u-verse
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NHL Network HD skates onto AT&T's U-verse TV
AT&T may be raising its U-verse TV rates, but at least it's showing subscribers that all those dollars aren't going to waste (or a bigwig's pocket). Starting this week, both NHL Network and NHL Network HD are being added to the U-verse TV lineup, but you'll need either the U400 tier or The Sports Package in order to view 'em. Catch the action on the ice right now on slot 1638 (HD) / 638 (SD).
Topeka, Kansas gets another pay-TV option: AT&T's U-verse TV
Topeka area residents have been primarily dealing with Cox Communications for years, but according to a new article in The Capital-Journal, AT&T is about to change that. As of now, U-verse TV is available for ordering in select parts of the city, and if you're curious to know if you're one of the lucky few (relatively), hit the read link and surf over to A the carrier's availability checker.[Thanks, Kevin]
Xbox 360 IPTV dream not dead yet
Remember Xbox 360 IPTV rollout? Though the wonderful fantasy of replacing our stodgy cable DVRs with an all-in-one Left 4 Dead playing / channel surfing beast has dried up like a raisin in the sun, Dave Zatz confirmed with Microsoft booth reps that BT is (still) planning on deploying the service, and despite the NXE the UI will retain the look of the current Motorola boxes pictured above. Now that U-Verse has delivered Total Home DVR and upgraded beyond 1 HD stream at a time, maybe they can get to work on this deployment next?
Microsoft unveils all new time shifting, interactive features for Mediaroom IPTV
Throwing some more features towards your local IPTV provider (U-verse this means you), Microsoft's upgraded the Mediaroom platform with Restart Anytime, Live Anytime and Download Anytime network DVR features, making sure silly things like "when something comes on TV" or "whether or not you remembered to schedule the DVR recording" get in between you and your content. Restart shamelessly copies StartOver, restarting a show at any point in its progress, even if you just turned the box on, while Live lets you scroll backwards through the program guide and pull down previously aired TV from the provider's VOD server. Finally Download Anytime pulls in shows or movies ahead of time satellite VOD-style so they can be watched later, despite potentially limited bandwidth. Beyond that, various interactive TV apps will be on demo in the booth this week including Visual Voicemail and TopGear.com but really, we've seen what we need to see.
AT&T to rival TWC with U-verse TV launch in El Paso, Texas
Ruh roh, Time Warner Cable -- AT&T has just encroached on yet another one of your main markets, as U-verse TV will soon be coming to El Paso, Texas. As of now, TWC is the only major pay-TV carrier in the region, so if you're not kosher with a dish, it's currently the one and only option. Of course, U-verse isn't new to the Lone Star state, but we get the feeling that El Paso residents will be singing praises at the sight of new competition. If you're anxious to see what fiber can deliver, call up AT&T and see if your domicile is currently serviceable.[Thanks, Chris and Gabe]
AT&T hiking U-verse TV package rates for new customers... in Wisconsin, anyway
Those of you who reckoned AT&T was simply "above" those ignoble price hikes that cable companies are so famous for have some reality to check. Within the last week and change, the operator has announced that it will be pushing up some U-verse TV prices in February, ditching the whole "free access to Flickr Pro" thing and now, raising rates for new subscribers in the Badger State. According to a new writeup in Madison-based The Capital Times, a company spokesman has affirmed that three of its primary TV packages (U100, U200 and U-family) will increase by $5 per month for new customers, while existing subs will narrowly escape the hike for now. The changes are set to go into effect on February 1, 2009, and of course, they come hot on the heels of Charter's decision to push prices skyward. So much for competition driving prices south, huh?
AT&T's U-verse TV expands to more South Florida homes
AT&T vowed to make its U-verse TV service available to more homes on an ongoing basis when it first launched in South Florida, and expand it has. One tipster down in sunny Ft. Lauderdale just received a postcard in the mail informing him that the service was available for his domicile, and upon investigating, he found that it was actually available now for the majority of Broward County (including Ft. Lauderdale, Deerfield / Pompano Beach, Coconut Creek, Margate, Coral Springs, and Davie). Chances are, you're probably just kicking back enjoying the break anyway -- why not phone up the carrier and see if your address is in the lucky list?[Thanks, Sam]
AT&T pushes U-verse to Lansing, Michigan
Flint and Saginaw aren't too far from Lansing, and apparently it's the latest town in Michigan to get AT&T's U-verse. According to a fiber-craving local who has been plugging his address in for months in hopes of getting good news, he finally got the reply he has been looking for. In at least some parts of the city, U-verse TV and high-speed internet can now be ordered, and we hear Sparty is quite happy to know of the additional competition.[Thanks, Glenn]
AT&T to stop giving U-verse users free access to Flickr Pro
It may be easiest to bang on those cable carriers who all seem to hop on the price hike bandwagon at the same time, but AT&T's making a name for itself in the up, up, up department. Shortly after hearing that a few U-verse TV components would be priced higher come February, we're now clued in to the fact that U-verse users will no longer have gratis access to Flickr Pro. Beginning on January 31, 2009, those currently using a Flickr Pro account will downgraded to the free version of Flickr unless they opt to pay the $25 yearly fee. Who knows -- maybe not enough users were taking advantage? Either way, the news sure bites for those who've been enjoying it on the house.[Thanks, Justin]
AT&T pushing up some U-verse TV prices in February 2009
It was only a few months ago that AT&T struck a nerve with HD subscribers due to a $5 monthly increase for three new channels, and now it seems it's back to the tried-and-true nickle and dime approach once more. Customers are beginning to receive email notifications (posted in full after the break) that beginning February 1, 2009, the monthly rates for a few services will be headed skyward. For starters, those non-DVR U-verse receivers will soon cost $7 per month versus the $5 per month that they cost now. Additionally, the Movie Package will shoot up from $15 to $20 (monthly) and Paquete Español will increase from $10 to $15 (also monthly). Got any other impending hikes we should know about, AT&T?[Thanks, Darrell]
AT&T strings U-verse TV to Columbia, South Carolina
Awake, Gamecock Nation! We know you're already packing up the tailgating gear to head for the Outback Bowl, but you've an important decision to make beforehand. Along with Birmingham and Nashville, the great city of Columbia, South Carolina will also get its first taste of U-verse TV this week. Starting today, select parts of the city will be able to order up the outfit's fiber-based programming service, though no details about which areas were given. You know what that means -- time to make a phone call whilst crossing your fingers.
