A respected Wall Street analyst has suggested that Comcast should buy TWC. (http://blogs.barrons.com/techtraderdaily/2009/09/10/will-comcast-buy-time-warner-cable/) According to the story, "an FCC rule limiting cable companies to 30% U.S. market share has been struck down by a federal court." This is apparently plausible on a nationwide basis. Comcast really is that rich.

Locally, I figured the only salvation for the little ol' Comcast Brunswick MSO and its remaining subs was to have TWC buy it, finish upgrading it and integrate it into the TWC system that surrounds it. But, maybe Comcast will have to spent its own bucks to upgrade the former SusCom cable plant it now owns after all. Ha!

I'm not holding my breath.

Dana

If I were making the decisions for TWC, I would buy Comcast / Brunswick and integrate it into my Statewide network of TWC systems. Of course, I wouldn't buy it now. I would wait until I finished upgrading all of the existing TWC systems in the State and the funding and other resources for the job were fully available.

Oh yeah, I guess that was you, wasn't it? What a coincidence!

When I got the letter about exchanging my cablecard for a box, I got the impression that a number of new HD channels would be added when SDV begins on 9/15. Now, I believe that will not be the case. The newspaper notice says MAV HD will be added and I won't be surprised if it appears 9/15 but I would be surprised if there is anything else. The girl at the TWC counter told me that they have had several different dates for when channels will be added. Most recently, they were told "by the end of the year." They said TWC wants to get the cablecards out and the boxes in before they make the tests to determine how many channels they can add without problems.

For the most part, it's difficult for me to work up much genuine interest, anyway. I am looking forward to FOX NEWS HD and MSNBC, however. Also, FX would make a good entertainment channel to have available. Beyond that, I can't get excited. Wish I could, but can't. Too old, I guess.

I have surfed through all of the digital channels that came with the box about 3 times. That's enough for me. I noted a couple that I might check occasionally. As I recall, they would be the Fox Movie Channel and the Major League Baseball Channel. Hundreds of channels available and only about a dozen (or so) drops to drink ............ or something like that.

Which area is this for, I live in Caribou,ME and we've just had some system maintenance and have Iguide A28 waiting on SDV.

Which area is this for, I live in Caribou,ME and we've just had some system maintenance and have Iguide A28 waiting on SDV.

The Augusta system.

What's the story with TWC? It seems the former Adelphia customers are treated like red-headed step children. Maine isn't that big to have so many different cable systems, how difficult is it to get uniformed? Also 30 HD channels for L/A? Really? Is anything being added? I would order to supplement it my Directv, but can't say it's worth it. If they offered an HD only pack...

I sent HDnet's Mark Cuban an email about the Time Warner/HDnet situation, and here is his response -



"its their call , we cut the price to the bone, and we would love to be there.

call your local office and let them know you are upset

and we are on Satellite, Fios, ATT , RCN if that helps

thx

mark"




So it doesn't sound like we'll see HDnet anytime soon on Time Warner.

Steve

What's the story with TWC? It seems the former Adelphia customers are treated like red-headed step children. Maine isn't that big to have so many different cable systems, how difficult is it to get uniformed? Also 30 HD channels for L/A? Really? Is anything being added? I would order to supplement it my Directv, but can't say it's worth it. If they offered an HD only pack...

TWC is working its way North from extreme Southern Maine making the physical changes necessary for the additional channels. I'm guessing the Lewiston / Auburn area is next, followed by the Augusta area. The job won't be done until they reach the Northernmost border of the State.

The former Adelphia customers receive the channels in the HD tier without an extra charge as part of the Adelphia legacy.

A TWC representative told me that TWC intends to make the Maine systems uniform.

............... Why would you use TWC to supplement DirecTV? From what our pal, Dana, tells us, DirecTV is just about perfect. Ain't that right, Dana?

...
............... Why would you use TWC to supplement DirecTV? From what our pal, Dana, tells us, DirecTV is just about perfect. Ain't that right, Dana?

Well, nothing is perfect. :rolleyes: But, it sure beats the hell out of Comcast Brunswick's cable system. And D* has HDNet and HDNet movies. :cool:

Dana

Does Augusta still have moto boxes?

Well, all, I'm moving on.... Finally got a job after 4+ months of being laid off by Fairchild... I've relocated to Raleigh/Durham NC.... My family is still here -- mortgage is "underwater" so I need to hold off selling it.... So I'll be back now & then...

take care,

joe

Well, all, I'm moving on.... Finally got a job after 4+ months of being laid off by Fairchild... I've relocated to Raleigh/Durham NC.... My family is still here -- mortgage is "underwater" so I need to hold off selling it.... So I'll be back now & then...

take care,

joe

Joe,

Congratulations on finding a job in this economy! We'll miss you. You added a lot to our discussions.

Dana

What's the story with TWC? It seems the former Adelphia customers are treated like red-headed step children.

That's the way the former Adelphia employees have also been treated.

Hey, anyone else think Fox's HD on TWC Portland is "herky jerky"? The flow of the picture skips a bit. Watching Giants game now, noticed it with coverage of The World Series last year also. No other channel does this for me.

Cravenfan, this is a widespread issue with FOX HD and certain Scientific Atlanta cable boxes. Take a look at this thread. (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1163878)

I hope this gets fixed soon as it is making FOX programming nearly unwatchable for me.

Hi guys,

Do you know if there is any possibility thet WMTW might return to Mount Washington with either its main transmitter or a repeater ? I have a house near Sherbrooke, Quebec and can no longer receive WVNY (ABC Burlington VT) since they went to digital with an unbelievably low power. I hear that many people in Eastern Vermont and Northern NH do not get ABC either. A transmitter on top of Mount Washington would be fantastic.

Thanks.

Yagi Bear

Hi guys,

Do you know if there is any possibility thet WMTW might return to Mount Washington with either its main transmitter or a repeater ? I have a house near Sherbrooke, Quebec and can no longer receive WVNY (ABC Burlington VT) since they went to digital with an unbelievably low power. I hear that many people in Eastern Vermont and Northern NH do not get ABC either. A transmitter on top of Mount Washington would be fantastic.

Thanks.

Yagi Bear

There's a discussion here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WMTW#History) of the history of WMTW-TV on the mountain. Looks like the answer is "no."

Dana

OK thanks.
I was thinking that maybe, since NHPTV is considering moving WLED on the mountain, other channels might be interrested and benefit from the larger coverage. However I read somewhere that power supply was a significant problem on Mount Washington. If a major investment is needed to provide power, maybe NHPTV will seek partners up there. I guess I'll wait and see. Who knows...
YB

here we go with this weeks HD additions...

YC: basically more "extra" premiums again this week. matter of fact, they're all premiums. but MAV is finally on the list for those who've asked. now can someone please tell me WTF it is? lol :-D

CC: same as YC last week as far as i can tell seven premiums, style, g4, and WE.

sebago/arundel: pretty decent adds for you guys, finally. scifi, vs, disney xd, bravo, bio, abc fam, and several more.

kinda disappointing aside from the sebago adds. i want my MTV!!! heh. and others. but if half of the "100 hd channels" are gonna be these fringe premiums, then that's gonna suck.

oh... also... conway/middleton has some additions as well, if anyone's interested.

here we go with this weeks HD additions...

YC: basically more "extra" premiums again this week. matter of fact, they're all premiums. but MAV is finally on the list for those who've asked. now can someone please tell me WTF it is? lol :-D

CC: same as YC last week as far as i can tell seven premiums, style, g4, and WE.

sebago/arundel: pretty decent adds for you guys, finally. scifi, vs, disney xd, bravo, bio, abc fam, and several more.

kinda disappointing aside from the sebago adds. i want my MTV!!! heh. and others. but if half of the "100 hd channels" are gonna be these fringe premiums, then that's gonna suck.

oh... also... conway/middleton has some additions as well, if anyone's interested.

http://www.mavtv.com/

Another waste of a channel...tho they do have HD programming which is more than Rural TV HD

Yesterday was the first day of SDV on the Augusta system. I can't say that I noticed a pronounced lag in switching among the HD channels. On the other hand, it SEEMED a little slower and, each time, the selected channel showed a quick flash of the picture and, then, a black screen until the new channel kicked in.

