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Demand for Mayweather-McGregor fight crashed pay-per-view servers
Did you pay for an expensive pay-per-view or streaming pass to watch the hyped-up boxing match between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor, only to boil with rage as your access went down? You're far from alone. Numerous reports have revealed that servers across the US crashed or buckled under demand for the fight, creating outages serious enough that organizers delayed the fight to make sure people could tune in. Mayweather himself said that pay-per-view servers in California and Florida crashed, while Showtime and UFC failed to load, ran into login trouble and otherwise couldn't keep up with interest.
Netflix finally comes to cable boxes in the US, but probably not the one you have
For the first time, Netflix will be available in the US from its natural enemy: cable companies. Atlantic Broadband, Grande Communications and RCN all announced that subscribers will be able to access the streaming service through their TiVo DVRs as soon as April 28th. Of course, that's just a different way of delivering regular Netflix streaming; you'll still need a Netflix subscription on top of your DVR TiVo cable contract. However, Atlantic said that accessing it would be as "easy as changing the channel," indicating that it'll at least be well integrated with its regular services. Netflix already has similar deals in Europe through TiVo, but whether it'll hook up with the likes of Comcast soon remains to be seen.
TiVo brings its mobile apps to cable providers, TiVo hardware not required
TiVo's mobile apps have so far been limited to those who use the company's DVRs, but that audience is about to get much larger. The company has just launched a "powered by TiVo" program that will bring the apps' Live Guide and content searching to cable TV providers, whether or not there's a TiVo box attached. While those with generic hardware will miss a large chunk of the original experience, the features are the same underneath -- recording and remote control are still around for the TiVo faithful. Atlantic Broadband will be the first to deploy a customized app in tandem with TiVo hardware in the fall, and we wouldn't be surprised if others follow suit.
Atlantic Broadband to lower cable rates, add HD channels
Be still our hearts! When practically every other cable operator out there is hiking rates up, Atlantic Broadband is bringing them down. In an admittedly shocking move, the small carrier has announced its plans to knock around $8 per month off of bills received by HD customers. Miraculously, it will also be adding three new HD channels -- History HD, FOX News HD and Science HD -- bringing the grand total to nearly 40 high-def channels. Of note, the pricing changes could leave a small amount of customers paying more, but the company has expressed its intentions to call those select few in an attempt to get them on a more cost efficient plan. Care to spread your services elsewhere, Atlantic?
ESPNU HD preps for launch Thursday
After ESPNews, now it's time for ESPNU to make the jump to 720p, as promised last year, on August 28. So far Time Warner Cable, Verizon FiOS, RCN, Atlantic Broadband and Broadstripe are signed on to distribute the channel, with ESPN "working on" deals with other providers. The debut event is the Vanderbilt vs. Miami (OH) football game at 7:30 p.m., with ESPN's fourth U.S. high definition station expecting to air over 200 HD events in its first year -- Thursday and Saturday live college football games, plus basketball, lacrosse, baseball, softball, volleyball, wrestling and hockey. Coupled with a 15-year agreement to air SEC matchups on its family of networks, there should be plenty of SPEED on tap for ESPNU HD.
Atlantic Broadband adds 9 HD channels in Altoona / Johnstown, PA
Atlantic Broadband last gifted its subscribers with new HD channels in December 2007, which means those loyal customers are definitely due for a few more. Thankfully, said carrier is in complete agreement, as the Altoona and Johnstown areas of Pennsylvania can now enjoy nine new high-def channels along with ESPNU in SD. As for the newcomers, you'll find A&E HD (785), ESPN2 HD (782), Discovery HD (786), Disney HD (778), Animal Planet HD (787), TLC HD (788), TBS HD (790) and Showtime HD (794). Mum's the word on when any others will be added, but hopefully these will keep you occupied for some time yet.
Atlantic Broadband expands HD lineup, adds HD VOD in Johnstown, PA
While HD VOD has quite a ways to go before it becomes decently ubiquitous, Atlantic Broadband has decided to bless its Johnstown, Pennsylvania area customers with the luxury. Reportedly, an undisclosed amount of high-definition films will be available for renting at $5.99 a pop, and as if that wasn't reason enough to celebrate, these same customers are also getting two new additions to the HD lineup. Sports fans in particular should greatly appreciate getting both NFL Network and Fox Sports Pittsburgh in HD, both of which will now be included in the "regular HD package." Dave Dane, vice president of Atlantic Broadband's Pennsylvania operations, also noted that it had "some proposed HD launches for the first quarter of next year," but we're left to wonder precisely what those will be.
