Time Warner Cable HDTV [Text View] - Page 15

AlbanyHDTV

02-22-08, 08:29 AM

Albany TWC added the following HD channels last night:

1892 Starz Comedy HD
1893 Starz Kids and Family HD
1894 Starz Edge HD
1909 Team HD
1929 Game HD

The Team and Game channels are positioned in the lineup adjacent to the sports subscription services (NHL Center Ice and NBA League Pass).

The updated Albany TWC HD lineup:
1800 HD PPV
1801 Showcase HD On Demand
1805 TBS HD
1806 WRGB-DT (CBS)
1808 WXXA-DT (FOX)
1810 WTEN-DT (ABC)
1811 WMHT-DT (PBS)
1813 WNYT-DT (NBC)
1815 WCWN-DT (WB)
1823 Weather Channel HD
1827 TNT HD
1837 Discovery HD Theater
1838 A&E HD
1839 History Channel HD
1840 MHD (MTV HD)
1841 HGTV HD
1842 Food Network HD
1846 CNN HD
1847 MSG HD
1851 Fox Business News HD
1855 MOJO (included in TWC's HD Tier at $3.95 per month)
1857 HDnet (included in TWC's HD Tier at $3.95 per month)
1858 HDnet Movies (included in TWC's HD Tier at $3.95 per month)
1860 Universal HD (included in TWC's HD Tier at $3.95 per month)
1864 Lifetime Movie Network HD
1866 SportNetNY HD
1867 YES HD
1869 ESPN HD
1870 ESPN2 HD
1873 Versus/Golf HD
1874 Outdoor HD (must subscribe to Sports Tier)
1875 NHL HD (must subscribe to Sports Tier)
1876 National Geographic HD
1880 HBO East HD
1882 HBO West HD
1883 Cinemax East HD
1884 Cinemax West HD
1885 Showtime HD
1890 Starz HD
1891 Starz West HD
1892 Starz Comedy HD
1893 Starz Kids and Family HD
1894 Starz Edge HD
1909 Team HD
1929 Game HD

abcward

02-22-08, 08:31 AM

Color me jealous. The GAME-HD and TEAM-HD channels are the two that I covet the most at this point. I get the MLB and NHL packages every year and would love to be able to watch some of those games in HD.

Hopefully those 2 arrive in Charlotte sometime soon.

kjpjr

02-22-08, 01:52 PM

We have TW out of Myrtle Beach and we get the HD channel at the "end" of the two packages. I take them both and the hockey stations for me are 421-436 but the HD for hockey is 450. The same is basically true for the baseball package which are on the same channels. Take a look! There is not an HD hockey game every night but most nights GO WINGS -- GO TIGERS

kirghizstan

02-25-08, 08:32 AM

When will Albany be getting Sci-Fi HD??

Gary J

02-25-08, 08:46 AM

Have you checked the Albany thread?

thestaton

02-25-08, 11:28 PM

Any news for KY getting any new HD channels?

kamgol

02-26-08, 06:49 PM

I've mentioned this in other threads as well. San Diego is getting Navigator as of February 26, which is next Tuesday. We're all going to suffer for a while.

That's today! Are you sure about this? I'm in San Diego and haven't seen any changes yet. I hope you are wrong because I've been dreading Navigator after everything I've been reading on this forum.

tarheelone

02-26-08, 08:26 PM

That's today! Are you sure about this? I'm in San Diego and haven't seen any changes yet. I hope you are wrong because I've been dreading Navigator after everything I've been reading on this forum.

Yep it's happening...The roll out might take a while...

http://hdtv.forsandiego.com/messages...tml?1204054454

JimmyTango

03-05-08, 09:26 AM

holl_ands

03-05-08, 10:58 AM

Yes, we are being Navigatored in San Diego--and they have some SDV test channels:
http://hdtv.forsandiego.com/messages/2/6473.html
http://hdtv.forsandiego.com/messages/2/6469.html
http://hdtv.forsandiego.com/messages/2/6459.html
http://hdtv.forsandiego.com/messages/2/6003.html

Scottwdw

03-05-08, 04:21 PM

I didn't even know we had switched-digital technology yet. Must be what last week's price increases was all about. :rolleyes: Hope this means we'll be getting more soon.

--------------------------
Time Warner Cable announced Wednesday (March 5) it had added four new channels to its HDTV lineup, Time Warner Spokesperson Jeff Unaitis said.

Discovery HD, TLC HD, Animal Planet HD and Science Channel HD were all added to the cable lineup as of noon Wednesday. Discovery HD is located on channel 819; TLC HD on channel 825; Animal Planet HD is located on channel 831 and Science Channel HD on channel 832.

“Our recent launch of switched-digital technology is allowing us to reclaim bandwidth and to add more content.” The four channels added to the system are part of the Discovery Channel’s networks.

TexRob

03-05-08, 08:52 PM

abcward

03-05-08, 09:29 PM

They have things listed for April on their change page though, so I am not hopeful we will see anything before May, bleh!

At least TWC's Raleigh region actually uses that Change Page. Charlotte's region only changes theirs about 2 months AFTER they have made changes. Not real proactive here.

tarheelone

03-05-08, 11:17 PM

Feeling very left out in Raleigh. They have reclaimed some bandwidth recently with removals, so hopefully we join you all with a batch of 3 or 4 new HD channels soon. They have things listed for April on their change page though, so I am not hopeful we will see anything before May, bleh!

When they add HD channels here, they usually don't show up on the change page until either the day before they are added or the day they are added. I don't think we are gonna see a whole lot until after Navigator is pushed. Plus it looks like they are gonna use the reclaimed bandwidth to broadcast all the NCAA tournament games in HD(4 Channels). I would guess we'll see something beginning of April.

Gary J

03-06-08, 09:22 AM

NFL, Cable Execs Spar at Hearing
By JOHN DUNBAR
The Associated Press
Wednesday, March 5, 2008; 5:58 PM

WASHINGTON -- Cable television operators discriminate against the NFL even though professional football is the nation's most popular spectator sport, the league's commissioner told lawmakers Wednesday.

The league-owned NFL Network airs eight regular-season games each year. But they are not widely available to viewers because of a dispute between the league and the country's two biggest cable companies, Comcast Corp. and Time Warner Cable.

Commissioner Roger Goodell said the companies "enjoy a high level of bottleneck power" and treat the NFL Network in a "sharply different and clearly less favorable" way when compared with networks they own a stake in.

Goodell asked members on the House Energy and Commerce's telecommunications subcommittee to pressure the Federal Communications Commission to enforce a law that bars discrimination against unaffiliated networks.

But Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., said Goodell's claims of discrimination were "a little hard to swallow" considering the league's own antitrust exemption. She said the dispute is really about money.

Glenn Britt, president and chief executive of Time Warner Cable, said the NFL's position was "especially disingenuous" considering the league's exclusive arrangement with DirecTV Inc. to air the "NFL Sunday Ticket" package of out-of-market games.

The trend of exclusivity has grown recently, said Democratic Rep. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, the subcommittee chairman and a Boston Red Sox fan. He noted that baseball's "Extra Innings" package was scheduled at first to air exclusively on DirecTV but ultimately was made available on cable systems.

The FCC has a process for resolving disputes between cable operators and programmers. But owners of independent networks have said the process is not used enough and is ineffective.

At the heart of the NFL Network dispute is the league's preference that the network be carried on basic cable levels. Time Warner has refused to carry the NFL Network channel unless the channel is part of a higher-priced package. Comcast carries the channel on a premium level.

As a result, fans are caught in the middle, said Consumer Federation of America research director Mark Cooper.

"The current system, where the cable operators and dominant sport programmers force consumers to pay ever-increasing prices for a restricted set of choices, is the worst possible for the consumers," he said.

Cooper said a simple solution would give people the option of paying only for the channels they want. Such an "a la carte" concept is strongly opposed by programmers and system operators.

Cooper said the solution is to allow consumers to buy programming on a stand-alone basis, a proposal opposed by both programmers and system operators.

Britt warned against government intervention. He said negotiations "may be messy at times" but are best resolved in the marketplace.

Weaselboy

03-08-08, 07:04 AM

I am glad TW is sticking to their guns on this NFL issue. I have no interest in this package and do not want to be forced to pay a higher base rate for this package's inclusion.

TexRob

03-08-08, 09:35 AM

I am glad TW is sticking to their guns on this NFL issue. I have no interest in this package and do not want to be forced to pay a higher base rate for this package's inclusion.

I have to agree, NFL is definitely the greedy one here. TW shouldn't be able to be bullied into this. It only makes sense for it to be in the digital package, NFL network thinks they are more important than they are.

VisionOn

03-08-08, 04:26 PM

I have no interest in this package and do not want to be forced to pay a higher base rate for this package's inclusion.

Get NFL or not, your rates will still go up. One of the things you'll be paying for is buying resources to fix their broken IPG software.

Gary J

03-08-08, 04:37 PM

Get NFL or not, your rates will still go up.

By the same amount?

kjpjr

03-08-08, 10:19 PM

Someday more channels
https://uma.att.com/attributes/224-A...T-X-X-X-X.html

The is the ATT line-up(s) if you go further into the site you will see the exact channels.

As near as I can see the the 400 package is all you could need and is $125 a month with high speed Internet included. There are packages for lesser amounts. I have no idea when this will be available and where.

If you want to explore further here is a zip code that will work 06878. A friend of mine from CT got this about 3 months ago and says it is the best yet!

