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HD channel expansion roundup
Once upon a time, a smattering of new HD channels in one major metropolitan area was a huge deal. Nowadays, it's almost expected that one area or another will experience some HD expansion each week. In order to keep things nice and tidy around here, we deliver high-def expansions, market expansions and anything else dealing with HD channel growth right here. If we missed an area that you're familiar with, drop us a line in comments so everyone can catch up. The more the merrier, we say! Read - Time Warner Cable launches Smithsonian Channel in high definition Read - Brighthouse Tampa Bay adds Fox News, MLB Network, SPEED, WGN America, CNBC, AMC, Bio, WZRA (Thanks, Kaylan) Read - Comcast adds Speed/FX/Fox News in New Jersey (Thanks, Sriram) Read - Massive Comcast additions coming to Ann Arbor "Soon" (Thanks, Jordan) Read - Verizon adds 8 new HD channels in Tampa Bay (Thanks, Mike)
Canoe's targeted ads set sail for households with income to spend
The six cable companies involved with Canoe Ventures -- Comcast, Time Warner, Cox, Charter, Cablevision and Bright House -- will be turning loose the targeted ad technology that has been in the works for a while now. Especially in the midst of the economic crunch, you just know that tax brackets are going to drive the tailoring of the bespoke ads, which go by the friendly name of CAM (community addressable messaging). Fully interactive ads will have to wait for tru2way, so for now CAM 1.0 will swap in one of two versions of a spot, depending on whether the destination is in a zone designated as "over $100,000." We foresee some interesting water cooler discussions ahead as coworkers report seeing different ads at halftime and thus give away some personal info.
FCC's Martin fines nine carriers on his way out the door
On the eve of his resignation, now-former FCC chairman Kevin Martin got in one last shot against nine of the biggest cable companies -- including Comcast, Time Warner, Cox and Charter -- to the tune of $25,000 each. Citing the MSOs (Multiple System Operators) for failing to respond to the FCC's investigation of how they moved channels from analog to digital tiers, additional fines were then added on, bringing the total damages to all nine companies to a cool $510,000. Top honors go to Time Warner, which racked up a $137,000 bill. Wielding his poisoned pen, Martin wrote that the actions of the MSOs "... exhibits contempt for the FCC's authority," and by forcing customers to pay for digital set-top boxes, "... customers have been receiving less from the cable companies but paying the same price." Strong words, but would we wouldn't expect anything less from the FCC chairman who oversaw some of the biggest changes in telco this country's seen.[Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]
Most markets will be tru2way ready by July 1st
Although you wouldn't know it from the big press events at CES, tru2way is still on track for mass deployment and July 1st is the big day. The six biggest MSOs, signed on to that date some time ago -- it should be noted that Verizon still hates the idea -- and both Time Warner Cable and Comcast are proud to re-iterate that it's actually going to happen. Ten of TWC's 22 divisions have already deployed tru2way boxes -- no 3rd party device support yet -- which is about half of its customers. Comcast has already started supporting 3rd party tru2way boxes in Chicago and Denver back in October and also expects to have every market ready by July. The MSOs also agreed -- in the same Memorandum of Understanding -- that by July, 20% of its own new boxes would be using tru2way as well. So while it appears the MSOs will be ready for tru2way in 2009, based on the announcements at CES, we'll all have to wait until 2010 before we really see the TV manufacturers fulfill their end of the deal.
American Cable Association calls out Viacom's annoying crawl
We're not sure how this demand will be received, but the American Cable Association's argument is simple: if only Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks subs are in danger of losing MTV Networks channels at the stroke of midnight, why are we all bothered with an annoying crawl message? Of course, that plea is couched by statements backing TWC and BHN's reluctance to agree to new higher programming fees, but those of us eagerly anticipating a Miley-Sized surprise during tonight's NYE celebration that have a different provider could do without the interruptions.