I'm a little vague on my judgements because I don't watch tv on the HD set in the playroom every night. Once the new season starts, there will be more of a reason to go to another room after the evening news.

We didn't pick up any new channels in the SDV switchover, if it actually took place, and the box works ok as a replacement for the cablecard. I did get the basic digital channels with the box and, presumably, there is no increase in the monthly cost. I've made a little list of 4 or 5 channels to check once in a while if there isn't anything else, but for the most part, they are channels that I would not be willing to purchase for a nickel a month.

Yesterday was the first day of SDV on the Augusta system. I can't say that I noticed a pronounced lag in switching among the HD channels. On the other hand, it SEEMED a little slower and, each time, the selected channel showed a quick flash of the picture and, then, a black screen until the new channel kicked in.

I'm a little vague on my judgements because I don't watch tv on the HD set in the playroom every night. Once the new season starts, there will be more of a reason to go to another room after the evening news.

We didn't pick up any new channels in the SDV switchover, if it actually took place, and the box works ok as a replacement for the cablecard. I did get the basic digital channels with the box and, presumably, there is no increase in the monthly cost. I've made a little list of 4 or 5 channels to check once in a while if there isn't anything else, but for the most part, they are channels that I would not be willing to purchase for a nickel a month.

Is there a way in IGuide to tell which channels are SDV?

Is there a way in IGuide to tell which channels are SDV?

I don't know, but I have a list if I can find it. It includes a lot of the premium "extra" channels. I think it is also every one of the HD channels (Augusta, of course). It is intended to be the channels that people watch the least. Actually, the only difference it makes is a reported slight delay in acquiring the channel from the system.

Is channel 6 available on cable now? The signal is gone via off air.

Bunch of new Cinemax HD and HBO HD channels today, and that MavTV...........anything else I'm missing?

Where is my SpikeHD??
LOL


Steve

Well, I received my first TWC bill since turning in my cablecard for a box. A review of the bill and a conversation with a customer service representative produced some good news and some bad news.

TWC changed us from Classic Cable with Road Runner at $105.95 to Watch and Surf at $95.36, an improvement of $10.59. Good, huh? Wait a minute. Now, I am also being charged $4.95 for the 4 HDTV tier channels, which were not charged when I was using the cablecard because I was an Adelphia legacy customer. The cost improvement is, now, $5.64.

My issue is that, although they are only charging $1.75 for the box to match what they were charging for the cablecard, this only lasts for a year and, presumably the price will go to the normal $7.95. When I stop to think that I will soon have a total of 3 HD sets to equip, I am looking at $23.85 per month in box rentals to be able to watch "free HD" on TWC. This will be in addition to Watch and Surf and the 4 channels on HDTV tier.

The implementation of switched digital video makes it necessary, if you want to watch high definition digital television, to use a rental box for every tv in your home and most homes have 2, 3 or more tv sets. This makes the advertising of "free HD" on TWC a false claim, if the HDTV tier channels were not part of the subscription.

TWC does not claim free digital tv, they claim free HD digital. A customer has to pay for standard definition (SD) digital channels via a box rental in order to get "free" HD digital channels. What a gimmick! HD channels are simply additional digital channels, so you ARE paying for the HD channels.

I don't want the box; I don't want the free SD digital channels; I don't want the subscription SD digital channels and I would easily give up the HDTV tier. I only want the "free" HD channels, the SD "analog" channels and the internet.

When I get done checking this all out and comparing cost, I just might make the move to DirecTv.

I have directv hd dvr package. I signed on last year and got the NFL package. I thought it was HD but was SD, so complained and they upped it to HD at no charge. They also gave me the game package which I did not order and it took three months to get that off, so they gave me $10 off for six months (actual charge was less than $25).

So, to date, my charges, which includes the maintenance package, have not exceeded $90 and I get too many channels and lots of HD channels with a two channel HD DVR recorder that has loads of features.

When the smoke settles and I get back to the actual fee, it will be in the $90-$100 range. I was with Comcast and am so glad I made the shift.

Thank you drbonbi.

I just might make the move to DirecTv.

I'm pretty sure the cable companies are the best sales people for DirecTV.

Any Dish Subscribers out there who can receive WPFO 23 Over-The-Air using your Dish Network receiver...is there any information in your Electronic Program Guide?
My EPG just says 'Digital Service', whereas all the other Portland channels and sub-channels have the proper station information. Dish blames it on my (out of market) location. I would like to know if anyone who is actually in the Portland DMA see OTA WPFO channel 023-01 with the correct EPG.

John

I watched my ten year old granddaughter play a soccer game yesterday afternoon - Cumberland vs. Brunswick - on a Brunswick field. A gorgeous fall day. The all-girl team plays quite well as does she, and it's a lot of fun to watch! The players' parents are very well behaved.

So, by the time I got home and turned on the PATS-Jets game, it was in the third quarter. The picture looked overly green to me. Anyone else see the same thing? I quickly went to the NESN Red Sox game and that seemed OK. I didn't stick around for the post-game wrap up so don't know if it cleared up. Channel 13 seems OK this morning.

Dana

Tampa, FL was some nice warm and humid fun! Now I'm on the road again. This time, I'm at the La Quinta Inns and Suites in Portland. Like the "cable" I had last February in Chicago, the remote looks awfully familiar. Can you say Lodgenet? And...like Tampa, four ESPN services. Enough! Isn't there a hotel anywhere that has that city's expanded basic lineup anymore? Ugh! Anyways, here what I get here:

2- WMTW (ABC) channel 8 Poland Spring
3- WGME (CBS) channel 13 Portland
4- WPFO (FOX) channel 23 Waterville
5- WCSH (NBC) channel 6 Portland
7- WCBB (PBS) channel 10 Augusta
9- ESPN 2
10- ESPN Classic
11- ESPN News
12- ESPN
14- VH1
15- USA
16- The Weather Channel [national feed]
17- TNT
18- TBS
19- Syfy
20- Nickelodeon
21- MTV
22- HBO
23- MSNBC
24- Lifetime
25- TLC
26- History
27- FOX News Channel
28- E!
29- Discovery
30- TRU-TV
31- Comedy Central
32- Headline News
33- CNN
34- CNBC
35- Cartoon Network
36- Bloomberg TV
37- ABC Family
38- A&E
39- Food Network
40- Travel Channel
41- HGTV
42- NESN

Notice anything missing? I sure do! Where are WPME-DT (MY) channel 35 of Lewiston/Portland and WPXT-DT (CW) channel 51 of Portland? Is there a real reason why something like Time Warner's expanded basic lineup isn't here?

Hey Skippy...............what's on the list for this week in York County?

Steve

Hey Skippy...............what's on the list for this week in York County?

Steve

honestly not much for york county. qvc and cbs college sports. that's it.

again cc is getting the channels that yc got last week.

as of last week york is officially at 100 hd channels. so for now, i'm assuming we'll be playing catch up to get the rest of the service area to that same level.

IFC in HD is whacked. Not very crisp.

IFC stretches their non-hd programming, making it look horrible. When they do, on occasion, show a movie in hd the picture quality is outstanding.

Anyone notice that MavTV has little or no volume?

I have to crank the volume to even hear it a little bit, then when I switch channels I have to drop the volume super quick or I get blasted.


So 100 HD channels is a gimmick as well, since about 50 of them are HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, and Starz.

Steve

Anyone notice that MavTV has little or no volume?

I have to crank the volume to even hear it a little bit, then when I switch channels I have to drop the volume super quick or I get blasted.


So 100 HD channels is a gimmick as well, since about 50 of them are HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, and Starz.