Doctor

03-09-08, 03:27 AM

The NFL is so hypocritical I want to barf. They're complaining that TW won't carry their oh so popular NFL Network despite the NFL being so popular. At the same fricking time, the NFL has an exclusivity contract with DirecTV for the NFL Sunday Ticket. If I had any say, Roger Goodell would have been immediately escorted out of the meeting after making that statement and the NFL's antitrust exemption would be revoked and I'm a huge NFL fan too!

dc10forlife

03-09-08, 07:34 AM

Sports fans really get the shaft from Time Warner. All I want to watch on cable are the ESPN HD networks, FSN-HD, the Big Ten Network-HD, CSTV-HD, VS-Golf HD, and NFL-HD. TWC in my area doesn't even carry our local FSN in HD and no word on CSTV-HD and VS-Golf-HD. It took two years for TWC to carry ESPN2HD. No announcement for ESPN-News HD and ESPNUHD.

Meanwhile, sports fans are forced to pay for 3 women's channels, a couple of lesbian/gay channels, a bunch of news programming, 24 hours of Nancy Grace, a couple of music video channels that don't play videos, and kids/cartoon programming. What a waste. And TWC can't get a deal done for the Big Ten Networks and the NFL network? I guess TWC doesn't want sports fans as customers.

Berk32

03-09-08, 10:05 AM

davehancock

03-09-08, 07:28 PM

CANNON-FODDER

03-09-08, 08:10 PM

Sports fans really get the shaft from Time Warner. All I want to watch on cable are the ... TWC in my area doesn't even carry ... Meanwhile, sports fans are forced to pay for ... What a waste. And TWC can't get a deal done for the ... I guess TWC doesn't want sports fans as customers.I know would not pay for any of those channels, I have not even been watching the Super-Bowl for the commercials last couple of years. Not sure how the numbers work out, but I might come out ahead if all the sports channels went on a separate tier with appropriate cuts on the other packages. The problem is that it would probably work out similar to the free OS bit with Dell: a computer with [free] Ubuntu costs more than one with Vista ...

I do watch Ninja Warrior sometimes -- but, then it is on G4 anyway.

v/r,
C-F

perrycom

03-10-08, 10:40 AM

So far no changes to TMC north east ohio. Line up changes, with additional 4 HD channels, was targeted to start 'on or around' march 4th.

Here commercials on the radio all the time now for the upcoming changes.
When I turned on the TV this morning, it looked like the box had reset overnight - I was hopeful that it meant our new channels were up. Not the case yet. :(

TexRob

03-10-08, 05:05 PM

I know would not pay for any of those channels, I have not even been watching the Super-Bowl for the commercials last couple of years. Not sure how the numbers work out, but I might come out ahead if all the sports channels went on a separate tier with appropriate cuts on the other packages. The problem is that it would probably work out similar to the free OS bit with Dell: a computer with [free] Ubuntu costs more than one with Vista ...

I do watch Ninja Warrior sometimes -- but, then it is on G4 anyway.

v/r,
C-F

I'm with you guys. It's easy for the rabid sports fans to think everyone wants to pay out the nose and use up all the bandwidth for 50 sports channels, but not me. I just don't get into traditional sports much. I'm much more amused by watching something like Formula 1, World Superbike, or some alternative sport. Heck, I find the Stihl Timbersports stuff to be fascinating. Nothing like a chain saw running on nitro methane that probably has more horsepower than most econoboxes out there ;)

WilliamR

03-11-08, 02:46 PM

RudyG

03-11-08, 11:15 PM

Got my letter in the mail that things are changing (NE Ohio). Adding a few additional HD channels, Food network, A&E, CW, HGTV. Rearranging a LOT of channels and providing 947 channels (with some gaps in it for growth I guess). No mention on when this is all happening, just said soon. Looking forward to the new high def channels, but no HD sci-fi yet. :(
Consider yourself fortunate. I live in Los Angeles, where we have the lowest number of HD offerings in the country, with no possibility of seeing anything added in the near future. I'm talking at least until 2009 - 2010 and maybe, or I should say most likely, later. Plus I and many others in the area have received a notice about our rates going up in April, pretty much across the board :):eek::confused:

Just a few more drops into this cup .....

Rudy

VisionOn

03-12-08, 04:41 AM

By the same amount?

Won't make any difference. How much TWC puts up rates is mostly irrelevant to how much they actually need to cover costs.

They've put the rates up twice in two years and what progress have we seen? They are still trundling out upgrades they started years ago and their HD capacity still can't compete even with the billion dollar profit they made last year.

They've got money to spend on plenty of services that would not change the rates. They just don't want to spend it.

sirjonsnow

03-12-08, 11:20 AM

The whole NFL thing is ridiculous - you can (or at least could, haven't checked lately) get the NFL package on any provider in Canada or Mexico, and for less money than DirectTV's U.S. rate.

John Mason

03-12-08, 01:08 PM

Caught a Wall Street Journal short today indicating the final word on spinning off TWC from Time Warner may be announced ~April 30. -- John

mgxplyr

03-12-08, 07:26 PM

Here in Syracuse, NY, in addition to the HD Discovery Networks, Time Warner added TBSHD and CNNHD sometime today in the afternoon. They are located on channels 822 and 824 respectively.

It's a nice little surprise from TW, and I think the switch to SDV is paying off. I was going to switch to DTV soon, but at the pace they're adding channels, I think I will stick around.

cj1999y2j

03-13-08, 04:23 AM

According to its website and its published channel change notices in print, Time Warner Mid-Ohio is getting four new channels around March 20 or just after: Sports Time Ohio HD (Ch. 752), National Geographic Channel HD (Ch. 761), A&E HD (Ch. 766), and HGTV HD (Ch. 768).

STO HD is not new, per se, but it was only for Cleveland Indians home games last year. Starting April 1, the channel will go 24/7, including all Indians home AND away games in HD and several shows in HD.

The total number of TWC Mid-Ohio HD channels that will be available after those four launch (regardless of tier, or its 24/7 status, or what kind of HD channel it is) will rise to 25. The list is as follows:

700: HBO
701: Showtime
704: WCMH Columbus NBC
706: WSYX Columbus ABC
710: WBNS Columbus CBS
728: WTTE Columbus FOX
734: WOSU Columbus PBS
746: WWHO Columbus CW
750: HD Theater
751: TNT
752: SportsTime Ohio
753: FSN Ohio
754: Versus/Golf
759: TBS
761: National Geographic
766: A&E
768: HGTV
775: MOJO
777: HDNET
778: HDNET Movies
780: Universal
785: ESPN
786: ESPN2
795: HD Showcase On-Demand
799: HD On Demand

Scottwdw

03-13-08, 05:56 AM

Hit the guide last night and was surprised to find that CNN-HD, TBS-HD and the History Channel HD had been added to the line up.

danki6x

03-13-08, 06:48 PM

... Plus I and many others in the area have received a notice about our rates going up in April, pretty much across the board :):eek::confused:

Rudy
I saw the new rates and +$1 for HD boxes now too (not counting the +$0.50 in rent for box and remote)...Dan

Gary J

03-14-08, 11:13 AM

Added to TWCSC today -

Discovery HD
The Learning Channel HD
The Science Channel HD
Animal Planet HD

We must be pushing 40 HD channels now. Not going to count them all. ;)

Jeff M

03-14-08, 01:08 PM

TWC here near Erie, PA is absolutely terrible. I think I get 5 total HD(ESPN 1 & 2, TNT, TBS and HDNet) channels. Going to switch to one of the dish packages VERY soon. They(TWC) have been promising HD additions for like 3 years now and have added like 2 or 3 bunk channels, which half of the time the are in SD. So what am I paying for besides a noisy digital/HD box and rivoting poker championships? Good riddance TWC. :mad:

D-Nice

03-14-08, 04:18 PM

Added to TWCSC today -

Discovery HD
The Learning Channel HD
The Science Channel HD
Animal Planet HD

We must be pushing 40 HD channels now. Not going to count them all. ;)
The were actually added yesterday ;) I'm still waiting on SciFi HD, The Weather Channed HD, Fox News HD, and the additional Starz channels.

nickdawg

03-15-08, 12:27 AM

Time Warner Cable-Northeast Ohio-Akron/Legacy System
Changes as of 3/7/08:

Added:
*399 TWCNEO-Channel lineup change information
*17 ACCESS (24/7 Paid Programming)

Deleted:
*150 Disney Channel West Coast feed
*358-365 Showtime West Coast Feeds
*372 TMC West
*373 TMC2 West
*460 PUMA(Spanish language)
*463 Sopresa(Spanish language)
*71 Inspirational (MIA)
*99(STB only) Was ACCESS network-Paid Program channel moved to 17
*79(non-STB only) Another location of ACCESS network
*47 GAC Analog channel showing color bars

Moved:
Digital==>Analog:
*MTV2: Currently on Digital 126 and Analog 34
*Jewlery TV: Still on Digital 158; also on Analog 75(w/o STB only)
75 w/STB is TV Guide channel

Change in position only:
*Oxygen: Moved from Analog 78 to Analog 71(formerly Inspirational)
*WE: Moved from Analog 77 to Analog 70(formerly CSPAN2)

"Dead" Channels:
1 Time Warner ONE: Green screen
180 FOX Ohio: color bars
1500 Sports Time Ohio On Demand *FREE* Barker channel with message
to tune to channel 1111
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Time Warner Cable-Northeast Ohio-Akron/Legacy System
Changes as of 3/14/08:

Added:
*511 Sports On Demand *FREE*

Deleted:
*68 Discovery Health---MIA/will reappear at position 152 after the lineup change
*72 Fit TV---MIA/will reappear at position 153 after the lineup change
*47 GAC---MIA/will reappear at position 255 after the lineup change
*113 Discovery Science---deleted from lineup/moved to Analog 72
*1 Time Warner ONE---Showing channel change info
*591 Showtime West HD---Showtime West Coast feeds discontinued
*581 HBO West HD---MIA/should reappear on 495 after lineup change
*79 Access TV---Paid Program Channel

Moved:
Analog==>Digital:
*Discovery Health---Currently MIA(152)
*Fit TV---Currently MIA(153)
*GAC---Currently MIA(255)

Digital==>Analog:
*Discovery Science---moved to analog 72 Also still on digital at 705
*VH1 Classic---moved from Digital 132 to Analog 68
*TV One---Will move to Analog 47(Change pending)

"Dead" Channels:
*126 MTV2---Moved to Analog 34; no longer on 126, just blank screen
*180 FOX Ohio: color bars
*1500 Sports Time Ohio On Demand *FREE* Barker channel with message
to tune to channel 1111

New Lineup: CONFIRMED:
*Green
*Kent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

dakin2003

03-15-08, 02:30 AM

Hi Everyone,

I've got to agree with my fellow Angelenos, it's hard to believe that the place where so much of TV is made has so little high definition offerings. I had spoke n with a TWC representative and they had mentioned that there would be a free on-demand HD showcase available sometime in March, of course who knows with Time Warner. Do any LA residents know anything about this, I'm craving all the HD I can get. Thanks for any replies in advance.

dylan24

03-15-08, 05:26 PM

Welcome dakin. You will find more information in the local TWC thread here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=306411

I think most of us here are resigned to not seeing any more new hi-def until 2009 or 2010.