AT&T plans to more than double U-verse TV availability by 2010
Upping the stakes, are we AT&T? Just weeks after proudly announcing that it had successfully reached its goal of netting one million U-verse TV subscribers before the end of 2008, a tidbit on the outfit's official U-verse portal clearly makes known its plans for future expansion. The operator has been rolling service out to all new areas at a frenzied pace, and now we know why: it's hoping to pass around 30 million living units by the end of 2010. To put that into perspective, U-verse TV is currently available to 14 million living units, meaning that it is aiming to over double availability in just over two years. Good on you, AT&T -- now let's make it happen (and ahead of schedule, if possible).
Nashville, TN grabs AT&T's U-verse TV this week
AT&T just announced that its U-verse services would be introduced in Birmingham, Alabama this week, and it's evidently making a similar rollout across Middle Tennessee. We've been hearing that AT&T was looking to infiltrate the Volunteer State for months on end, and at long last we're finding out that those whispers were legit. According to a recent article in The Tennessean, select parts of Nashville and Middle Tennessee will become the first areas in the state to receive U-verse TV and high-speed internet. The best part of all of this is that AT&T has successful acquired a statewide license to lay service, meaning that it could very well hit more areas in short order. In fact, the operator has already vowed to expand U-verse to "about 60 cities and numerous counties" over the next two years, with "Chattanooga, Memphis, Knoxville and some rural areas" named in particular.[Thanks, anonymous]
Birmingham, Alabama becomes next city to get AT&T's U-verse TV
The siege is on. A mere seven months after AT&T first made clear that it was intent on making Alabama a U-verse state, we've learned within the past week that the services will be coming to Cullman and now Birmingham. Starting tomorrow, U-verse TV and high-speed internet will be available for ordering in select parts of the city, just a week before the Wolfpack of NC State treks down to trample the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers. Stay patient, Alabama -- AT&T's lines should be headed to your hood within the next little while.
AT&T's U-verse survives a year in Columbus, Ohio
Yeah, we said it -- survived. Columbus is one of the toughest markets to be a pay-TV provider in, as you've got competitors coming from pretty much every angle. That said, AT&T has managed to grow its U-verse TV business in the Ohio city over the past year, as it is now available to over 50 communities in the area. Interestingly, the operator doesn't take the time to brag about exactly how many consumers it has here, but we're betting it's a bit less than most regions simply due to the plethora of other options. At any rate, here's your birthday card AT&T, and no, there's no money tucked away after the break.
AT&T finalizes deal to bring U-verse to Cullman, AL
We knew that AT&T was moving in hot and heavy in an attempt to make Alabama its home turf, and now it looks like the plan is beginning to succeed. A recent writeup in The Cullman Times asserts that the deed has been done and that "Cullman, AL residents will soon have their first taste of cable competition." Mayor Max Townson along with the city council "recently approved the final contract agreement with AT&T to provide cable services to city residents," and when said service arrives, it will battle against local mainstay Time Warner Cable for those hard-earned pay-TV dollars. Sadly, no exact launch date was provided, but we are told that the contract will allow AT&T to "turn it on within the next six months to a year."
AT&T hits goal of one million U-verse TV subscribers
Just a day after announcing that U-verse TV was lit in select areas of Raleigh and Orlando, AT&T has reached its long-time goal of securing one million U-verse TV subscribers before the end of 2008. And yeah, the outfit's chief executive of telecom operations totally called this last week, but we're willing to bet he had access to some pretty confidential (and telling) figures. At any rate, the milestone has been hit less than 2.5 years after the service first launched, reaching some 79 major markets in 16 states. Kudos AT&T -- now how's about you get those expansion efforts moving forward at a frantic pace? You know you want two million by July.
AT&T lights up U-verse TV in Orlando, Florida
Back in July, AT&T's U-verse services went live in South Florida. Now, those in the central region (Orlando, more specifically) can finally shake the little brother syndrome and indulge as well. On the same day in which AT&T activated U-verse in the Triangle region of North Carolina, it has begun to sell service to select parts of Orlando. The launch will provide the "first serious threat to Bright House Networks' dominance as the main cable provider in Central Florida," much like it's infringing on TWC territory in NC. Sadly, we're still waiting on confirmation of service areas from AT&T, but you can phone your local retail store to see if any information has leaked out to those channels.
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]
AT&T's U-verse TV goes a year strong in St. Louis, Missouri
Well, wouldn't you know it? Another one year birthday for another locale in AT&T's admittedly small U-verse TV family. As of now, the fiber-based programming service is available to over 355,000 living units in the St. Louis region, including sections of Arnold, Florissant, Manchester, Maplewood, St. Peters and Wellston. As always, the operator has promised to continue expanding the service on an ongoing basis, though we're beginning to wonder when "expand" will refer to something more than just a few miles out of cities already covered. Yes, that's jealousy on our breath -- so?