Steve

That particular angle is not a surprise. Certainly, they are going to count all HD channels as being ........... HD channels. On the other hand, they are of no use to me, since I have no interest in paying for them.

They all play the numbers game. I think D* started it by claiming it had "over 100 HD channels" last year. I don't think that's true unless you count on demand programs that aren't really channels.

I saw a Comcast truck recently in Brunswick with some national advertising on it claiming it had more HD than any other provider. Again, based on video on demand. Here's the actual HD channel list for Brunswick.

425 HBO HD °° ***
446 Cinemax HD East °° ***
449 Showtime HD °° ***
501 WMTW (ABC) HD +
502 WGME (CBS) HD +
503 WCBB (PBS) HD +
504 WCHS (NBC) HD +
507 WPFO (FOX) HD +
521 Discovery HD ++
522 NESN HD ++
523 ESPN 2 HD ++
524 TNT HD ++
525 HD Theater ++
526 ESPN HD ++
527 National Geographic HD +++
528 A&E HD ++
529 Universal HD ++

Now I could live with that list if the subscriber fees Comcast charged were proportionate to their HD listings vs. the competition - even what Comcast offers elsewhere. But, you know it's not. So, my choice is clear in this case.

The footnotes indicate that the channels on this list require a sub to pay more than the minimum for certain tiers.

Dana

Here is the current HD line-up for York County, 99 channels - 27 are premium movie channels, and 5 are in their premium HD tier. And there are still a few good channels missing that we should have in HD......Spike, Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, and HDnet come to mind.


483 The Movie Channel HD
484 Starz Edge HD
485 Starz Kids and Family HD
486 Starz Comedy HD
487 More Max East HD
488 Action MAX - E HD
489 ThrillerMAX East HD
490 W Max HD
491 @ Max HD
492 Outer Max HD
493 Five Star Max HD
494 HBO 2 East HD
495 HBO Family East HD
496 HBO Signature East HD
497 HBO Comedy East HD
498 HBO Zone East HD
499 HBO Latino East HD
500 HBO HDTV East
501 HBO HDTV West
502 Cinemax HD East
505 HD On Demand
506 WCSH 6 HDTV NBC
507 WPFO FOX HDTV
508 WMTW 8 HDTV ABC
510 MPBN
512 CW HD
513 WGME 13 CBS HDTV
517 MYTV HD WPME
518 Biography HD
519 The Movie Channel HD
520 Showtime HDTV East
521 Showtime HD West
522 Showtime 2 East HD
523 Showtime Showcase East HD
524 Showtime Extreme - East HD
525 Starz HD East
526 Outdoor Channel HD
527 New England Sports Network
528 Comcast SportsNet HD
529 TBS HD
530 The Golf Channel HD
531 MAV
532 Smithsonian Channel HD
533 Rural TV HD
534 ESPN-HD
535 Universal HD
536 ESPN2 High Definition
537 NHL Network HD
538 GAME HD
540 MGM HD
541 ESPN News HD
542 Disney HD
543 Toon Disney HD
544 ABC Family HD
545 Discovery Channel HD
546 TLC HD
547 Animal Planet HD
548 Science Channel HD
549 Versus HD
550 Discovery HD Theater
551 TNT HD
552 Palladia
553 A & E HD
554 The Travel Channel HD
555 History Channel HD
556 Food Network HD
557 HGTV HD
558 Lifetime Movie Network HD
559 National Geographic HD
560 CNN HD
561 Fox Business Network
562 CBS College Sports HD
563 Tennis Channel HD
564 Weather Channel HD
565 Bravo HD
567 Cartoon Network HD
568 G4 HD
569 Planet Green HD
570 Style HD
571 We TV HD
574 E! Entertainment Television HD
576 Hallmark Movie Channel HD
577 AMC HD
578 TCM HD
579 Independent Film Channel
580 Encore HD
581 Crime & Investigation Network HD
584 USA HD
585 SyFy HD
586 SPEED HD
587 FX HD
588 ESPNU HD
589 MLB Network HD
593 CNBC HD+
594 Headline News HD
595 MSNBC HD
596 Fox News Channel HD
597 Fuse HD
599 QVC HD



Steve

Here's a switch. According to a column in the Boston Globe, (http://www.boston.com/sports/columnists/wilbur/2009/09/24/sports_bar_sunday_for_much_of_new_england/) Maine is one of only two NE states - Rhode Island is the other - that will see the PATS vs. Falcons game on Sunday at 1 PM on FOX affiliates everywhere in the state. It's on WPFO/FOX 23 here in our market.

Portions of the four other New England states will get the Giants-Bucs game. Apparently the FOX affiliate in Albany, NY has control over what VT., parts of NH and Western MA. viewers will watch at 1 PM. It won't allow an alternate feed to be carried on cable in those states. I'm not sure what satellite carriers will do. D* may get lots of new subscribers to its Sunday Ticket that provides access to every NFL game live.

The Globe writer suggests sports bars will benefit.

CT. has so many Giants fans that getting the PATS game there is a lost cause evidently.

I dare say that FOX station in Albany hasn't heard the end of this tale. What a way to alienate viewers!

Dana

PS. Hawaii gets to see the Pats vs. Falcons game! Go figure.

The closest station to Hartford getting the Patriots on television would be WGGB-DT 40-2 of Springfield, MA. That subchannel is known as FOX 6. I don't get even a hint of it here in New Britain, CT. I do know that WTIC-DT (FOX) in Hartford has the Giants game. Their sister station, WTXX-DT (CW) of Waterbury, is not allowed to air the Patriots game.

Here's a switch. According to a column in the Boston Globe, (http://www.boston.com/sports/columnists/wilbur/2009/09/24/sports_bar_sunday_for_much_of_new_england/) Maine is one of only two NE states - Rhode Island is the other - that will see the PATS vs. Falcons game on Sunday at 1 PM on FOX affiliates everywhere in the state. It's on WPFO/FOX 23 here in our market.

Portions of the four other New England states will get the Giants-Bucs game. Apparently the FOX affiliate in Albany, NY has control over what VT., parts of NH and Western MA. viewers will watch at 1 PM. It won't allow an alternate feed to be carried on cable in those states. I'm not sure what satellite carriers will do. D* may get lots of new subscribers to its Sunday Ticket that provides access to every NFL game live.

The Globe writer suggests sports bars will benefit.

CT. has so many Giants fans that getting the PATS game there is a lost cause evidently.

I dare say that FOX station in Albany hasn't heard the end of this tale. What a way to alienate viewers!

Dana

PS. Hawaii gets to see the Pats vs. Falcons game! Go figure.

Here are the coverage maps for the big three for today's games.
http://www.the506.com/nflmaps/

Skippy, is there anyone you can ask as to when the work begins to add new HD channels to the Augusta system? Presumably, we have been on SDV for a couple of weeks, now. I'm not looking to find out which particular channels are coming, although I'm eagerly anticipating the news channels.

Skippy, is there anyone you can ask as to when the work begins to add new HD channels to the Augusta system? Presumably, we have been on SDV for a couple of weeks, now. I'm not looking to find out which particular channels are coming, although I'm eagerly anticipating the news channels.

Wanna ask about the Aroostook system too? Appreciate it.

Boucher

Wanna ask about the Aroostook system too? Appreciate it.

Boucher

honestly guys, i'm not privy to that info. as i've said before the main focus for now is getting the scientific atlanta areas to 100 hd channels.

as for the remainder of the service area... all i know is "after that". which could mean next week or next year. no idea.

WCSH - anyone know what happened to their OTA signal? It's been gone for a day or so. My free HD is gone ;)

Saw it yesterday and now.

Sure enough, you're right about that. I have two TVs using OTA signals. One has its own tuner and one uses a set-top box. The one with the built-in tuner isn't finding it even after a rescan....time to debug..;)

Found out what the problem was with the OTA signal. Signal strength. Interesting how one tuner could capture the signal whereas the other couldn't. I never move my antenna either. Go figure....