JimmyTango

03-18-08, 08:34 AM

TWC North East Ohio changes for Akron area have taken a large move, added the 4 new HD channels, and moved HD channels to the 400 range. Did not look to see if the SD changes had happened.

At the same time, my boss is farther up north at the OH/PA border, and he did not have the changes this AM like I did.

Noticed the HBO HD and SHO HD is now down to only the East feeds, the West feeds are gone.

Not sure if West are coming back, anyone know? I do not have the mailer with the new channel numbers, so can not check. Also, StarzHD appeared, did not know that one was supposed to(thought it was only A&EHD, HistoryHD, FoodHD and H&GHD).

Would rather have National GeographicHD over A&E, Food or H&G HD channels. Not sure why Mid Ohio gets that good one and we do not.

danki6x

03-18-08, 04:30 PM

180 FOX Ohio: color bars
This should probably not be marked "dead". Check tonight for hockey and tomorrow night for basketball. See: http://msn.foxsports.com/name/HD
/Dan

ncsu1

03-18-08, 08:12 PM

For as much as I hate TWC I'll like them for the time being since they are teaming up with WRAL to show every single game in HD (for free)

http://www.timewarnercable.com/NC/programming/sports/ncaamulticast.html

:) :) :)

TexRob

03-18-08, 09:27 PM

All you basketball junkies are why we haven't gotten new HD channels in Raleigh, the bandwidth is being used for the games.

Hopefully we get some new channels after the tournament is over.

AlbanyHDTV

03-19-08, 08:16 AM

Albany TWC (http://www.timewarnercable.com/Albany/Programming/marchmadness/default.html) will have the 2008 NCAA March Madness Highlights FREE On Demand in HD.
2008 NCAA March Madness
Highlights Free On Demand
Get the Best Action of all 63 games from this year’s Big Dance on NCAA March Madness Highlights on Sports On Demand or in HD on HD Showcase On Demand!
Available On Demand March 20 – April 14
Tune to channel 1074 or HD channel 1801

Highlights of every tournament game
Postgame interviews
Press conferences
Great moments in March Madness history
And more!More info here (http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6535259.html?industryid=47171&q=cbs+ncaa+hd).

cj1999y2j

03-20-08, 01:29 AM

acs12798

03-20-08, 10:17 PM

Added to Albany today

Discovery HD
The Learning Channel HD
The Science Channel HD
Animal Planet HD

doctorj

03-21-08, 12:42 PM

All you basketball junkies are why we haven't gotten new HD channels in Raleigh, the bandwidth is being used for the games.

Hopefully we get some new channels after the tournament is over.

Man I hope you're right. I love March Madness and getting 4 games at once in HD doesn't suck at all. Hopefully they will decide to continue utilizing this bandwidth since they somehow managed to free it up.

morpheus305

03-22-08, 06:47 PM

Time Warner Cable Southern Tier New York <--They have started SDV now

Marcus Carr

03-24-08, 02:04 PM

HD additions to Brooklyn / Queens, NY on April 30:

A&E HD (746)
ABC Family HD (738)
Animal Planet HD (786)
CNN HD (710)
Discovery HD (766)
Disney HD (749)
ESPNews HD (792)
Food Network HD (750)
HGTV HD (764)
History Channel HD (740)
TLC HD (752)
Lifetime Movies HD (762)
M HD (720)
NHL Network (795)
NY1 HD (701)
Science Channel HD (775)
Speed Channel HD (793)
TMC HD (778)
Toon Disney (787)
Versus / Golf HD (794)
Weather Channel HD (772)

Additions to Staten Island, NY on April 30:
Sports on Demand (1023)
ABC Family HD (738)
Disney HD (749)
ESPNews HD (792)
Speed Channel HD (793)
Toon Disney (787)
Weather Channel HD (772)

http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/03/24/twcs-queens-brooklyn-hd-expansion-going-live-on-april-30/

AndyHDTV

03-24-08, 03:10 PM

Toon Disney-HD & Speed-HD has been added to the "Known Deals Done With TWC" section.

JimmyTango

03-25-08, 10:34 AM

AndyHDTV

03-25-08, 11:10 AM

How do you check if SDV has been deployed in your area?

Looking at the updated first thread, it says SDV has been deployed for 'TWC Ohio cable systems' and Ohio is broke into different areas, like North East Ohio.

Thanks.

you can actually send an email to your local twc office asking.

My info could very well be a little wrong, I would appreciate the updates from all members from their respective divisions.

davehancock

03-25-08, 11:45 AM

How do you check if SDV has been deployed in your area?

Looking at the updated first thread, it says SDV has been deployed for 'TWC Ohio cable systems' and Ohio is broke into different areas, like North East Ohio.

Thanks.For TW SARA based systems you go to the diagnostic menu and check:

Hold front panel SELECT button till mail indicator lights
Press INFO button - diagnostic data will appear
Use VOL- and VOL+ buttons to navigate to various screens and get screen with "SDV SESSION INFO"
One of the two Sessions will reflect channel you are tuned to. The SamSvcld/Type field will indicate if the channel is "Broadcast" or "Switched"

Again this is for SARA. TW's Passport version does not support SDV. I'm not sure how Navigator diagnostics work - so can't tell you how to check for that software.

hdfan1

03-25-08, 12:59 PM

Time Warner in Dayton/Cincinnati today added National Geographic HD and FSN Ohio HD. The channels in Dayton are 757 for National Geographic and 768 for FSN.

holl_ands

03-25-08, 04:46 PM

How do you check if SDV has been deployed in your area?

Looking at the updated first thread, it says SDV has been deployed for 'TWC Ohio cable systems' and Ohio is broke into different areas, like North East Ohio.

Thanks.
NAVIGATOR comes in two versions: ODN (OCAP) for new CableCARD/MCARD
equipped boxes and MDN (Mystro) for older, legacy boxes.

Diagnostic Menu entry is same: Using R/C hold down SELECT key until you see
the "MAIL" icon appear on the front of the cable box, then hit DOWN ARROW key.

ODN boxes also respond to: At front panel, hold both Vol + and Vol -
buttons down until the mail icon flashes and then press Ch + button.

There are 9 pages of ODN Diagnostic Menus....[Sorry, I don't have ODN.]
Look for SDV channels using the SAME QAM carrier frequency.

There are 28 pages of MDN Diagnostic Menus. "Switched Digital Broadcast"
(SDV) is on page 21. Instructions are found here:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13275420&#post13275420
There is a separate "Switched Digital Broadcast" menu listing SDV frequency.

SDV test channels were originally found when "new" channel numbers showed
up using the SEARCH function.

For example the same SciFi program came up on CH57 (normal Digital Simulcast),
CH1217 (SDV Test) and CH1157 (Analog Digital Simulcast).

Only CH57 is listed in the Guide....SDV has not yet been released in TWC-SD.

JimmyTango

03-25-08, 08:29 PM

from what I can tell is TWCNEO = no sdv. Everything SDV is false, 0, or not available.

Donniewb420

03-26-08, 06:07 PM

As of 3/26/08 TWC Triad Division added the following channels:

546-TLC HD
547-Animal Planet HD
548-Science Channel HD
549-TLC HD

We know have as follows:
410-HBO HDTV East
411-HBO HDTV West
436-Showtime HDTV East
437-Showtime HDTV West
501-UNC HD (PBS)
510-WGHP HD (Fox)
520-WFMY HD (CBS)
530-WXLV HD (ABC)
531-WMYV HD (My48)
536-WCWG HD (CW)
540-WXII HD (NBC)
545-MHD (MTV)
546-TLC HD
547-Animal Planet HD
548-Science Channel HD
549-TLC HD
550-Discovery HD Theatre
551-TNT HD
552-TBS HD
553-National Geographic HD
554-A&E HD
555-History Channel HD
556-ESPN2 HD
557-HGTV HD
558-Food Network HD
560-MOJO (previously INHD)*
561-Universal HD*
562-HDNet*
563-HDNet Movies*
564-ESPNHD
569-Golf Channel HD/Versus HD
575-CNN HD
581-Lifetime Movie Network HD
611-HD Movies On Demand
612-HD Showcase On Demand

mrkrispy

03-26-08, 06:45 PM

is TimeWarner adding SciFi HD (does it exist?) to markets yet? Starting to worry since BSG is starting up soon...

kevin120

03-26-08, 07:31 PM

WilliamR

03-27-08, 08:10 AM

is TimeWarner adding SciFi HD (does it exist?) to markets yet? Starting to worry since BSG is starting up soon...

