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Cable companies following DISH's place-shifting lead?
Word from Multichannel News is that -- particularly in light of DISH's SlingLoaded DVR -- Comcast, Time Warner and Cox are all looking to include place-shifting rights in their latest carriage negotiations, promising subscriber access to their TV content even away from home. Unfortunately it appears their idea is to provide the TV feed over the Internet -- think Fancast and Starz Play -- instead of direct (and likely bandwidth consuming) DVR access. No word on which, if any, networks have agreed to such an arrangement but it does raise the question: would streaming access via PC or cellphone be enough to keep you from switching to satellite?
TWC launches 7 new HD channels in Mid-Ohio "legacy areas"
We'd known that Time Warner Cable was planning something special for the heart of Ohio, and now it's official. The carrier itself has proclaimed that seven new high-def options have arrived in "legacy areas" of Mid-Ohio, which pushes the grand total in the area to 58. As of now, viewers in these regions can find CNBC HD (717), ESPNU HD (723), Bravo HD (744), SPEED HD (756), Toon Disney HD (771), SciFi HD (773) and Adult HD (401) in the program guide. In related news, WTTE HD will be relocating to slot 708, WOSU HD will head to slot 707 and WWHO HD will move to channel 713. Happy surfing!
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.
TWC adds in four HD channels in San Antonio, Texas
While the eyes of geek lovers in San Antonio, Texas may have been focused on CES this week, at least one local realized that a handful of fresh HD channels showed up. Effective immediately, locals can find KSAT HD (112), NBC-WOAI HD (104), Showtime HD (182), Showtime West HD (183), Starz HD (383), Starz West HD (388), TMC HD (186) and Universal HD (164) on the EPG, and if you're into SD content too, hit the read link to have a look at all sorts of new standard-def options. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family][Thanks, Jason]
Time Warner Cable adding four more HD networks in Raleigh, NC
Raleigh, NC residents were pretty satisfied with 20 or so new HD channels at the tail end of last year, but apparently Time Warner Cable is really feeling the pressure from recent entrant AT&T. Now, Triangle citizens can start preparing for four more to hit the EPG on February 13th: USA HD (258), Bravo HD (259), CNBC HD (266) and SciFi HD (267). Don't take this personally TWC, but we appreciate the favor, AT&T. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family][Thanks, Paul]
Time Warner Cable threatens Viacom with the ghosts of Christmas past
Time Warner Cable CEO & President Glenn Britt says don't blame him, blame sliding advertising and falling ratings for Viacom's lost revenue and subsequent Scrooge-style "extortion" of TWC customers to keep MTV Networks on after the ball drops tonight. Beyond the outrageous claim that viewers might be tuning away from My Super Sweet 16 marathons, Britt claims that "penny per subscriber per day" adds up to an unreasonable $39 million, while TWC nobly attempts to keep negotiations going on behalf of its customers. Oddly we find it hard to view either side as thinking of the customer first in this slapfight, but if we miss a single episode of Bromance before things are resolved, there will be hell to pay. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]
TWC drags another half dozen HD channels to San Diego, CA
San Diego, Time Warner Cable is lookin' out for you. Just days after three, then four HD channels dropped in, we've now received word that another half dozen have emerged in the lineup. As of now, locals should be seeing MLB Network HD (789), HBO East HD (610), Showtime East HD (651), TMC East HD (663), Versus HD (741) and Golf HD (767). At this rate, you folks should be well into the thousands by New Year's Eve 2009.[Thanks, Michael]
Viacom stations to go dark on Time Warner Cable
Bad news, Time Warner Cable subscribers. The cable carrier notorious for resisting HD expansion until a competitor rolls into town is getting ready to pull all 19 MTV Networks channels (MTV, Nickelodeon, VH1 and Comedy Central just to name a few, presumably including the HD versions). Viacom has just unleashed a scathing announcement that calls the carrier's refusal to pony up "outrageous," and publicly pleads for its bigwigs to reconsider and open up the checkbook. In essence, Viacom is asking for a fee increase of just under $0.25 per month, per subscriber -- which, admittedly, sounds rather high given the lack of MTV-related content that's a) watchable and b) in high-definition -- but TWC is straight-up refusing. Now, we've no qualms with a provider balking at price increases, but while it's planning to let content vanish from lineups, it's also raising monthly rates by $3 in Raleigh, Orange County, Los Angeles and New York City. Ahem, TWC -- could you bother justifying these hikes by allowing us to keep our content? And don't even come at us with the "we just added more HD!" comment -- after all, you blast us everyday with ads proclaiming that your HD "is free." [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]
TWC lines up eight more HD channels in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus-area TWC subscribers were just blessed with sixteen new high-def channels over the past little bit, and according to a new report from The Columbus Dispatch, these same folks will see eight more in January. There's no mention of what exactly those channels will be, but we are told that the Start Over service has been expanded to eight areas in Central Ohio and should be available to all at the beginning of next year. Oh, and while this is completely unofficial, we'd say you can probably send a thank you letter to AT&T for applying pressure where it counts. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]
Time Warner Cable brings four more HD channels to San Diego, CA
TWC's been hooking San Diego, California up good fashion of late, and just in case you weren't satisfied with what the latest rounds of additions were packing, in comes four more just before Santa sashays down the chimney. As of today, locals will find USA HD (734), CNBC HD (749), SciFi HD (757) and Bravo HD (740) in the EPG, though we'll take the rare opportunity to suggest you hang with the fam for awhile and let these simmer until the in-laws depart. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family] [Thanks, Michael]
TWC to give Southern Manhattan its due HD channels
Admit it, south Manhattan -- you felt totally snubbed by Time Warner Cable's recent announcement that your brethren to the north would soon be getting a whole wheelbarrow full of new high-def content. Thankfully, the suits at TWC have realized that south-siders need clarity too, and it's planning to launch a significant amount of fresh HD channels in February. We can't even begin to cover the full list here, so we'll post it up word for word after the break. We know what you're thinking: February?! [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family][Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
TWC gives New York City a new helping of HD channels
TWC made good on a big promise to update the Big Apple's high-def lineup back in April, and now it's hitting the City up with a second wave that's about half as awesome. Reportedly, the carrier has snuck in over a dozen HD channels to the Northern Manhattan system, while a tipster in Brooklyn found that Crime and Investigation HD, TV One HD, G4HD, CNBC HD, USA HD, SciFi HD , Bravo HD, E! HD and QVC HD were all available as of this weekend. At the rate cable carrier's are adding HD channels this holiday season, don't be surprised to get a NYC-sized bundle yourself. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family[Thanks, John]
TV One HD coming to several TWC / Comcast markets
There doesn't appear to be a set time line in place, but TV One is expected to launch an HD simulcast of its SD network soon on several Comcast / Time Warner Cable systems. The channel, which is a self-proclaimed "entertainment television network for African Americans," will first hit TWC's NYC region and Comcast systems in Boston, Chicago, Portland, OR and Seattle. We're told that more regions should find the HD iteration of the channel beginning in early January 2009, and at least initially, some 20% of the content will be shot and aired in high-def; if all goes well, that figure should rise to 40% by 2010.