Can anyone help me figure out if I'm remembering wrong? I don't recall before this TV season having Fox 23 drop to SD for station id, but I saw it several times during the Broncos/Cowboys game on Sunday. Is this really something new or did I just not watch enough shows on Fox to see it before? I thought the Fox Splicer made it easy for the local affiliate to overlay graphics on the HD feed, as evidenced by the (ugly) red-and-blue Fox 23 bug during primetime HD programming, so this seems like a step backwards.

Can anyone help me figure out if I'm remembering wrong? I don't recall before this TV season having Fox 23 drop to SD for station id, but I saw it several times during the Broncos/Cowboys game on Sunday. Is this really something new or did I just not watch enough shows on Fox to see it before? I thought the Fox Splicer made it easy for the local affiliate to overlay graphics on the HD feed, as evidenced by the (ugly) red-and-blue Fox 23 bug during primetime HD programming, so this seems like a step backwards.
I noticed that also. These local stations need to get with the rest of the county. Other areas have gotten rid of this issue years ago. Also the issue of the local news and local programing in 4x3 screens is VERY outdated.

I noticed that also. These local stations need to get with the rest of the county. Other areas have gotten rid of this issue years ago. Also the issue of the local news and local programing in 4x3 screens is VERY outdated.

I have noticed some steps forward - WMTW 8 now does station id without dropping to SD. That station was by far the worst because you'd get 1 second of repeated audio when the SD started, and lose 1 second of audio after the switch back to HD. Even the lottery numbers are on the HD feed now, as annoying as they might be.

WCSH 6's promos are HD now, too. (Not the "coming up on news 6 at 11" ones, but the "This man/woman is on the news, so he/she is similing at the camera" ones ;) )

Can anyone help me figure out if I'm remembering wrong? I don't recall before this TV season having Fox 23 drop to SD for station id, but I saw it several times during the Broncos/Cowboys game on Sunday. Is this really something new or did I just not watch enough shows on Fox to see it before? I thought the Fox Splicer made it easy for the local affiliate to overlay graphics on the HD feed, as evidenced by the (ugly) red-and-blue Fox 23 bug during primetime HD programming, so this seems like a step backwards.

The Fox splicer allows for only a bug in the corner and an ID. Things like crawls or other graphics require the station to drop to SD.

- Trip

Something was screwy with WTIC-DT (FOX) channel 61 in Hartford during Family Guy, as it relates to this. Their station ID popped up at the bottom center and you couldn't even see the "WTIC-DT Hartford/New Haven" graphic under the "FOX 61" logo. FOX then put up a quick mention of the LCS (baseball) playoffs and the date. Just afterwards, WTIC puts their tiny "FOX 61" bug in the bottom right over the black pillar bar (since the show is in 4:3). There was then a tiny picture jitter and the audio hesitated just slightly. Strange!

WMTW is looking pretty good these days. I think a couple of months ago they either tweaked their encoder or got a new one, because all of my big issues with their picture quality disappeared sometime in August.

For the technically minded, this trade journal (http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/357421-Level_3_Tests_Uncompressed_HD_For_NFL_Feeds.php) story provides some interesting info about a test underway this NFL season of "... the delivery of uncompressed high-definition feeds of Denver Broncos home games from Invesco Field to the broadcaster carrying the game, using (a) national fiber-optic network."

Read the story for all the technical details. This is not pie in the sky stuff.

After monitoring it during the first three quarters of the Sept. 20 game between the Broncos and Cleveland Browns, the network did go to the uncompressed feed during parts of the fourth quarter.

“It looked wonderful,” says Bob Mincieli, director of broadcast operations for CBS Sports. Mincieli says that if the uncompressed link looks as good in pre-game monitoring this Sunday, CBS is likely to use it again during the pivotal matchup between the Broncos and the New England Patriots.

The PATS-Broncos game by the way is at 4 PM tomorrow (Sunday) on WGME TV (CBS) channel 13 in this market.

Dana

For the technically minded, this trade journal (http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/357421-Level_3_Tests_Uncompressed_HD_For_NFL_Feeds.php) story provides some interesting info about a test underway this NFL season of "... the delivery of uncompressed high-definition feeds of Denver Broncos home games from Invesco Field to the broadcaster carrying the game, using (a) national fiber-optic network."

Read the story for all the technical details. This is not pie in the sky stuff.



The PATS-Broncos game by the way is at 4 PM tomorrow (Sunday) on WGME TV (CBS) channel 13 in this market.

Dana

The article describes how the signal would be delivered to CBS in New York (via fiber rather than satellite). The transmission from New York to Portland would still be by satellite, which would still require the usual compression, it would seem. Perhaps, the improvement is that the New York headquarters has a better picture to begin the process of providing a (compressed?) satellite signal to its affiliates.

Maybe, there will be an additional explanation during the game.

Thanks for the info.

The article describes how the signal would be delivered to CBS in New York (via fiber rather than satellite). The transmission from New York to Portland would still be by satellite, which would still require the usual compression, it would seem. Perhaps, the improvement is that the New York headquarters has a better picture to begin the process of providing a (compressed?) satellite signal to its affiliates.

Maybe, there will be an additional explanation during the game.

Thanks for the info.

Stan,

Yes, the same thought crossed my mind. But, I guess the fewer compression stages the better. If the signal gets to New York hqtrs in better shape than usual, perhaps we'll also benefit down the line.

Dana

I can't say that the picture for the game looked any different than usual.

I can't say that the picture for the game looked any different than usual.

I thought it looked GREAT, but I'm a Broncos fan. :D

I agree, though, that there wasn't a noticeable improvement on PQ for this game - but the NFL games on WGME always look great, so I'm not complaining.

Well, the big move IS on. Many HD channels have been added to the Augusta system. I saw some of them last night and I just saw more on the TWC internet channel listing for Augusta, so I imagine I will see those as well when I turn on the set this evening.

The only wrinkle is that Fox and MSNBC news channels were not on the list, but I think they will be coming along because they have them on the Cumberland listing. I would rather have those 2 channels along with CNN than any of the others. They are just probably saving the best for last.

The folks in Waterville and Bangor are next on the list, I would think.

Wrong!!!! The additional channels that were listed on "ZAP 2 IT" were not on last night. The channels they added a couple of days ago were still there, but we'll have to wait for the others, I guess. USA is one of the channels according to the list and that can have something every now and then. FX wasn't listed, but it would be a worthy addition. Still hoping for FOX NEWS and MSNBC.

Wrong!!!! The additional channels that were listed on "ZAP 2 IT" were not on last night. The channels they added a couple of days ago were still there, but we'll have to wait for the others, I guess. USA is one of the channels according to the list and that can have something every now and then. FX wasn't listed, but it would be a worthy addition. Still hoping for FOX NEWS and MSNBC.

Although Zap2It is supposed to be the "last word' on TV listings, I have had problems with its accuracy in the past. I use TitanTV (http://www.titantv.com/default.aspx) instead.

Nonetheless, the HDTV lineup that apparently is migrating to many of the TWC cable systems is impressive. Poor Comcast Brunswick subs.

Dana

Although Zap2It is supposed to be the "last word' on TV listings, I have had problems with its accuracy in the past. I use TitanTV (http://www.titantv.com/default.aspx) instead.

Nonetheless, the HDTV lineup that apparently is migrating to many of the TWC cable systems is impressive. Poor Comcast Brunswick subs.

Dana

I have to say that Zap2It was really quick in listing the channels that were added and TOO quick in listing the channels that were not added. Probably, TWC informed them of their plans and, then, couldn't maintain the schedule.

Well, the big move IS on. Many HD channels have been added to the Augusta system. I saw some of them last night and I just saw more on the TWC internet channel listing for Augusta, so I imagine I will see those as well when I turn on the set this evening.

The only wrinkle is that Fox and MSNBC news channels were not on the list, but I think they will be coming along because they have them on the Cumberland listing. I would rather have those 2 channels along with CNN than any of the others. They are just probably saving the best for last.