Oh SciFi HD does exist. And it looks stunning. The quality of Stargate Atlantis is incredible. Really gorgeous in HD. A friend has SciFi HD, sadly, my Time Warner is retarded and still only have a handful of HD channels. Freaking pisses me off.

tex1080

03-28-08, 07:37 PM

:)ch
740 cnn hd
744 tbs hd
745 history hd
752 hgtv hd
753 food hd
754 a&e hd
756 discovery hd
757 animal planet hd
771 national geographic hd
786 versus golf hd
787 fsn sw hd

all will be sdv
and only available in:
arlington
dallas
mesquite
plano
richardson

rest of metro by the end of 2008:)

On the channels that were added I am hearing that people are getting these with their Tivo boxes (no SDV?) at above 800 mhz. Also only these 5 cities out of 50 cities in the North Texas market listed on this page. http://www.timewarnercable.com/dallas/programming/lineups.html are receiving the new HD channels. Convieniently for Time Warner only the cities that are boundaries of FiosLand received the new channels. The rest of us have to sit and wait; we are however guarnanteed to be receiving these 11 channels by the end of the year. I'm not upset :D

My00t8

03-28-08, 07:57 PM

Hooray for new HD channels in Dallas! I was so pleasantly surprised when I went to my HD channel guide the other day and had to scroll a lot more to get from the locals to ESPN. I spent the rest of the evening watching all those different channel on my beautiful plasma. Food Network never looked so good, and I have Discovery HD in time for the new season of Deadliest Catch. :)

But there is still more work to be done. Come on, TWC... If you want to keep me from going to DirecTV I still need Travel Channel HD and Sci-Fi Channel HD. Cartoon Network and Comedy Central would be nice, too, if they exist.

tsp2mjf

03-29-08, 08:15 AM

Prey521

03-29-08, 10:54 AM

I am so close to heading to DirecTV. The amount of HD channels with TWC Hudson Valley NY is horrendous and no mention that I can find of it changing anytime soon. The last straw may be the increase in the cost to the HD boxes when they are buggy as hell on the Mystro software. Can't even use HDMI with them unless I want to reboot the box 4 times a week. So frustrated.

Where in The Valley are you? I live in the town of Newburgh and we use Passport software here. I agree, HD offerings here in HV are horrid. As soon as my income taxes come in, I'm placing my DirecTV order and put my HDTV to some actual use when I watch TV.

reidtheweed01

03-30-08, 03:09 AM

tex1080

03-30-08, 03:22 AM

Ok well this reply is not about leaving time warner. The only reason I come to this site is for the updates in this thread, but 99% of the post are a bunch of people just bitching about switching to direct tv. I'd always heard AVSforum was full of a bunch of whiners who just complain about everything and never really make any real progress in their threads other then point out minor flaws and bitching about pointless things over and over. Well it looks like this site has lived up to the reputation it has earned.

So like how all of you people claim to say bye to time warner, im just going do the same with this site.

It is unfortunate you feel this way. I pay time warner a premium for their service ... 180$ a month. I EXPECT alot out of them and feel this is my right as a customer. If only one TW representative would show some interest into our bloggings on this site and give us the information that we so desire i would be completeley content. I can assure you that if TW offered an open forum on their web site where we could bring this information and questions to the forefront that we would post there. However we are left to AVS to post our questions and I truly appreciate AVS for allowing this open space to do so.

sheldonison

03-30-08, 08:57 AM

given twc's macroblocking, anyone know if they're ever upgrading from mpeg-2 to mpeg-4, or h.264 or avc-1 or whatever they call the new more efficient codecs?

Gary J

03-30-08, 09:01 AM

nickdawg

03-30-08, 09:46 AM

This thread is great to learn about Time Warner news, but I think many of us love to have a place to bitch about Time Warner(and that is needed). Face it, those of us who are Time Warner customers are constantly abused and every month our checkbooks are molested by them. And we keep coming back for more, mostly because there is no other option. Yeah, there is OTA(if you don't need cable networks) and DirecTV(REALITY CHECK: it's not much better than cable!!). So, we have to deal with high prices and crap channel selection, plus a buggy new DVR interface. At least we can come here and discuss our TW stories.

About D*'s 90 HD channels:

I tell myself:" When i can't find anything to watch, D* has 90 HD channels. But it's the same crap in HD. AND, mos tof it is probably stretchovision, so it's the SAME crap, but STRETCHED.

xzitony

03-30-08, 10:43 AM

davehancock

03-30-08, 11:41 AM

given twc's macroblocking, anyone know if they're ever upgrading from mpeg-2 to mpeg-4, or h.264 or avc-1 or whatever they call the new more efficient codecs?Not likely to see that for a long time. All of the existing HD boxes in the field only have MPEG-2 (though some newer models announced by SA are MPEG-4). So they have to replace those boxes before they can go to MPEG-4. Also, MPEG-4 only offers less than a 2:1 improvement. I wonder if they are waiting for something with a more significant improvement (though I have little idea of what that would be).

GregLee

03-30-08, 12:19 PM

About D*'s 90 HD channels:

I tell myself:" When i can't find anything to watch, D* has 90 HD channels. But it's the same crap in HD. AND, mos tof it is probably stretchovision, so it's the SAME crap, but STRETCHED.
There is a lot of truth to this. And if it's not stretched, much of it is zoomed, cutting off the bottom of the picture. But MGMHD and Smithsonian, e.g., always have good picture and sound, and the overall trend is up. D* is a step up from TW, for sure (I left TW in October).

tex1080

03-30-08, 01:45 PM

Just a heads up on the HD rollout in Dallas. I did a channel search and found Discovery HD (not HD theatre) on channel 129.3 here in Frisco. I would assume this is not SDV and above the 800mhz line but i will leave that determination to somebody with more knowledge. Still not showing up on my cable box guide.

holl_ands

03-30-08, 03:51 PM

Widely repeated 2:1 improvement of H.264 (MPEG4 Pt10 aka AVC) vs current
optimized MPEG2 Encoders was based on initial prototype tests with so-called
FRExt Extensions turned off. Most claims today are "2 to 3 times more efficient".
Of course these comparison tests are for the same "video quality".

Much more efficient MPEG4 Encoders claim to be 4:1 more efficient:
http://www.screenplaysmag.com/Editor/Article/tabid/96/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/442/Default.aspx
Just as MPEG2 coding efficiency improved over the years, better coding efficiency
is also expected for H.264 as faster signal processor chips are used.

==========================
Next Gen. STB/DVR roll-outs with MPEG4 are expected by this summer....or fall....
At some point, they will be used with new IPTV (point-to-point) function for PPV/VOD,
i.e. streaming 1080p Blu-Ray Disc movies...

AndyHDTV

03-30-08, 03:55 PM

MPEG-4 TRANSCODING

Every TWC division has to install Transcoding equipment to convert MPEG-4 sent from programmers to MPEG-2 for broadcast (Programmers like HBO's Multiplex Channels will do MPEG-4)

hufcane

03-31-08, 03:30 PM

i pay 180 dollars to one of the biggest monopolies in NYC--ill bitch as much as i want about a piece of $%$% cable box that doesnt work.

davehancock

03-31-08, 04:11 PM

MPEG-4 TRANSCODING

Every TWC division has to install Transcoding equipment to convert MPEG-4 sent from programmers to MPEG-2 for broadcast (Programmers like HBO's Multiplex Channels will do MPEG-4)So?

WilliamR

03-31-08, 04:13 PM

nickdawg

03-31-08, 04:22 PM

I'm in NE Ohio and I have the new HD channels as well as the lineup change.

Pacfanweb

04-01-08, 12:04 AM

Prey521

04-01-08, 12:23 AM

WilliamR

04-01-08, 08:05 AM

I'm in NE Ohio and I have the new HD channels as well as the lineup change.

That is my point. I am a few miles North of you (like 10 miles) and I don't have them. This is stupid.

DogDin

04-01-08, 08:06 AM

Been hanging out here for a while - seems most of the discussion is well out of my area (Southern Maine). But I did awake this morning to find that TLC, Discovery and Travel Channel had been added to our HD channels. Based on what's happened in other markets, I would expect this update to also include Animal Planet and Science Channel - perhaps that's coming, it's still early in the day.

Still no ESPNEWS or the other channels I've been sending them weekly reminders / requests for though. Shouldn't complain too much I suppose - this gives us around 25 so called "free HD" channels, and 10 more if you want to pay for the premiums and the "HD Tier".

JimmyTango

04-01-08, 09:42 AM

That is my point. I am a few miles North of you (like 10 miles) and I don't have them. This is stupid.

Akron area is the test bed for TMCNEO, they get everything first. Remember when roadrunner first came out? Akron was a national test bed for it.

I just moved from Stow to South Euclid and went from Navigator with the new HD channels to some ancient software that does not even allow you to set the DVR to 'record season/this channel only/new shows only. While I had serious issues with Navigator, it is fantastic compared to this BS I am stuck with now.

Anyways, I am now out of the old neighborhood which had trees blocking the sats for dish and direct tv. Only had them add cable as i was getting roadrunner anyways, and can live with it for a month until i get set up with directv(want to remove the old dish on the roof, and remove all the old wiring outside the house first).

JimmyTango

04-01-08, 09:46 AM

Tomorrow is April 1, still not changes in NE Ohio as promised by Time Warner. They repeatedly said (even in a letter sent to myself) that the change would occur in March. I called, they said maybe April for my area. I think it is pathetic that a city, in the same county as me, a few miles from my house has the new HD channels and I do not. Makes no sense.

The whole point of this is to roll each area into the same system(same channel lineup, same software, etc). Many of the areas are old Adelphia areas bought up by TWC.

Each one is being ported over. Akron was already there and only needed the new channels added, and the channels realigned. Other areas, like where I am now at, do not even have the option of using a box with Navigator installed on it.