Bright House Networks throws FX HD to Michigan subscribers
There's hardly anything more awesome than a belated gift that your weren't even expecting, and that's exactly what has been given to Bright House Networks customers in Michigan. Just days after receiving Biography HD, Golf HD, Versus HD and Hallmark Movie Channel HD, the carrier has added FX HD to the mix on slot 267. Any other stragglers out there you can tell us about, BHN?[Thanks, Dean]
Bright House Networks adding four (good) HD channels in Florida
So, there's great news, and then some not so great news. We'll start you off with the former. Bright House Networks has decided to add SciFi HD (1369), Travel HD (1365), USA HD (1399) and FX HD (1370) to the Central Florida lineup, bringing the total in the area to 40 HD channels. The rub? They won't debut until December 29th, and we all know you'll be focused entirely on college football's bowl bonanza during that time. Still, for non-sports fanatics, there's hardly a better foursome to ask for.[Thanks, Russ]
BHN drops Fort Wayne NBC / ABC affiliates in Grant County, promises more HD
We certainly hope you Grant County residents in Indiana enjoy the Indianapolis anchors, because after this year, that's all you'll be seeing from Bright House Networks. Currently, this sector of the world is in a rare scenario, as its local cable carrier offers locals from both Indianapolis and Fort Wayne. Sadly, the Fort Wayne NBC (WISE-TV) / ABC (WPTA-TV) affiliates will be done away with after December 31st, and BHN's president of Indiana operations says the decision was based on how skewed the ratings were in the direction of Indy's locals. Not all is doom and gloom, however, as the MLB Network will join HD versions of The Weather Channel, Travel Channel, USA, FX and SciFi in the Grant County EPG next month. Six steps forward, two steps back? Deal.
LIN TV and Time Warner Cable strike a retransmission deal
This is one of those rare cases where the headline tells all: TWC and LIN TV have finally agreed to put their differences aside and strike a retransmission deal. In other words, those 17 LIN TV-owned local stations that have been dark for the past few weeks should be back online at any moment. LIN TV's President and Chief Executive Officer Vincent L. Sadusky was quoted as saying that it was "pleased to have reached a fair market agreement with Time Warner Cable," and he continued by calling the deal "a mutually acceptable economic agreement." While we can't imagine he said that with a straight face, we're just glad you folks won't have to rely on any more EPG trickery to watch the (possible) final game of the World Series tonight. Or tomorrow. Or whenever Philadelphia decides to stop acting like Siberia.[Image courtesy of Britannica, thanks Dayton Guy and Brian]
Bright House bigwig acknowledges complaints about Mystro Digital Navigator
Finally, someone inside sees the light. According to quotes from a recent interview with Craig Saari, Bright House's senior director of engineering, he realizes that the Mystro Digital Navigator is patently awful, though he doesn't really have a good reason why Passport was ditched in favor of something that is almost universally despised. After the aforesaid software was rolled out en masse last week in Central Florida, hordes of customers are yelping that more functionality has been lost than gained, and even Saari confessed that the Mystro is much slower to respond to remote inputs. All that being true, the question beckons: "Why?" Why on Earth are providers like BHN and Time Warner Cable switching out the antiquated (but perfectly usable) Passport application for something that's entirely worse? We suppose we'll never know the truth, but at least BHN customers have someone, somewhere working to make things better. Or so they say.Update: So it's possible the new software was implemented for tru2way support. Makes sense, but it doesn't ease the pain of suckage.
New Bright House DVR software rolling out en masse to Central Floridians
A select few Bright House Networks subscribers in Central Florida have already been blessed (if you want to call it that) with the carrier's new "Digital Navigator" DVR software, and for better or worse, it's coming to even more of you soon. BHN has put out an announcement to notify customers in the region that the rollout should hit everyone by the end of this month, and while it claims the new look will make it "easier to find programs, give parents more parental control options and allow Digital Phone customers to have Caller ID displayed on their TV," we know all too well how these refreshes can end up in reality. Unfortunately, we have a feeling most of you won't be enjoying the change.