The folks in Waterville and Bangor are next on the list, I would think.


Aroostook is on Tap for 15 in the next two weeks. thats alot for us.

Aroostook is on Tap for 15 in the next two weeks. thats alot for us.

How were you able to find out?

How were you able to find out?

A tech on the phone said that by November 15 we would have 15 new HD channels and A hundred by the end of the year. The list included discovery, nat geo, disney, disney xd, abc family, tlc to name a few.

TWC just added a bunch of new HD channels this morning.

News from the Bangor thread.

Dana

Well, boys and girls, it HAS taken place. TWC Augusta, now, offers 62 bright and sparkling high definition channels. I have to confess that it was a tiny bit exciting to surf my way through them several times last night. They look really good and come up quickly with the switched digital video. ................ We have come a long, long way since that day in January 1953 when WABI channel 5 logged on with their 5,000 watt signal and we peered through the snow at the new wonder in our lives.

There is just one very important step left to take and that is to add newschannels MSNBC, CNN HEADLINE and, of course, FOX NEWS. That will make the job complete as far as I am concerned.

Lookin' good in Central Maine!

Well, boys and girls, it HAS taken place. TWC Augusta, now, offers 62 bright and sparkling high definition channels. I have to confess that it was a tiny bit exciting to surf my way through them several times last night. They look really good and come up quickly with the switched digital video. ................ We have come a long, long way since that day in January 1953 when WABI channel 5 logged on with their 5,000 watt signal and we peered through the snow at the new wonder in our lives.

There is just one very important step left to take and that is to add newschannels MSNBC, CNN HEADLINE and, of course, FOX NEWS. That will make the job complete as far as I am concerned.

Lookin' good in Central Maine!

Stan,

As a one time resident of Bangor and Old Town, let me advise you where "Central Maine" really is. As a former resident of Gardiner, I'd have to say you are "up river" from Bath. ;)

In any event, TWC has certainly delivered the HD "goods." With Comcast Brunswick continuing to offer a paltry dozen or so HD channels (at the same price as TWC), it is an embarrassment. I hope for its subscribers that it merges with TWC ASAP.

Dana

Apparently, (according to word of mouth in a small sample) there is a wide spread outage involving several towns in the 11 community Comcast Brunswick service area. Folks evidently have been without cable TV or internet service for the last two days.

Nothing about it in the Brunswick Times Record newspaper. Comcast is a big advertiser so only good news gets reported there.

Dana

I was without comcast internet for over 16 hours. It got restored at least for us at around 2 pm. Did not have any probs with the cable side


Chris

I was without comcast internet for over 16 hours. It got restored at least for us at around 2 pm. Did not have any probs with the cable side

Chris

Thanks, Chris. My daughter who lives in Brunswick on the River Road near Rocky Hill has been without cable (both) for two days and was still out late this afternoon.

Dana

Thanks, Chris. My daughter who lives in Brunswick on the River Road near Rocky Hill has been without cable (both) for two days and was still out late this afternoon.

Dana

I'm sorry to hear that. Comcast has allowed their system to go downhill. If they keep this up they will have no customers.

Chris

I'm sorry to hear that. Comcast has allowed their system to go downhill. If they keep this up they will have no customers.

Chris

Yes, you are right on both counts. My son went to work this AM and heard the same from coworkers in other towns. I saw a Comcast truck working for quite a while on Bailey Island today, but don't know if this area is affected since I'm on D* for TV and Fairpoint DSL for internet.

Dana

Apparently the Comcast problem is with internet, not cable TV. Sorry. :o

Comcast never has migrated off of the suscom-maine.com internet service (provided by gwi.net). Just another example of a "holding action" on its part while Comcast tries to unload the Brunswick MSO.

Dana

Any word on Spike HD coming to TWC soon?

We just got PPV HD last week........that will be good for the UFC fights.

Steve

The Brunswick Times Record did attempt to report on the midcoast area cable internet problems in its Wednesday (http://www.timesrecord.com/articles/2009/10/28/news/doc4ae87d17d290e386804732.txt) edition.

No help from Comcast, however.

Attempts to reach a representative of the company — seeking details on how many clients lost service, for how long and what the cause of the outage was — did not elicit a response by press time today.

Typical. So the paper did the best it could.

Based on anecdotal reports provided by readers throughout the Mid-coast region, the cable Internet blackout stretched from Freeport in the southwest to Wiscasset in the northeast. Topsham residents were among those to first report losing service on Monday evening, while some cable Internet clients, such as those in downtown Bath, were not reconnected until after 6 p.m. Tuesday. The outtage also affected The Times Record's web site, preventing editors from updating web site content until the following morning.

GWI provides the Comcast mid-coast cable internet service using suscom-maine.net as the domain, a holdover from the days when the cable company was owned by Suscom. Since direct customers of GWI's own branded internet service also were without a connection to the internet, it's a likely conclusion that it caused the outage. No thanks to Comcast for providing any explanations, however.

No information about outages was posted on the GWI web site.

Dana

Internet is still not working properly in Topsham. Service was restored Tuesday night but was down all day yesterday. Since being restored last night we are still have drop outs in service about every 15 minutes that last 5 to 10 minutes at a time. For example I had to wait 10 minutes to post this. This is a real problem for those of us who use vonage. As usual the only info we can get from Comcast is a recording that they are aware of the problem :(

Things are confused here. GWI does not provide internet service to CC, they may not even provide email service anymore. I was told, when I shifted to D* and GWI for both internet and email that were in the process of shifting email to CC and they no longer would be supporting CC.

It seems it was the web that was disrupted, so I cannot see how GWI is at fault. I never lost anything.

Things are confused here. GWI does not provide internet service to CC, they may not even provide email service anymore. I was told, when I shifted to D* and GWI for both internet and email that were in the process of shifting email to CC and they no longer would be supporting CC.

It seems it was the web that was disrupted, so I cannot see how GWI is at fault. I never lost anything.

Hmm. Well, as I noted earlier, I'm on what was Verizon 7 meg DSL service now unfortunately Fairpoint. (Don't touch a thing; it's working.) And my internet service hasn't been interrupted at all. So, don't accept the excuse that the entire internet was disrupted 'cause it wasn't. ;)

I based my comments about GWI being at fault because the newspaper reported that the Brunswick town office was without internet service and they apparently are supported by GWI. I'll believe that Comcast itself is providing email service to its cable customers when they drop the suscom-maine.net domain. But, you may be on to something if Comcast email support is migrating from GWI to another behind-the scene provider. That might account for the disruption.

We can all agree that confusion is rampant. I'm sorry that Topsham is still a trouble spot.

Dana

An update on the Times Record web page to which I linked above reports the following:

Marc Goodman of Comcast issued the following statement on Wednesday afternoon:

“Our Brunswick area Internet service customers experienced a technical malfunction that took longer than expected to resolve and repair.

We worked aggressively to fix this problem that affected our Brunswick Internet customers as soon as possible in this highly unusual event.

We’re investigating what happened, and if appropriate, will take steps to ensure that this doesn’t happen again.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.”

From prior contacts, I recognize Marc Goodman as a PR person for Comcast in its Boston area office.

Dana

An update on the Times Record web page to which I linked above reports the following:



From prior contacts, I recognize Marc Goodman as a PR person for Comcast in its Boston area office.

Dana

Boy, Comcast isn't going to get away with much where you're concerned, Dana. I feel sorry for those poor buggers. They have you in hot pursuit!

Seriously, these cable companies seem to be very reluctant to offer information on anything. I suppose they think that if they offer information, it will only stimulate more questions and comments from their customers.

It's my impression, however, they would be better off in the long run to get out front in everything that might interest their customers. Staying quiet or, at least being reluctant to talk causes people to assume the worst. The cable companies are important members of the community in that they directly affect the daily lives of people in a very significant way. Good and honest back and forth communication would win friends and influence people and create happier customers.