JimmyTango

04-01-08, 09:48 AM

AndyHDTV, i have confirmed with TWC NorthEast Ohio that SDV is NOT available, and there is no ETA on when it will be. He even made is sound as if they are not even ready for it network wise. Spoke with the tech when he was hooking up my new house.

joebbaseball

04-01-08, 09:55 AM

I tried DTV last year. The picture was CONSIDERABLY worse. Even my wife noticed it. All HD channels, even the SD channels were worse.

DTV can have all their stretched-out, SD-broadcast-in-widescreen-called-HD channels.

I'll stick with better PQ and a few less channels. We'll get the rest of the channels eventually.

Normally I really don't care about other subscriber chats, but when I read this Time-Warner and HD thread I had to check it out. I have D* and I have for a long time. I will say there have been a lot of days when I would have left them if I wasnt in a contract. A definite plus of TW is no contract. However, in reading some of these threads, its really unbelieveable that some people still think TW HD is competitive with anything. I'm not sure when this person had D* but they do not offer a lot of stretched out poor quality channels. Yes some of the 90 channels do not broadcast a lot of channels in HD. But to compare a TW hd feed with D* and say TW is better is rediculous. Not to mention at least with our local TW in syracuse there are only about 15-20 HD channels and those are unwatchable. My point is D* is not perfect, however at this point D* and Dish are way ahead of cable when it comes to HD. I also wanted to mention a lot of people say they need more money to go to D*. Those people should call them, because they have a lot of deals that can get them in for a small fee. Also if there are any baseball fans, D*'s extra innings package this year includes home and away HD feeds for every game. I was in HD baseball heaven yesterday!
Sorry for the long post
Joe

Gary J

04-01-08, 10:29 AM

Let me know when I can hook up my 8 TVs to D* with no pizza pan, no commitment, no rain fade, no overly compressed channels and no fringe channels beyond the 40 HD channels I get with TWC.

xnappo

04-01-08, 10:32 AM

Let me know when I can hook up my 8 TVs to D* with no pizza pan, no commitment, no rain fade, no overly compressed channels and no fringe channels beyond the 40 HD channels I get with TWC.

To be honest, I find myself using the Free OnDemand/HBO OnDemand stuff quite a bit with my kid. Plus there is some good stuff on the Free HD OnDemand channel here too. I know the satellite guys have started doing more OnDemand, but I think you have to pay for it.

xnappo

joebbaseball

04-01-08, 01:50 PM

Let me know when I can hook up my 8 TVs to D* with no pizza pan, no commitment, no rain fade, no overly compressed channels and no fringe channels beyond the 40 HD channels I get with TWC.

I think this is why TW gets bashed so much. It isn't the same across the board like the satellite companies. For example you may have a good version of TW in Carolina. However your points aren't valid with the local TW hear in Syracuse. I swear its unwatchable. The only point I would contend is that the rain fade thing is more something that the cable companies have invented. I guarantee the dishes go out far less than cable. I have no argument for your 8tv's. I would say that is the best argument for cable hands down. Not to mention i'm completely jealous of your 8 tvs!
Joe

JimmyTango

04-01-08, 02:19 PM

Let me know when I can hook up my 8 TVs to D* with no pizza pan, no commitment, no rain fade, no overly compressed channels and no fringe channels beyond the 40 HD channels I get with TWC.

What is 'fringe' HD channels? You do realize that most TWC customers do not get even a decent HD lineup in their area, right?

Channels like NatGeo, all the Discovery Channels but TheaterHD, Science Channel, FX, all the movie channels but west/east coast(and for many of us, we only get either west or east coast), etc, etc, etc. These are hardly 'fringe' channels.

For me, in two different locations, and multiple friends/family/co-workers with TWC we all have constant signal break up and macroblocking of HD feeds. Yet you make it out to be a sat specific issue('rain fade outs/overly compressed channels').

That is special you get 40 HD channels. The vast majority of TWC areas do not have that many.

This is going to be a hard one, but think outside of your special area with 40 HD channels that work perfectly fine and realize that the vast majority of customers do not have the excellent service, number of channels, and quality that you do. Not only that, but the vast majority of us have been waiting years for TWC to catch up, and will most likely be waiting even more years for them to finally catch up.

Seriously, imagine macroblocking all the time, programs that do not record correctly, limited HD channels, no ETA on when or if they will get their act together.

That is what the vast majority of TWC, and hell, any cable provider, have to deal with each and every day.

Oh, and as for the horrible sat service, my friends that have switched to Directv, there is little to no difference. Well, except for the fantastic HD lineup, no macroblocking, software that is not buggy as hell. Oh wait, there is a small 'pizza pan' on the roof and maybe twice a year they lose signal during a storm. Oh no, which is worse?

reuthermonkey

04-02-08, 10:37 AM

Just got HD Showcase in Kansas City. It has content from 2 new channels that we don't yet have - HGTVHD and SpeedHD. Only 1 OnDemand show each, but it's a start.

http://twondemand.com/free/default.aspx?pageId=66&pageMode=listgrid&type=service&id=60

Unfortunately I don't see any of the Music Videos listed, nor does HDNet show any content...

At least it's free!

theo871

04-02-08, 01:12 PM

Time Warner added ESPNews HD to channel 541 here in Southern Maine this morning...i'm impressed that they were able to get this done so fast!

Marcus Carr

04-03-08, 12:11 PM

Home of Free HD: Now Even More High Definition Channels and Enhanced HDTV coming to New York & New Jersey

50 High Definition Channels Available on April 30

NEW YORK, April 3, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Time Warner Cable of New York and New Jersey is poised to carry 100 High Definition (HD) channels and add more than 250 HD On Demand choices by the end of 2008 across the company's service area, starting with a total of 50 on April 30.

On April 30, the company plans to launch the following 50 channels to all of its digital customers in Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. Later this year, all channels will be available to digital customers in Manhattan, New Jersey, the Hudson Valley region and Mt. Vernon.

Free with Digital Service

A&E HD
ABC Family HD
Animal Planet HD
CNN HD
Discovery HD
Disney HD
ESPN HD
ESPN2 HD
ESPN NEWS HD
Food Network HD
Fox Business News HD
Fox News HD
Hallmark Movie Channel HD
HD Theater (Discovery)
HGTV HD
History Channel HD
The Learning Channel HD
Lifetime Movie Network HD
M HD
MSG HD
MSG+ HD
National Geographic HD
NY1 HD
Science Channel HD
SportsNet New York HD
TBS HD
TNT HD
Toon Disney HD
Travel Channel HD
Universal HD
Versus/Golf HD
WABC HD
WCBS HD
Weather Channel HD
WNBC HD
WNET - Thirteen HD
WNYW Fox HD
WPIX - CW HD
WWOR - My Network HD
YES HD

Free With Sports Packages HD Premium Tier
MLB HD HD Net
NHL HD HD Net Movies
Mojo HD

Free with Premium Services Pay Per View
HBO HD HD PPV
Cinemax HD
SHOWTIME HD
The Movie Channel HD
Starz HD

Over the next year in an area-by-area rollout, Time Warner Cable of
NY/NJ will launch "Enhanced HDTV" which includes the cable-exclusive Start
Over(R) service for standard and high definition programs. Start Over(R) is
a service that allows customers to start a program over during its allotted
time slot without the need for a DVR. Customers with HD set-tops will be
able to "Start Over" more than 13,000 standard definition and 1,500 HD
choices a month with the click of a button at no additional charge. By
augmenting its HD content offerings with Enhanced HD features, Time Warner
Cable offers a combination of HD content and features unparalleled by any
competing video or internet provider. Channel locations will be available
on our website at the end of this month. Visit timewarnercable.com/nynj.

"By delivering the most HD choices and Enhanced HD for free to its
Digital Cable customers, Time Warner Cable reaffirms our position as the
preeminent multimedia provider in New York City," stated Howard Szarfarc,
Executive Vice President for the company's New York City region. "The added
capacity for HD channels and content didn't require significant upgrade
expenditures or labor costs, and reflects the robust and flexible nature of
our existing advanced fiber network."

"Unlike with DIRECTV(R), DISH(R) and some telecommunications companies
which charge extra for these HD services, our customers can watch what they
want, when they want, in HD ... for free," added Szarfarc. Current digital
customers can upgrade to an HD set-top at no additional cost. With the vast
majority of our HD channels included free with digital service, Time Warner
Cable offers the easiest transition to and best value in HD of any provider
today.

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/04-03-2008/0004785825&EDATE=

Prey521

04-03-08, 12:13 PM

Wait, so all of those channels will not be available in HD here in the Hudson Valley? OMG, tell me that this is for real!!!!! I have some of those already, but I've been dying for Discovery in HD for a loooong time! I guess I won't have to switch to DirecTV after all!!

Edit - Nevermind, I read it wrong..."later this year" :rolleyes:

AndyHDTV

04-03-08, 12:14 PM

Wait, so all of those channels will not be available in HD here in the Hudson Valley? OMG, tell me that this is for real!!!!!

"Later this year, all channels will be available to digital customers in
Manhattan, New Jersey, the Hudson Valley region and Mt. Vernon."

God only knows when

holl_ands

04-03-08, 02:03 PM

WHAT!!!! Where's SciFi-HD???????

COX-San Diego will have it in time for new Battlestar Galactica on Friday...

VisionOn

04-03-08, 02:07 PM

LL3HD

04-03-08, 02:27 PM

I wish I was in an area were TWC felt threatened by FiOS and not just content to sit around raking in the money for nothing.
Then move!

To quote a self proclaimed Time Warner Cable employee who posts in our local NY thread.

