "fantasy sports application, free casual games, purchasing power via remote control, more widgets that provide on-demand access to information and entertainment, and other exciting options." More specifically, you'll be able to stream HD recordings to six other TV sets throughout the home, create two separate lists of favorite channels and interface with your ESPN Fantasy Football right on your TV screen. Not bad for free, huh?
Verizon's FiOS TV expansions: October 11, 2008
Verizon's making up for lost time this week. Last Saturday, we realized it had gone the entire week without stretching its FiOS TV footprint any further, but the same can't be said today. In addition to bringing its fiber-based services to apartment buildings in Yonkers, NY, the outfit has either gone live with or nailed down cable franchises in a smattering of new locales. For starters, FiOS TV is now available to even more communities in Los Angeles and Orange County (CA), while the villages of Cove Neck and Brightwaters on Long Island (NY) granted the provider the all-important franchise agreement. Expansion efforts were also seen in six new New Jersey cities; Hudson, Massachusetts; Bel Air, Maryland; and Chesapeake / Portsmouth / Virginia Beach, Virginia. We'll see you next week -- here's to hoping your neck of the woods gets covered within the next seven days.Read - California expansionRead - Long Island, NY expansionRead - New Jersey expansionRead - Massachusetts expansionRead - Maryland expansionRead - Virginia expansion
Sprint XOHM WiMAX networks reportedly active in other cities
Flying out of BWI to Chicago, Boston, Dallas, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. or Northern Virginia? Make sure you pack in that SWC-E100, because we're hearing that Sprint's XOHM WiMAX networks are already live in each of those locales. According to a XOHM representative at a booth in Baltimore, the networks in each of those cities are already up, though they aren't officially supported as they're still "being tested." If any of you XOHM early adopters happen to head to any of the previously mentioned regions, bust out your ExpressCard and see if you get lucky (and then let us know how it goes).
Sprint goes live with XOHM WiMAX service in downtown Baltimore
In an apparent effort to make good on its claim of having WiMAX rolling in Baltimore this month, Sprint is reportedly going live with the service in the downtown area today. There's no indication of when it'll spread XOHM throughout Charm City, but we're hearing that prices will start at $10 for a 24-hour unlimited pass and $35 for monthly service. Best of all, there won't be any contracts necessarily attached, and WiMAX-friendly laptop cards will supposedly start at around $45. For any locals able to actually find one of these so-called aircards and hop on this elusive XOHM network today, be sure and let us know how it goes.[Via USAToday]
Verizon's FiOS TV expansions: September 27, 2008
No, we didn't forget about you, but given that Verizon didn't announce any new FiOS TV spots last week, we figured we'd hold off until this week rather than gabbing aimlessly. Thankfully, the provider stepped up here recently and delivered its fiber-based programming service to two more Massachusetts towns -- or, at least a video franchise was granted. Also of note, it pumped out 39 new stations (19 in high-def) to subscribers in Maryland and Northern Virginia, while 79 new channels (56 in HD) were delivered in the Philadelphia region. We'll see you next week -- here's to hoping your neck of the woods gets covered within the next seven days.Read - Mansfield, MA expansionRead - Bellingham, MA expansionRead - Maryland / NoVA channel lineupRead - Philadelphia channel lineup
Sprint and Intel signing up Baltimore-area XOHM testers
Back in June, we heard that Sprint would be going live with its XOHM WiMAX service in Baltimore, um, this month. As of today, it's pretty clear that the service won't be rolled out fully before October dawns, but at least some progress is being made. Based on a survey sent out to select (read: lucky) Baltimore-area residents, it seems that Intel and Sprint are willing to give away free laptops in order to trial the XOHM service in the city. Unfortunately, the lappies won't even be given out until late October, and the trial itself is set to last 30 days, so frankly, we'll be lucky to see XOHM hit the general populace before Santa takes to the friendly skies. Though, why are we not surprised?[Thanks, Anonymous]
Comcast adds five new HD stations in Montgomery County, Maryland
The last time Montgomery County, Maryland received any new high-def stations from Comcast was back in May, and even then, it wasn't made to feel special. After all, hasn't Comcast given Science HD, Disney HD and ABC Family HD to pretty much every market it's responsible for? That aside, MoCo residents now have something new to cheer about: five fresh HD stations on the EPG. Effective immediately, CNN HD, AMC HD, History HD, TLC HD and Animal Planet HD are available for viewing, which brings it pretty much in line with Baltimore County's lineup. We're thrilled for locals affected by this, but we'd like to take this opportunity to remind the carrier that even at 7:12PM, it doesn't have the most HD.[Thanks, Jerry]
Comcast adds five new HD stations in Greater Baltimore area
Comcast subscribers in the Charm City have been clamoring for a bit of HD love for what seems like eons, and thankfully, said carrier has finally obliged. Just this week, the outfit added five new high-definition channels to its Greater Baltimore lineup: ABC Family HD, Disney Channel HD, Science HD, WUTB MyNetworkTV 24 and WGN HD. A good start to the second half of 2008, Comcast, but we're pretty sure we speak for all of Baltimore when we say "we want more."
Comcast relegating some stations to digital only in Washington, D.C.
Not like we haven't seen this happen a time or two already in the US, but we'd wager that Comcast's Washington, D.C. market is fairly sizable. Nevertheless, Comcast will be bumping a number of channels -- namely the D.C.-area ABC / NBC / FOX / CBS affiliates -- to digital only. In other words, those relying on analog service will have to upgrade to digital cable in order to continue viewing the affected stations. Granted, some 80% of subscribers in Annapolis and Anne Arundel already have digital cable (so says Comcast), and the changes are being made to open up space for potential HD expansion. Unfortunately, Comcast isn't following in the footsteps of certain other carriers and offering free digital adapters -- but hey, progress has to happen eventually, right?[Image courtesy of Brent Nelson, thanks Harry]
Baltimore, MD gets local HD news courtesy of FOX 45
Welcome to the 21st century, Baltimore! Thanks to WBFF (FOX 45), you too can finally watch your local anchors in stunning high-definition. As it stands, less than one-third of the homes in the area have HD-capable TV sets, but the station is banking on that changing in the future as more individuals slowly see the light. Comically enough, special consultants were even called in to arrange "softer, more forgiving lighting" on the set -- those wrinkles and fine lines sure do stand out more in high-def, we hear. It's also noted that newscasts entirely in HD are still a couple months away, and rival stations WBAL and WJZ could take this transformation as all the encouragement they need to follow suit. So, Baltimore residents -- how's new news?[Thanks, Rob]
Comcast expands its favorite trio to Montgomery County, Maryland
Check it -- Comcast subscribers in Montgomery County, Maryland are apparently the next bunch to receive the carrier's favorite trifecta: Science HD, Disney HD and ABC Family HD. According to a local, the lineup is still missing others like CNN HD and AMC HD, which have picked up by nearby Comcast systems already, but we suspect something is better than nothing. Oh, and if you haven't picked up on it yet, stay on the lookout for these three in your area -- odds are they're coming soon.[Thanks, Jerry]