The sad thing is that they probably think they are communicating effectively with websites and newspaper notices, but they are not. The info you see at those sources is guarded, limited and inaccurate. People would really like to know what is going on and not have to make like an agent of the CIA in order to find out.

Stan

I agree completely about damage control. Openness and factual answers go a long way to clear things up and kill speculation in its tracks. I think it's characteristic of Comcast at least that there is no one authorized to talk to the press north of Boston. The local Brunswick office manager is responsible for sales and payment collections - and not much else. If there's a service manager, it's not publicized.

Telephones are answered by reps in far away places with no knowledge of the local scene. We may never know what happened.

Even when we were in email contact a few years ago with Mary, the Comcast area V-P (in NH), she was guarded in her comments. It's a big outfit with lots of layers. I suspect being a V-P with Comcast is like being a bank V-P; the title sounds impressive until you find out how many there are.

I could call GWI and see what they know. They are excellent with customer service and info. But, I am no longer their customer so it's really a fishing trip.

Of course Fairpoint is no prize either, but at least we have the PUC to call. With Comcast there is really no oversight. The PPH local area reporter called the Freeport town official who handles its contract with Comcast to ask what he knew. Answer: nothing. (The reporter wrote a little note on the PPH web site to show that he tried, I guess, but the answer is buried in bureaucracy. Collaring a line crew member might be the only way to get an honest answer.)

Dana

Been a while since I posted, Up here in L/A area has been a 2 week process but we seem to have all the new HD channels here now. I am very impressed with the quantity and quality of the channels. Just looking for SpikeHD and I am really missing HDnet and HDnet movies from the switcheroo. I quickly called and cancelled the HDTV Tier after that happend. I only found about about the upgrade coming by one of my SA boxes crapping out and going to the Lewiston Office and switching it out about 5 weeks ago. I must of got another areas new box because everything didnt match up for channels and I had to call the customer service line and got a real cool rep who clued me in on the upcoming upgrade and re hit my box. Anyway my point is why cant TWC let customers know whats coming or in the process via billing or e-mail? I bet alot of customers were lost due to this lack of communication and switched to DTV or DISH due to the amount of time we had to wait to get these HD channels. If customers just got a simple e-mail I bet lots of customers could have been retained. I was very close to switching back to DTV then this upgrade came.
Good job TWC but you need to communicate.

I called GWI and they do not have anything to do with CC any more. They did support suscom email but not the web. They were not involved with CC and its loss of service.

As noted, when I shifted from CC to GWI, I had to deal with CC to transfer my email to GWI, which CC botched royally. I still have a "we will call you right back" that has not happened. Just gave up.

I have nothing but good things to say about GWI. Great tech support 24/7.

I called GWI and they do not have anything to do with CC any more. They did support suscom email but not the web. They were not involved with CC and its loss of service.

As noted, when I shifted from CC to GWI, I had to deal with CC to transfer my email to GWI, which CC botched royally. I still have a "we will call you right back" that has not happened. Just gave up.

I have nothing but good things to say about GWI. Great tech support 24/7.

Yes, I agree. My experience with GWI was excellent. I'd still be with them if they offered a higher speed DSL internet here. But, they don't have their own equipment at this switch house and are limited to what Fairpoint will share with them - which isn't much. After Fairpoint took over from Verizon, GWI now can offer only dialup here. GWI was a cooperative service partner with Verizon but has been treated badly by Fairpoint, according to GWI's president in a public statement.

I did some research of my own last night including a WHOIS (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WHOIS) lookup that traces the suscom-maine domain back to two gwi servers and a third to tucows. I came across unofficial statements that GWI has moved its email support to tucows. It is possible that GWI has a contractual commitment not to disclose its support for Comcast. It was a silent partner when it supported Suscom Brunswick's internet before Comcast acquired it.

Since all internet traffic moves over phone lines at some point in time, it's entirely possible that Fairpoint was involved in the interruption.

This is all speculation on my part, exactly what Stan noted would not happen if Comcast was more forthcoming. As it is, Comcast internet customers may be looking for a more reliable internet host since they are left with an apology but no explanation.

Dana

Oh my gosh! The eagle has landed! TWC Augusta has added still more HD channels and at long last they include FOX NEWS, MSNBC and Headline News. Now, the HD lineup has CNN, FOX Business News, CNBC, CNN Headline News, FOX NEWS and MSNBC all side by side on the "dial." Man, I am in pig heaven. Maybe I'll spring for one of them HD recorder things for 24, The Office, The Big Bang Theory and a couple of the others that I like and play them on weekend evenings when the news channels seem to be at low ebb.

I think we, now, have all of the additions that we are going to have for a while. I have compared the Augusta system listing against the Portland listing and they are the same. Actually, there are only 22 channels left in the 700 series that TWC uses for HD. We have 78 channels available and I receive 66 of them. That seems to be plenty for me. I will probably only use about 20 at the most, anyway.

Things are looking good on the tv front.

Yes, I believe that cable companies and, I suppose, satellite companies do themselves far more harm than good when they do not offer a constant flow of honest, staight-forward information. As I indicated earlier, the sad part is that they probably believe they are doing that already, but they most certainly are not.

The old duffers that I hang out with were completely unaware this morning that a very large number of new HD channels had been added beginning 2 weeks ago. They didn't even know that TWC was working on delivering more channels. It seems to me that a small press release other than the standard fine print legal notice might have been in order and would have served to sort of warm-up the audience for what was coming.

Of course, I'm sure that TWC would say that they were concerned that the system might not have been able to handle all of the additional activity and that TWC would be seen as having failed and unable to deliver. This fear might be justified, but by the same token, I'm sure that they have lost many customers to Direct TV and Dish by not being aggressive in supplying information. Some people just won't wait when they cannot acquire information regarding the company's plans. ......... I waited because I just don't care all that much and would prefer cable in the long run, anyway. It was an irritating wait, however.

Oh my gosh! The eagle has landed! TWC Augusta has added still more HD channels and at long last they include FOX NEWS, MSNBC and Headline News. Now, the HD lineup has CNN, FOX Business News, CNBC, CNN Headline News, FOX NEWS and MSNBC all side by side on the "dial." Man, I am in pig heaven. Maybe I'll spring for one of them HD recorder things for 24, The Office, The Big Bang Theory and a couple of the others that I like and play them on weekend evenings when the news channels seem to be at low ebb.

I think we, now, have all of the additions that we are going to have for a while. I have compared the Augusta system listing against the Portland listing and they are the same. Actually, there are only 22 channels left in the 700 series that TWC uses for HD. We have 78 channels available and I receive 66 of them. That seems to be plenty for me. I will probably only use about 20 at the most, anyway.

Things are looking good on the tv front.

Well, I would say so!

Contrast that with the nine (count 'em, nine!) HD cable channels and five HD broadcast channels offered by Comcast (plus three HD movie channels if you want to pay for HBO, Cinemax and Showtime to get them) and one can see why Comcast in the mid-coast is not even close to being comparable.

And, as far as I know, there is no hope for improvement. Comcast wants to sell it "as is."

Dana

Well, I would say so!

Contrast that with the nine (count 'em, nine!) HD cable channels and five HD broadcast channels offered by Comcast (plus three HD movie channels if you want to pay for HBO, Cinemax and Showtime to get them) and one can see why Comcast in the mid-coast is not even close to being comparable.

And, as far as I know, there is no hope for improvement. Comcast wants to sell it "as is."

Dana

You know, Dana, it seems that I recall reading back when the big change in ownership of cable franchises took place, TWC was supposed to take over that Brunswick franchise after they completed the full process of taking over (and improving?) the Adelphia franchises.

The way things move, however, makes me think that it will be at least next summer before anything happens with Brunswick. They sure are getting a bad break in that area. Reportedly, Brunswick was supposed to be a major growth area from the Portland spillover, but I would think this might make things a little less attractive for people.

It's a long sad story but rather than expect new readers to go back on this thread 50 pages to catch up, I'll summarize.