Pretty obnoxious eh?:rolleyes:

cougarkid

04-03-08, 04:45 PM

I've seen a couple Verizon trucks around, so hopefully TWC will get their asses moving on the HD channels. Cancelling their service would be quite simple.

Gary J

04-03-08, 07:09 PM

I wish I was in an area were TWC felt threatened by FiOS and not just content to sit around raking in the money for nothing.

We will have that many too. I think it goes by physical attractiveness of the population in the area.

maxman

04-03-08, 07:36 PM

Time Warner added ESPNews HD to channel 541 here in Southern Maine this morning...i'm impressed that they were able to get this done so fast!

Why? After all, they're not COMCAST, which hasn't even announced carriage yet!

Berk32

04-07-08, 03:44 PM

TWC-NYC updated HD additions for 4/30 (not just Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island!!!):

Effective April 30th
In Manhattan we will launch Food Network HD on ch. 750, HGTV HD on ch. 764, Hallmark Movie Channel HD on ch. 784, Animal Planet HD on ch. 786, Travel Channel HD on ch. 788, and Versus/Golf HD on 794.
In Brooklyn and Queens we will launch A&E HD on ch. 746, ABC Family HD on ch. 738, Animal Planet HD on ch. 786, CNN HD on ch. 710, Discovery HD on ch. 766, Disney HD on 749, ESPN News HD on ch. 792, Food Network HD on ch. 750, Fox Business News HD on ch. 743, Hallmark Movie Channel HD on ch. 784, HGTV HD on ch. 764 , History Channel HD on ch. 740, The Learning Channel HD on 752, Lifetime Movies HD on ch. 762, M HD will launch on ch. 720, MLB HD on ch. 791 and 445, NHL Network HD on ch. 795, the previously announced NY1 HD will launch on ch. 701, Science Channel HD on ch. 775, TMC HD on ch.778, Toon Disney HD on ch. 787, Travel Channel HD on ch.788, Versus/Golf HD on ch. 794, Weather Channel HD on ch. 772 and WE will change from DTV service to Standard Service.
In Mount Vernon we will launch ABC Family HD on ch.739, A&E HD on ch. 745, Animal Planet HD on ch. 786, Disney HD on ch. 737, Food Network HD on ch. 718, Hallmark Movie Channel HD on ch. 784, HGTV HD on ch. 752, History Channel HD on ch. 747, Lifetime Movies Network HD on ch. 765, Travel Channel HD on ch. 763, Toon Disney HD on ch. 787, and Versus/Golf HD on ch. 794.

Staten Island: ABC Family HD on ch. 738, Disney HD on 749, ESPN News HD on ch. 792, Fox Business News HD on ch.743, Hallmark Movie Channel HD on ch. 784, MLB HD on 791 and 445, Toon Disney HD on ch. 787, Travel Channel HD on 788, and Weather Channel HD on ch. 772.

Hudson Valley: Effective April 30th we will launch Sports on Demand on ch. 1023. Food Network HD on ch. 736, Fox Business News HD on ch. 758, Hallmark Movie Channel HD on 784, HGTV HD on ch. 763, Versus/Golf HD on ch. 773, and Travel Channel HD on ch. 780.

Effective May 1, 2008 in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and Hudson Valley we will launch Fox News HD on ch. 744.

New Jersey Effective April 30th we will launch Sports on Demand onto ch. 1023, Food Network HD on ch. 775, HGTV HD on ch. 747, and Versus/Golf HD on ch. 739

AVidTVWatcher

04-07-08, 07:07 PM

SPG1

04-07-08, 09:11 PM

does anybody know when Speed Channel HD is launching on TWC in Staten Island? They said April 30th but i checked today and it no longer says its launching april 30th:mad:

Berk32

04-07-08, 09:17 PM

does anybody know when Speed Channel HD is launching on TWC in Staten Island? They said April 30th but i checked today and it no longer says its launching april 30th:mad:

The original announcement may have been a mistake - since no other TWC region has it...

SPG1

04-08-08, 05:58 PM

The original announcement may have been a mistake - since no other TWC region has it...
Man that sucks. I was looking forward to watching the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race in HD...

WilliamR

04-09-08, 08:55 AM

Off topic, has anyone tried Time Warner's digital phone service? Seemed impressive on paper with all its features (i.e. caller ID on your TV).

clapple

04-09-08, 09:50 AM

Off topic, has anyone tried Time Warner's digital phone service? Seemed impressive on paper with all its features (i.e. caller ID on your TV).

Yeah, the phone service is fine. Now if only TW would do something about the very minimal HDtv selection, here in the Palm Springs area!

abcward

04-09-08, 09:54 AM

Off topic, has anyone tried Time Warner's digital phone service? Seemed impressive on paper with all its features (i.e. caller ID on your TV).

Our family has had digital phone with TWC for almost 2 years now with zero problems. Great deal imho.

Berk32

04-09-08, 10:17 AM

TWC-Manhattan just got Versus/GolfHD today! (well in advance of their planned 4/30 date)

AND - I actually got an email response from Bob Watson (the NY/NJ "TWC Guy"), after i emailed him just a few days ago asking for the channel to be added (before it was announced that they'd and it on 4/30)

Mr 'Berk32',

We are adding VS/Golf HD to our lineups today in advance of our previously scheduled launch of the channel that was planned for the end of the month. Provided you subscribe to the level of service that includes VS and Golf standard definition channels and have a Time Warner Cable HD settop box, you should see the channel added to your service sometime today. NYC customers will find VS/Golf HD on channel 794.

Enjoy.

Bob Watson

VP Programming & New Business Development

Time Warner Cable of NY & NJ

120 East 23rd Street

New York, NY 10010

212-598-7363 | Fax: 212-364-9810

Email: bob.watson@twcable.com

sirjonsnow

04-09-08, 10:27 AM

Does TW have a real reason for CableCard not working for other channels, like the HDNet tier? I can see how they won't/can't do on-demand through it, but they should be able to turn channels on/off regardless. They aren't legally held to having to allow the channels through CableCard?

I'd really like to get an HDTivo, but don't want to lose HDNet or miss out on future channels I might want. And I wish we had SciFi HD in Rochester!

davehancock

04-09-08, 11:22 AM

Does TW have a real reason for CableCard not working for other channels, like the HDNet tier?Yes, it is so that they can use SDV (Switched Digital Video) to expand HD channel offerings. This, like On-Demand, requires the use of two-way communication. I can see how they won't/can't do on-demand through it, but they should be able to turn channels on/off regardless. They aren't legally held to having to allow the channels through CableCard?No, they aren't.

I'd really like to get an HDTivo, but don't want to lose HDNet or miss out on future channels I might want. And I wish we had SciFi HD in Rochester!There is supposed to be a solution coming later this year called the "tuning resolver". As I understand it, this is an attachment to a TiVo that does the two-way communication function.

BTW: You don't have a location in your profile, but you did mention Rochester. Don't know if that is NY or MN (or MI for that matter), but in NY neither HDNet nor HDNet Movies is SDV. They are part of a $5/month HD package (along with UniversalHD, which is SDV).

Prey521

04-09-08, 12:22 PM

Off topic, has anyone tried Time Warner's digital phone service? Seemed impressive on paper with all its features (i.e. caller ID on your TV).

Feature wise, it sucks when you compare to other VOIP companies. You can get a lot more for cheaper elsewhere minus the On Screen Caller ID which isn't a big deal for me. I personally use Viatalk.com and love it. $150 a year for unlimited local/long distance and tons of features.

Just noticed the Vs/Golf channel here on my set top as well. Not sure how long it's been there though. I'm in the Hudson Valley region.

WilliamR

04-09-08, 01:21 PM

Our family has had digital phone with TWC for almost 2 years now with zero problems. Great deal imho.

Does it bother you that if you loose power your phone stops working? At least now, the non-cordless phones keep working in power outages.

abcward

04-09-08, 01:42 PM

Does it bother you that if you loose power your phone stops working? At least now, the non-cordless phones keep working in power outages.

Well, one we have never lost power in those 2 years. And two, if we do, we have cell phones.

scsiraid

04-09-08, 01:48 PM

Does it bother you that if you loose power your phone stops working? At least now, the non-cordless phones keep working in power outages.

The Motorola modem they supplied me has an internal LiIon battery for a few hours of backup.

sirjonsnow

04-09-08, 01:57 PM

diy_canuck

04-09-08, 02:13 PM

TWC-Syracuse today added Versus/Golf HD on channel 807, and Food Network HD on channel 827.

I also notice the guide lists TEAM HD for NBA League Pass on channel 1100 and GAME HD for NHL and MLB on channel 1120.
I noticed this too, and was excited for a minute thinking that there must be a Versus HD as well just in time for the NHL playoffs, but no, just Golf. =( And so far nothing on that channel is HD. Aren't all the Golf tourneys picked up by either CBS or NBC anyways? This channel seems pointless to be in HD, am I missing something?

abcward

04-09-08, 02:17 PM

I noticed this too, and was excited for a minute thinking that there must be a Versus HD as well just in time for the NHL playoffs, but no, just Golf. =( And so far nothing on that channel is HD. Aren't all the Golf tourneys picked up by either CBS or NBC anyways? This channel seems pointless to be in HD, am I missing something?

At least here in North Carolina, Versus/Golf-HD is ONE channel. Sometimes they show golf content, sometimes its hockey. Have you checked your guide for later tonight?

LL3HD

04-09-08, 02:20 PM

Does it bother you that if you loose power your phone stops working? At least now, the non-cordless phones keep working in power outages.I have the TW phone service for about 7 months now and it saves me money compared to the traditional landline services.

That said, the TW phone has gone down 4 times already. I can’t ever remember my landline going down. This was due to TW “work in your area” excuses not power failures.