TWC brings ABC Family, FX, and SPEED HD to sunny San Diego
TWC may have struck early with two new ones for San Diego back in November, but Cox has been the one laying down the gauntlet of late. To that end, Time Warner Cable is shooting back with a new HD trio for the residents of the California city: ABC Family HD (735), FX HD (752), and SPEED HD (793). We could probably get used to this back-and-forth thing, don't you agree? [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family][Thanks, Michael]
Time Warner Cable adds bundle of HD channels in Southern California
Today's a pretty big day for TWC cable systems all across the country, and just as North Texas was gifted with a bucketful of new networks last night, it seems that many locales in Southern California were hooked up, too. Far too many HD newcomers were added to cover in this space, but for details on exactly what areas will get equipped (and when), follow your nose to the read link. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family][Thanks, Michael]
Time Warner Cable adding 18 HD channels in North Texas
After being forced to wait months upon months to get the HD channels it was rightfully owed (okay, so we made that last bit up), the folks in North Texas are finally being treated properly this time around. According to a Time Warner Cable bulletin posted in the Dallas News, the entire North Texas metroplex -- included Arlington, Carrollton, Dallas, Irving, Garland, Plano, Richardson and Graham (just to name a few) -- is being gifted at once. There are 18 newcomers headed to town, and if all goes to plan, they'll be live just hours after you read this. Hit the read link (or just have a look above) to see what all is on deck. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family][Thanks, Joe]
TWC finally launching HD WBNG-TV (CBS) in Binghamton, NY
We're genuinely, genuinely thrilled for the good people of Binghamton, New York. Despite the fact that Time Warner Cable offers up over 60 high-def stations in the area, folks have been living with an SD version of their CBS affiliate (WBNG-TV) for over two years now. That means SD NFL, SD primetime dramas, etc. At long last, users can pull down their elephant-sized antennas and tune to slot 701, as TWC and Granite Broadcasting Corporation have finally agreed to transmission terms this month. The HD feed of WBNG-TV is set to go live on December 23rd, which in our book, is not a moment too soon. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]
TWC plans new HD additions for Columbus, Ohio
Not that Columbus, Ohio is really lacking in the HD department, but given the intense competition for your pay-TV dollars there, it's no surprise to see Time Warner Cable planning another wave of additions. On or after December 28th, customers in the region will find Adult HD On Demand, CNBC HD, ESPNews HD, ESPNU HD, Bravo HD, Speed HD, Golf HD, USA HD, MLB Network HD, Toon Disney HD and SciFi HD. The carrier is also throwing in PBS Sprout and MLB Network on the SD side, and it's moving around a bunch of existing channels to new slots. For all the dirt, tap the read link.[Thanks, ESavage]
AT&T goes live with U-verse TV in Raleigh, NC area
Be still our hearts! The rumors were indeed true, and U-verse TV has at long last arrived in the Triangle to combat the monopoly that is Time Warner Cable. A breaking report from WRAL has it that the carrier is "offering its U-verse TV service as well as high-speed internet service in the Triangle," but fails to elaborate on specific service areas. We've heard from locals that Cary, NC will be one of the first locations with access, but until AT&T issues its own confirmation, it's hard to say for certain. Obviously, those who sign up will have access to Total Home DVR from day one, and we're told that packages will start at $44 per month. Reportedly, locals can ping local retail stores or head to the carrier's website to apply for access. In related news, TWC is said to be readying more HD channels as well as Start Over functionality and a feature that "allows you to watch shows you missed, up to 48 hours after the program originally aired." Funny -- we suspected that real competition was on the way when 20 some-odd high-def stations showed up on the cable company's lineup in late October. Guess that wasn't too far from the truth.[Via The Wolf Web, thanks Dave]
TWC now handing out tuning adapters in Austin, Texas
We knew that Time Warner Cable was allowing customers in various regions around the country to pre-order their tuning adapter, and tonight we've received the first report of delivery. For those out of the loop, these free adapters enable CableCARD users to tune into any channel that's delivered via switched digital video (SDV); without one, your current TiVo (for example) won't ever be able to see any channel beamed out with the new technology. The lucky locale is Austin, Texas, but we get the idea that other places should be seeing them soon. Give your local TWC office a call, and do report back (bonus points for images) if you've found that your city now has 'em as well. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family][Thanks, Andy]