There was speculation at the time of the TWC acquisition of Adelphia in 2006 that it would make sense for TWC to absorb Comcast mid-coast, too. TWC surrounds the 11 community Comcast territory. The two buyouts were not related of course. TWC's acquisition of Adelphia nationally because of Adelphia's bankruptcy was not connected to Comcast's purchase of Suscom's cable operations in York, PA., (the primary acquisition target) although the two happened coincidentally about the same time. Suscom's cable plants in a few small communities elsewhere were included in the purchase by Comcast. (SusCom was owned by the Pfaltzgraff family and after the death of a family member, the survivors decided to sell its cable holdings.)

The then-Maine AG grumbled that if there were any more consolidations of cable plants under one owner, he's investigate. (He had political aspirations which motivated his remarks, I think.)

At the time, Comcast insisted that it would integrate the former Suscom-Maine cable operation into the Comcast "backbone." It would look like any other Comcast cable operation such as the one serving Kittery and the Berwicks. But, it never happened. Then, in 2008 it was leaked that Comcast had 46 small, rural cable plants nationally it wanted to sell and the mid-coast Maine plant was included on the list. Meanwhile, Comcast has done nothing to finish the cable plant upgrade that SusCom-Maine had almost completed before it was sold.

A lot of Comcast cable subs fled to satellite providers when Comcast failed to add WPFO/FOX 23 to its HD lineup in time to watch the Red Sox in the World Series in 2007. The excuse given at the time was technical. "Bandwidth constraint." Somehow, after bleeding subs, Comcast overcame its technical problems and added WPFO/FOX 23 in HD in time to watch the PATs in the 2007 Superbowl.

By then I had left Comcast in disgust. My great expectations were dashed. I rejoined D* and have never regretted it.

Not all mid-coast residents can switch to satellite providers for TV. Sometimes there are terrain problems, big trees, etc., blocking access. Availability of broadband internet service by telephone is sketchy. Internet access by satellite (not the same providers as TV) is expensive and not the equal of cable or DSL I am told.

Comcast mid-cost Mainers are entitled to the same level of cable TV and internet access that their neighbors get from TWC. They pay the same rates for inferior service.

Dana

Been a while since I posted, Up here in L/A area has been a 2 week process but we seem to have all the new HD channels here now. I am very impressed with the quantity and quality of the channels. Just looking for SpikeHD and I am really missing HDnet and HDnet movies from the switcheroo. I quickly called and cancelled the HDTV Tier after that happend. I only found about about the upgrade coming by one of my SA boxes crapping out and going to the Lewiston Office and switching it out about 5 weeks ago. I must of got another areas new box because everything didnt match up for channels and I had to call the customer service line and got a real cool rep who clued me in on the upcoming upgrade and re hit my box. Anyway my point is why cant TWC let customers know whats coming or in the process via billing or e-mail? I bet alot of customers were lost due to this lack of communication and switched to DTV or DISH due to the amount of time we had to wait to get these HD channels. If customers just got a simple e-mail I bet lots of customers could have been retained. I was very close to switching back to DTV then this upgrade came.
Good job TWC but you need to communicate.


I have a feeling it's going to be a long time until we see HDnet again on TWC. As I posted earlier in this thread, I emailed Mark Cuban about this, and he said it's TWC's fault that this all happened............money, money, money.

I would really like to see Spike HD, Comedy Central HD, and MTV HD. Once those come on, I will never have to stray out of the "500" channels again.

Steve

It's a long sad story but rather than expect new readers to go back on this thread 50 pages to catch up, I'll summarize.

There was speculation at the time of the TWC acquisition of Adelphia in 2006 that it would make sense for TWC to absorb Comcast mid-coast, too. TWC surrounds the 11 community Comcast territory. The two buyouts were not related of course. TWC's acquisition of Adelphia nationally because of Adelphia's bankruptcy was not connected to Comcast's purchase of Suscom's cable operations in York, PA., (the primary acquisition target) although the two happened coincidentally about the same time. Suscom's cable plants in a few small communities elsewhere were included in the purchase by Comcast. (SusCom was owned by the Pfaltzgraff family and after the death of a family member, the survivors decided to sell its cable holdings.)

The then-Maine AG grumbled that if there were any more consolidations of cable plants under one owner, he's investigate. (He had political aspirations which motivated his remarks, I think.)

At the time, Comcast insisted that it would integrate the former Suscom-Maine cable operation into the Comcast "backbone." It would look like any other Comcast cable operation such as the one serving Kittery and the Berwicks. But, it never happened. Then, in 2008 it was leaked that Comcast had 46 small, rural cable plants nationally it wanted to sell and the mid-coast Maine plant was included on the list. Meanwhile, Comcast has done nothing to finish the cable plant upgrade that SusCom-Maine had almost completed before it was sold.

A lot of Comcast cable subs fled to satellite providers when Comcast failed to add WPFO/FOX 23 to its HD lineup in time to watch the Red Sox in the World Series in 2007. The excuse given at the time was technical. "Bandwidth constraint." Somehow, after bleeding subs, Comcast overcame its technical problems and added WPFO/FOX 23 in HD in time to watch the PATs in the 2007 Superbowl.

By then I had left Comcast in disgust. My great expectations were dashed. I rejoined D* and have never regretted it.

Not all mid-coast residents can switch to satellite providers for TV. Sometimes there are terrain problems, big trees, etc., blocking access. Availability of broadband internet service by telephone is sketchy. Internet access by satellite (not the same providers as TV) is expensive and not the equal of cable or DSL I am told.

Comcast mid-cost Mainers are entitled to the same level of cable TV and internet access that their neighbors get from TWC. They pay the same rates for inferior service.

Dana

The only place where I would differ is the "entitlement" angle. It would seem that you are only entitled to what your provider offers for sale and you agree to pay for. You were not happy with your entitlement and went elsewhere. So would I. It's hard to believe that a cable company would offer so little and hope to compete.

Otherwise, you sure know the history of what took place. Still, in the back of my mind I am thinking that I saw something that said TWC and Comcast had full intentions to straighten out the orphans left around the country and that involved more than the orphans from Adelphia. In other words, they didn't want to leave systems intermixed with large areas that one or the other dominated.

On the other hand, mine is probably only wishful thinking for the people in your area as opposed to fact. I hope that someone picks up the cable ball in your locale.

I have a feeling it's going to be a long time until we see HDnet again on TWC. As I posted earlier in this thread, I emailed Mark Cuban about this, and he said it's TWC's fault that this all happened............money, money, money.

I would really like to see Spike HD, Comedy Central HD, and MTV HD. Once those come on, I will never have to stray out of the "500" channels again.

Steve

Ah, the Comedy channel! That would be a good one and I hope TWC finds room to sneak it in on my system.

The only place where I would differ is the "entitlement" angle. It would seem that you are only entitled to what your provider offers for sale and you agree to pay for. You were not happy with your entitlement and went elsewhere. So would I. It's hard to believe that a cable company would offer so little and hope to compete.

Otherwise, you sure know the history of what took place. Still, in the back of my mind I am thinking that I saw something that said TWC and Comcast had full intentions to straighten out the orphans left around the country and that involved more than the orphans from Adelphia. In other words, they didn't want to leave systems intermixed with large areas that one or the other dominated.

On the other hand, mine is probably only wishful thinking for the people in your area as opposed to fact. I hope that someone picks up the cable ball in your locale.

"Entitlement" was a poor word choice. Nobody is "entitled" to anything in this life. "Deserve" may be a better word. If a Comcast customer pays the same amount for TV service as a TWC customer, he or she deserves to get the equivalent number of channels.

You may be on to something about TWC and Comcast "straightening things out." I recall a couple of years ago there was speculation along these lines. Trading territories nationally. At the time I think it had more to do with rationalizing the territories TWC picked up from Adelphia. I haven't heard anything about it this year.

Dana

I spotted this announcement on the Freeport town web site. (http://www.freeportmaine.com/news.detail.php?news_id=141).