I do have excellent cellular service in my home as a backup. If you have back up and the sporadic down times don’t bother you then I’d look into it. I’m looking into other options because the down phone lines are a hassle. My home alarm system is tied into the phone line so whenever the phone goes down it’s like the London Blitz in my house with pure panic and mayhem.

davehancock

04-09-08, 02:32 PM

Rochester, NY. I saw it had been mentioned, which is why I said it as well.

I get the HDNet package, which I don't want to lose. Sure I could buy services with the SDV, but you'd think I could call and subscribe without the use of one. Can't CableCard users still get HBO/Max/etc ? Those have to be enabled somewhere in the system.Guess that you don't understand SDV. Here goes:

The cable system is actually divided up into numerous neighborhood blocks (nodes) with fiber optics feeding each node. A node serves around 500 houses. Channels that are "switched" are continuously fed to the node by fiber. When someone "requests" a particular SDV channel using their cable box, the box signals the node that it wants, lets say Food HD. The SDV system sees that (for example) that QAM channel 117 is available and sends Food HD out to your box on that channel. If you turn your box off, or tune to another (non-SDV) channel, the node "releases" QAM 117 back to the SDV "pool" so if someone else tunes into CNN HD, that QAM channel is available. If a 2nd person in your node tunes to Food HD, then that person will also tune to QAM 117.

In short, in any neighborhood, there are a number (16-24 here) of available HD QAM channels available to connect to any of the SDV channels (currently 19 in Rochester - with more to come). The more popular channels are "broadcast" (not switched) and only those not in high demand are switched.

But, it does require 2-way communication on your box, so that it knows when a channel is wanted, and, more importantly, when it is not wanted.

RE: HBO, etc. via CableCARD. Those are always on in the system. CableCARD only takes care of authorization (actually, decryption), so those are "authorized" when the CableCARD is installed, as the unique ID of that particular CableCARD allows the cable company to send a command to that CableCARD authorizing those channels.

Thombil

04-09-08, 02:32 PM

How about taking all the phone chat to a different tread. This one is for HD.

Thanks

tarheelone

04-09-08, 02:54 PM

I noticed this too, and was excited for a minute thinking that there must be a Versus HD as well just in time for the NHL playoffs, but no, just Golf. =( And so far nothing on that channel is HD. Aren't all the Golf tourneys picked up by either CBS or NBC anyways? This channel seems pointless to be in HD, am I missing something?

Versus HD and Golf HD share the channel. It's Golf Channel HD until 7pm at which time it switches to Versus HD.

SPG1

04-09-08, 03:35 PM

Versus HD and Golf HD share the channel. It's Golf Channel HD until 7pm at which time it switches to Versus HD.
i heard that eventually Versus and Golf Channel will have seperate HD channels.

WilliamR

04-09-08, 03:57 PM

I have the TW phone service for about 7 months now and it saves me money compared to the traditional landline services.

That said, the TW phone has gone down 4 times already. I can’t ever remember my landline going down. This was due to TW “work in your area” excuses not power failures.

I do have excellent cellular service in my home as a backup. If you have back up and the sporadic down times don’t bother you then I’d look into it. I’m looking into other options because the down phone lines are a hassle. My home alarm system is tied into the phone line so whenever the phone goes down it’s like the London Blitz in my house with pure panic and mayhem.

So what do you do with the alarm system? I too have one. Is it tied into the cable phone system instead? Or do you still need regular phone service.

WilliamR

04-09-08, 03:58 PM

How about taking all the phone chat to a different tread. This one is for HD.

Thanks

Sorry, I thought I could get a quick answer from the experts and it kind of snow balled from there.

LL3HD

04-09-08, 04:25 PM

..Is it tied into the cable phone system instead? Or do you still need regular phone service.The alarm has to be "tied" to whatever the phone line is.

I switched from Verizon landline and went to TW VOIP, therefore, the alarm system switched too.

My advice to you is to call your alarm company and see if they offer any other options regarding--having a VOIP and it sporadically goes down. :cool:

Sorry for the off topic diversion. :) Just trying to help the guy out. Hate to see another member (with 14 posts in 4 years) muster up another complaint. :rolleyes:

Weaselboy

04-09-08, 06:18 PM

Yeah, the phone service is fine. Now if only TW would do something about the very minimal HDtv selection, here in the Palm Springs area!

TW San Diego just got a few new HD channels, so we may be in for the same soon. In the past, TW Desert Cities has received whatever channels SD gets soon afterwards. We got Navigator at the same time also. Keep your fingers crossed.

bernie33

04-09-08, 08:55 PM

Off topic, has anyone tried Time Warner's digital phone service? Seemed impressive on paper with all its features (i.e. caller ID on your TV).
Thanks for bringing this up, and thanks to everyone that shared their experience. Very encouraging. (Based on your number of posts, thanks also for all the help you and the other experienced responders have offered to people.)

TWC just began offering digital phone service here, and I'm scheduled to have it added April 21. But there is no mention at all in their advertising here about caller id showing up on the TV. I was very surprised to see that some of you have that feature. I thought that was a feature of FIOS and/or U-verse, and I can't believe TWC would be hiding it if it was available here.

Prey521

04-09-08, 08:55 PM

Hate to see another member (with 14 posts in 4 years) muster up another complaint. :rolleyes:

LMAO!

LL3HD

04-09-08, 09:28 PM

...I was very surprised to see that some of you have that feature. I thought that was a feature of FIOS and/or U-verse, and I can't believe TWC would be hiding it if it was available here.I'm pretty sure the caller ID is functional only on the Navigator boxes. I have Passport and it does not work but others in my area have the newer HDC boxes and they claim it works.

davehancock

04-09-08, 09:35 PM

I'm pretty sure the caller ID is functional only on the Navigator boxes. I have Passport and it does not work but others in my area have the newer HDC boxes and they claim it works.It's been functional for YEARS on SARA boxes!

LL3HD

04-09-08, 09:41 PM

It's been functional for YEARS on SARA boxes!;) Thank for the clarification. I should have said, it doesn’t work with the Passport box. :cool:

davehancock

04-09-08, 09:49 PM

;) Thank for the clarification. I should have said, it doesn’t work with the Passport box. :cool:That was one of the reasons that TW gave for wanting to dump Passport (conveniently neglecting that they could have paid Aptiv to add that capability).

WilliamR

04-10-08, 08:45 AM

Dang it, still no new HD channels yet for MY TW in NE Ohio. Looking forward to the ones that are being added but man it sure is taking a LONG time. I think I saw them say this spring instead of March/April. Bummer. Still VERY VERY VERY bummed no sci-fi HD yet. :mad:

Thombil

04-10-08, 08:49 AM

If I've posted 14 times or 1400 this thread is still about HD not the phone service. Please take it to a differnt thread.

Thank you.

Gary J

04-10-08, 09:03 AM

Please take it to a differnt thread.

Here is another post by this fellow -

The only help you need is to take a typing class.

blazed1

04-10-08, 10:03 AM

TWC-Manhattan just got Versus/GolfHD today! (well in advance of their planned 4/30 date)

Also confirmed that VS/GLF HD was added in the New Jersey service area on channel 739 as well. Just in time for the NHL playoffs... thank god!

sirjonsnow

04-10-08, 10:27 AM

clapple

04-10-08, 10:38 AM

TW San Diego just got a few new HD channels, so we may be in for the same soon. In the past, TW Desert Cities has received whatever channels SD gets soon afterwards. We got Navigator at the same time also. Keep your fingers crossed.

I'm willing to grasp at straws. That, at least, is some encouragement.

Prey521

04-10-08, 11:08 AM

Here is another post by this fellow -

AHAHAHAHAHAHA!! I noticed that as well.

AndyHDTV

04-10-08, 11:59 AM

Biography HD --- (Coming soon to Binghamton, NY)

Berk32

04-10-08, 12:03 PM

Biography HD --- (Coming soon to Binghamton, NY)

Speed-HD is no longer 'coming to S.I., Brooklyn, and Queens'

AndyHDTV

04-10-08, 12:09 PM

Speed-HD is no longer 'coming to S.I., Brooklyn, and Queens'

forgot about that 1
I'll remove it.

Gooddog

04-10-08, 12:10 PM

davehancock

04-10-08, 12:25 PM

Thank you for clarifying how SDV works, but that still doesn't explain why they don't just do it the same way as HBO instead.RE: HBO, etc. via CableCARD. Those are always on in the system. CableCARD only takes care of authorization (actually, decryption), so those are "authorized" when the CableCARD is installed, as the unique ID of that particular CableCARD allows the cable company to send a command to that CableCARD authorizing those channels.The difference between what they do with SDV and HBO is that the HBO signal is always there (and always taking space). It is encrypted, so only those paying for it can actually decode it. A SDV channel is only there in a local node if someone tunes to it. It may be encrypted (most all are) or not, but it is only taking space when actually being used.

Is there some other network or switching reason they won't do this for HDNet or anything they might add to the tier?It seems pretty clear that they did not move HDNet to SDV because that would make it unavailable to those receiving it with CableCARD. They did not want to "piss customers off" be taking away channels.

It appears that when SDV plans were being made that TW made the decision to not enable any future HD channels for CableCARDs so that those future channels could be moved to SDV without taking these channels away from CableCARD customers. In Rochester, NY UniversalHD was the first channel under this policy.
Maybe some kind of bandwidth issue, does SDV channel quality degrade the more users that are accessing it?No, it does not degrade as more users access.

diy_canuck

04-10-08, 12:45 PM

At least here in North Carolina, Versus/Golf-HD is ONE channel. Sometimes they show golf content, sometimes its hockey. Have you checked your guide for later tonight?
Versus HD and Golf HD share the channel. It's Golf Channel HD until 7pm at which time it switches to Versus HD.
Thanks! Unfortunately our VS/Golf HD Channel isn't showing the guide yet (only started getting the channel on Monday (?). I didn't see these responses until today and I just watched last night's games in SD :( . I will definitely check it out tonight.