Bright House snags Big Ten Network, ESPNU HD and CNN HD
Bright House Networks subscribers in Michigan already noticed Big Ten Network on the EPG, but now the carrier has fessed up and confirmed that it will soon be landing in other markets. Additionally, ESPNU HD and CNN HD will be coming along for the ride, though there's no indication of when. Thanks, BHN -- we'll just twiddle our thumbs and hope they show up.[Thanks, Jamie]
Big Ten Networks lands on Bright House Michigan
Comcast, Charter and Time Warner Cable already wrapped up deals in at least some locales to get Big Ten Network out to its subscribers. Now, we've got Bright House Networks in Michigan doing the same. You all know the details by now -- more Big 10 in high-def -- but we're wondering if any other BHN markets got gifted as well. Chime in either way, will you?[Thanks, Dean]
BHN, Time Warner Cable and Blue Ridge Communications join in on Olympics fun
We'd say the flood gates are officially open. Not only are the two major fiber players in America making sure subscribers get their fill of the 2008 Olympics, but a swarm of cable companies are doing the same. Aside from Comcast, Charter, Mediacom and a few others, we've now learned that Blue Ridge Communications will be launching USA HD, CNBC HD, Olympic Basketball HD and Olympic Soccer HD (saywha?) on August 8th. Bright House Networks has revealed plans to light up NBC Universal HD (at least in Michigan), while Time Warner Cable tosses in USA HD and Universal HD for places not already gifted. Gee, thanks guys, you shouldn't have.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in][Image courtesy of Sports Photo]Read - Bright House Networks expansionRead - Time Warner Cable expansionRead - Blue Ridge Communications expansion
Bright House Networks adds a half dozen HD channels in Birmingham, AL
No sooner did Time Warner Cable toss in six new high-def stations in Wetumpka than Bright House Networks has matched it up in Birmingham. With the threat of AT&T's U-verse hanging over the existing cable carriers, BHN has apparently seen fit to add in Discovery HD (659), TLC HD (666), National Geographic HD (667), Food HD (668), HGTV HD (669) and MGM HD (684). Alright TWC, ball's in your court once again.[Thanks, Andrew]
Bright House adds 8 channels for Detroit, MI customers
Almost as good as the ongoing Tigers win streak is the news that Bright House is delivering a new pack of channels to its Motor City-area customers. With the news that half of its digital customers now enjoy HD service, it's launching Discovery HD, Animal Planet HD, The Learning Channel HD, History HD, Science HD, HGTV HD, and Food HD on the basic lineup for no extra charge, while MGM HD jumps onboard the $6.95 optional HD Package. Expect more updates as the company continues to unleash new channels to its customers across the country, so if these aren't exactly the channels you wanted, just wait a minute, they'll change.[Thanks, Dean]
Bright House launches 4 new HD channels in Tampa, Florida
Not like you didn't know three of the four were coming, but a tipster down in the Tampa Bay area just informed us that Bright House Networks has launched four new HD channels in Central Florida. As of now, MGM HD (710), Disney HD (735) and Family Channel HD (736) have been flipped on, and the elusive CNN HD has finally shown up on slot 728. Enjoy![Thanks, Jensen]
Bright House bringing ABC Family / Disney / MGM HD to Central Florida
It said that it would be adding 50 new HD channels by mid- to late-2009, and while three newcomers isn't the hugest of deals, we suppose it has to start somewhere. Bright House Networks has just announced that it will be delivering a new trio to Central Florida: ABC Family HD (1337), Disney HD (1335) and MGM Channel HD (1306). It should be noted that the latter station will only be available to those who subscribe to its $6 / month High Definition Pack, which also includes MOJO HD, HDNet, HDNet Movies, Universal HD and HD Showcase. Nice gesture, BHN, but we're still not totally over that whole CableCARD fiasco.
Bright House CableCARD customers win battle, get their HD channels back
Chalk one up for the little guys. After Bright House Cable ganked a number of HD channels from CableCARD users early last month in "preparation" for the SDV transformation, a chorus of complaints flooded in. Now, it seems as if the carrier has caved, and the channels that were removed (along with the networks added to non-CableCARD lineups) will be redelivered sometime this week. Granted, the jubilation will come to a screeching halt in August / September once SDV is actually implemented, but hopefully a workaround will be available by then to enable switched digital support for CableCARD. Be sure to chime in below once you see the stations come back online, and yeah, we're raising our glasses over here in celebration, too.[Thanks, TiVo Community]
Bright House CableCARD customers lose four HD channels, offered an HD DVR instead
Hey, Bright House CableCARD customers -- remember those eight HD channels that popped online back in September? Turns out, you were only supposed to receive half of 'em, and reportedly, four have actually been pulled after five newcomers were added in late January. According to Arthur Orduna, the senior vice president of product for BHN, it had decided to "not to deliver those channels [HGTV HD, TBS HD, The History Channel HD and Food Network HD] to CableCard customers" as it prepared for switched digital video, and apparently, the cable company is now allowing these very subscribers to trade their beloved CableCARD in for a ho hum HD DVR. Supposedly, this stopgap will enable customers to view the entire HD lineup while they wait for an "external adapter" to be rolled out which will allow CableCARD-ready TiVos to play nice with SDV. Sounds like a pretty complicated mess from here -- anyone down in the Sunshine state dealing with this here dilemma?[Thanks, Celly and David]