November 2, 2009

NOTICE TO COMCAST CUSTOMERS

For those customers who experienced an interruption in their internet/e-mail service last week, Comcast will rebate $10 to those customers who call and ask for the rebate.

The $10 figure is above the actual lost time cost. The calculation they used is as follows:

Average monthly CHSI cost $53.95 for the 7 MB service, which is roughly
$1.79 per day
Each subscriber was allotted 5 days out of service (even though it was less) It was then rounded up to $10.00.

PLEASE NOTE: Customers MUST call and ask for a rebate. It will not be automatic. The number to call is 729-6663. Follow the voice prompts to “billing.”

Still no word - not that I expected any - about what happened.

Dana

I have read that ads are beginning to appear on TV for D* claiming "200 HD channels soon." I haven't seen them myself.

The claim refers to the launch of the so-called D12 satellite as referenced in the DirecTV Q3 conference call on Nov. 5, 2009 (http://seekingalpha.com/article/171671-directv-group-inc-q3-2009-earnings-conference-call?page=-1):


We are also planning to launch a new movie service next year, where customers will be able to access more than thousands of movie from either their PC or TV to view on their big screen TV. This service will be greatly expanded upon the successful launch of our next satellite D12, which becomes operational in the first half of next year. This new satellite will also increase DIRECTV's HD capacity by 50% over 200 national channels.

In the land of TV ads, "soon" could be months away.

TiVo is also supposed to bring its new service to D* in the first half of 2010. (Apparently, it's not going to be hardware but rather firmware for existing D* HD DVRs.)

So, particularly for mid-coasters who are "stuck" with Comcast cable, more competitive alternatives are coming up for HDTV.

Dana

I have read that ads are beginning to appear on TV for D* claiming "200 HD channels soon." I haven't seen them myself.

Dana
I have been seeing the ads since last May. I know the launch of D12 has been moved back a few times slowing the process down.

I hope when they do launch D12 they will add some of the channels that the other services offer. Like Travel Channel HD, WGN America, and the wife's favorites Lifetime HD and Lifetime Movies HD. The last satellite, D11, filled up very fast with local HDs and national channels and HD PPVs.

"...........customers will be able to access more than thousands of movie.................."

Wow! Imagine! ......... Millions of movies!! That's got to be SOME satellite.

(By the way, Dana, how's that Direct TV workin' out for ya?)

"...........customers will be able to access more than thousands of movie.................."

Wow! Imagine! ......... Millions of movies!! That's got to be SOME satellite.

(By the way, Dana, how's that Direct TV workin' out for ya?)

Actually, the D* VOD service is available now. But, I can't watch millions, thousands or even more than one movie at a time! ;)

So, I don't get too excited. Besides most of the movies made these days aren't worth watching. :rolleyes:

Dana

Actually, the D* VOD service is available now. But, I can't watch millions, thousands or even more than one movie at a time! ;)

So, I don't get too excited. Besides most of the movies made these days aren't worth watching. :rolleyes:

Dana

Plus the VOD HD versions are $5.99 each. I just buy Premier package and wait for the movies we want to see to come on HBO, Starz, Max, Showtime or Movie Channel, and record them on my DVR. That way when you get a bad one you haven't thrown away $5.99. You can just pick another one to record and watch.

Now that TWC has increased its HD offerings considerably just about everywhere including Bangor, it raises questions about how valid the Comcast claims are about its bandwidth constrained wire plant.

Can all these former Adelphia and existing TWC wire plants have been upgraded and only the mid-coast Comcast nee Suscom-Maine one wasn't? Does TWC still have some backwater spots lacking the capacity for delivery of 70+ HD channels? Or, is TWC using some new transmission technology?

It makes me wonder.

Dana

Now that TWC has increased its HD offerings considerably just about everywhere including Bangor, it raises questions about how valid the Comcast claims are about its bandwidth constrained wire plant.

Can all these former Adelphia and existing TWC wire plants have been upgraded and only the mid-coast Comcast nee Suscom-Maine one wasn't? Does TWC still have some backwater spots lacking the capacity for delivery of 70+ HD channels? Or, is TWC using some new transmission technology?

It makes me wonder.

Dana

SDV with iguide A28.

Beyond SDV, I believe I have read that cable tv plants are of at least two different power levels measured in megahertz. If this is the case, I suspect that "Suscom is at the lower level. What I read indicated that those systems have to be entirely rebuilt to handle HDTV and the associated channel requirements.

Beyond SDV, I believe I have read that cable tv plants are of at least two different power levels measured in megahertz. If this is the case, I suspect that "Suscom is at the lower level. What I read indicated that those systems have to be entirely rebuilt to handle HDTV and the associated channel requirements.

there are three main MHz levels 750MHz, 870MHz, and 1000MHz. I believe the comcast system is 750MHz which can handle HD. My system is 870MHz and has 51HD.

Aroostook is 750 to my knowledge and has 41 either Comcast doesn't give two S**** about Brunswick or it's an ancient 500 something system, which is possible.

Anyone have any news about new HD in Aroostook?

Anyone have any news about new HD in Aroostook?

Considering how difficult it is to get information about TWC, I would suggest a telephone call directly to the Portland headquarters. They call the shots according to the Augusta office. I had occasion to talk to the Portland office two different times when it became necessary to change from cablecard to a box. I found the people I talked with to be very helpful.

Another technique would be to find a cable technician up a pole somewhere and tell him you won't let him come down until he provides you with information. ............. Of course, it's November in Aroostook , so any technician is probably only standing on a snowbank to service the lines.

Good Luck.

I was in the Augusta TWC office Thursday. During my conversation with desk representative, I mentioned that there has been no public notice of all the HD channels added during the last month and she told me that they don't announce that it is going to happen or is even going to happen because they're afraid it might not work out. ........... It's no wonder we don't feel as if we're in real contact with the cable company.

she told me that they don't announce that it is going to happen or is even going to happen because they're afraid it might not work out.
Wow!! That shows they have a lot of confidence in their own system.

Aroostook is 750 to my knowledge and has 41 either Comcast doesn't give two S**** about Brunswick or it's an ancient 500 something system, which is possible.

AFAIK, the "bandwidth constrained" Comcast Brunswick system is 550* which I have begun to believe is just a big excuse for your second assumption which is right on the money.

Dana

Considering how difficult it is to get information about TWC, I would suggest a telephone call directly to the Portland headquarters. They call the shots according to the Augusta office. I had occasion to talk to the Portland office two different times when it became necessary to change from cablecard to a box. I found the people I talked with to be very helpful.

Another technique would be to find a cable technician up a pole somewhere and tell him you won't let him come down until he provides you with information. ............. Of course, it's November in Aroostook , so any technician is probably only standing on a snowbank to service the lines.

Good Luck.

Aroostook now has SDV but is only using it on one channel bio HD? Idk what to say.

Personally, I think the "lack of bandwidth" is no excuse for Comcast. When Mary first wrote me months ago that the "120± miles of 550 MHz cable" was a constraint on adding channels, I accepted it. But, just before I switched to D*, I found out by reading SusCom's 10K reports on line that SusCom had upgraded most of its 850 wire mile midcoast plant before Comcast bought it. So, why hasn't Comcast with its tremendous financial resources completed the remaining 14% of the system?
...
Dana

I went back to the information provided by the Area V-P for Comcast that I reported on this thread two years ago. The Comcast system is according to her, a 550 MHz cable plant. I was supposed to be impressed that there was 120 wire miles that needed to be upgraded. What she failed to mention is that SusCom had already upgraded 730 wire miles and Comcast had only to finish the remainder to complete the upgrade.

Obviously, they have no intention of doing so. So, as I said one day short of exactly two years ago, it's a self-imposed restriction.

Dana

WPXT-51 was added to Directv in HD today.

And there was much rejoicing...

The new HD channels have been on TWC for some time now and the newspaper classified notice by TWC, still, does not reflect mention of them. They started adding them about a month ago and I would wager there are people that don't know that they are there.