\crosses fingers!

davehancock

04-10-08, 12:52 PM

Verizon sues Time Warner Cable

Telephone service provider Verizon Communications brought its battle for video customers to court yesterday, with a lawsuit accusing rival Time Warner Cable of false advertising.

http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/business/2008/0804101004.asp?A=HOME&O=FPWThere are lots of areas (Buffalo, NY is one)where Verizon does not offer TV with FiOS. Verizon's triple-play "bundle" in these areas uses DirecTV. If the ads that Verizon is complaining about appear in markets such as Buffalo, they are completely legit (not to say that TW doesn't lie - they do).

BTW, I understand that Verizon is now starting to move towards offering true FiOS TV in the Buffalo market, starting with Hamburg (a southern suburb).

sirjonsnow

04-10-08, 02:28 PM

davehancock

04-10-08, 03:28 PM

dave - what I meant was why make them SDV in the first place instead of encrypting them like HBO and having them always on?

That's what I'm not clear about, the advantage of doing it the SDV way instead. I'm wondering if they didn't have the bandwidth or some other technical issue, so they went SDV because for some reason it was easier than doing it like other pay channels. Or is there a capacity issue where they need to make some channels SDV.OK, Perhaps I got a bit carried away in my original description of SDV with the details, that the concept got lost. Let me try again.

The whole motivation behind SDV is that the typical cable system does not have enough bandwidth to carry all the HD channels that people want. Now, studies have shown that there are many channels that most folks don't watch. In fact, in any given neighborhood, only a small percentage of channels have anyone watching at any given time. So, the idea here is that rather than sending these channels out all the time, just send them out when someone wants to watch. This allows them to have a large number of channels AVAILABLE, but bandwidth isn't taken up with folks not watching. So, when someone with a cable box tunes to one of these available channels, the local "node" sends it out. And stops sending it out when there is no box tuned to it.

HBO is ALWAYS ON (and taking space), even though only those paying for it are able to decode it, and receive it.

The basic technology for SDV has been in place for some time with "On-Demand". That is, the cable system was broken up into local "nodes" or around 500 homes, each one able to supply the whims of individual viewers. For SDV, they needed to add some additional equipment to each node. So it is a step beyond "On-Demand".

sirjonsnow

04-10-08, 07:27 PM

Thank you! That's what I was wondering, why they did some channels one way and some another - that it's because they only have so much bandwidth.

Seems like a better solution would be to make every channel use SDV, then bandwidth usage would plummet and they would be able to carry a lot more HD channels instead of parceling them out. I'm sure that would require a lot of back-end work and new hardware.

holl_ands

04-11-08, 03:39 AM

diy_canuck

04-11-08, 12:10 PM

Thanks! Unfortunately our VS/Golf HD Channel isn't showing the guide yet (only started getting the channel on Monday (?). I didn't see these responses until today and I just watched last night's games in SD :( . I will definitely check it out tonight.

\crosses fingers!
Just to update. The NHL playoff games were on my new VS/Golf HD channel lastnight, as others pointed out it was golf when I got home from work and then I went to watch the Detroit/Nashville game at 7 and sure enough the channel had the game on in HD.

Thanks again to the posters who mentioned this.

Stan54

04-11-08, 04:33 PM

SDV is incompatible with one-way CableCARD equipped HDTVs and TiVo Series3.
TiVo is working on a "Tuning Resolver" dongle to add two-way controls....
But HDTV manufacturers probably won't modify their firmware.

So for now they are limiting SDV to "extra cost" Tiers....and require an STB or DVR.

BTW: Only about half of all cable users subscribe to digital cable.
The other half still watches all analog cable channels and don't want
inconvenience and extra cost of a cable box for every TV/VCR/DVD Recorder.

I do not subscribe to digital cable (TWC). I use a cablecard on my playroom set to get all of the HD channels TWC offers except the 4 premiums (HBO, etc.). This includes HD Net, Universal, MOJO and the others. So far, so good with the cablecard.

My wife is satisfied with using the QAM tuner on her bedroom set to watch the locals in HD plus all of the analogs.

In the next several months, I anticipate buying a 3rd set for the livingroom which will, actually, receive the most viewing time. I expect that I will, then, have to go for a settop box because most HDTV's do not seem to offer cablecard anymore and QAM is only for locals. I still only want the analog channels (2 through 74) and HDTV (minus HBO, etc.), but I'm guessing that I will be forced to buy "digital service" although I don't really know why that would be. Maybe I'm wrong.

Dave, you understand the system and I have learned about SDV from your postings. I still don't know enough to ask a good question, I guess, so would you make a comment just based on what I have said above?

When I stop to think about it, boxes for 3 tv's ($8 per mo. x 3 = $24) seems ridiculous. Even one box is one box too many as far as I am concerned.

davehancock

04-11-08, 05:20 PM

So for now they are limiting SDV to "extra cost" Tiers....That's not really true (at least in most TW areas that have deployed SDV). They have pretty much limited SDV to new HD channels - but other than being on the "digital tier" these channels are not extra cost". The following are currently the SDV HD channels in Rochester, NY:
Lifetime Movie
MTV HD
CNNHD
TLC HD
Science HD
Discovery HD
Outdoor HD
MSG HD
NHL HD
Food HD
SNY HD
TBS HD
ESPN2 HD
Universal HD
National Geographic HD
Home & Garden HD
History HD
Animal Planet HD

And they are adding more next Tuesday.

Note: A couple of the above (NHL and perhaps MSG) are part of a sports tier and do require a subscription to a tier to receive those.

davehancock

04-11-08, 05:27 PM

In the next several months, I anticipate buying a 3rd set for the livingroom which will, actually, receive the most viewing time. I expect that I will, then, have to go for a settop box because most HDTV's do not seem to offer cablecard anymore and QAM is only for locals. I still only want the analog channels (2 through 74) and HDTV (minus HBO, etc.), but I'm guessing that I will be forced to buy "digital service" although I don't really know why that would be. Maybe I'm wrong.

Dave, you understand the system and I have learned about SDV from your postings. I still don't know enough to ask a good question, I guess, so would you make a comment just based on what I have said above?You might want to hold off buying that TV till "tru2way" (http://www.cablelabs.com/news/pr/2008/08_pr_tru2way_ces_011508.html) technology comes along. This technology will fulfill the CableCARD promise and allow operation of devices supporting "tru2way" technology to fully iintegrate into cable systems (including SDV). Panasonic & LG announced such products at the last CES.

bernie33

04-11-08, 06:27 PM

I do not subscribe to digital cable (TWC). I use a cablecard on my playroom set to get all of the HD channels TWC offers except the 4 premiums (HBO, etc.). This includes HD Net, Universal, MOJO and the others. So far, so good with the cablecard.

My wife is satisfied with using the QAM tuner on her bedroom set to watch the locals in HD plus all of the analogs.

In the next several months, I anticipate buying a 3rd set for the livingroom which will, actually, receive the most viewing time. I expect that I will, then, have to go for a settop box because most HDTV's do not seem to offer cablecard anymore and QAM is only for locals. I still only want the analog channels (2 through 74) and HDTV (minus HBO, etc.), but I'm guessing that I will be forced to buy "digital service" although I don't really know why that would be. Maybe I'm wrong.

Dave, you understand the system and I have learned about SDV from your postings. I still don't know enough to ask a good question, I guess, so would you make a comment just based on what I have said above?

When I stop to think about it, boxes for 3 tv's ($8 per mo. x 3 = $24) seems ridiculous. Even one box is one box too many as far as I am concerned.
HD transmissions are digital. Digital transmissions can be SD or HD, but HD is always digital. SD can be digital or analog.

It sounds like you do not have a DVR. I understand why you don't want one on every TV in your house, but especially on the main one, you'll be amazed at how invaluable a DVR becomes almost instantly. The obvious use is for having it automatically record programs that your family likes to watch so that you watch them at your convenience. But my wife just said "I love being able to do that" for a different reason. The news was reporting a major, fatal traffic accident that is still being worked. I overheard from another room and asked where the accident is. She simply backed up the DVR to replay the story from the beginning for me.

Bernie

danki6x

04-11-08, 07:21 PM

When I stop to think about it, boxes for 3 tv's ($8 per mo. x 3 = $24) seems ridiculous. Even one box is one box too many as far as I am concerned.Our digital service is cheaper than 'standard' so with one box they are pretty close to the same. I then just watch the regular analog on the other TVs without a box (no QAM on them or could get that too). /Dan

xenophonite

04-14-08, 03:46 PM

davehancock

04-14-08, 04:49 PM

Is TWC planning to use MPEG4 for SDC?
Will bitrates be higher?
Is the HD Showcase On Demand considered SDV?

I have the SA8300HDC with Navigator in Kansas City.. am ready and waiting for more HD channels.What is SDC? You must mean SDV. No, TWC is not going to be using MPEG 4 anywhere in the near future as NONE of the cable boxes currently being deployed can decode it.

Bitrates will not be higher with SDV. In fact, under certain circumstances, they may be lower.

HD Showcase On Demand is not SDV - though there are some simularities. Generally, if a particular system is capable of SDV, then it is capable of On Demand. But not the other way around.

SPG1

04-14-08, 06:03 PM

I have a card slot on the front of my 8300HD. What is it for?

AlbanyHDTV

04-14-08, 06:05 PM

I have a card slot on the front of my 8300HD. What is it for?
It is a credit card reader slot. It is not in use.

acs12798

04-14-08, 06:07 PM

I have a card slot on the front of my 8300HD. What is it for?

Its for Smart Cards. Certain cable companies(like Cablevision) use it for security.

SPG1

04-14-08, 06:09 PM

Thanks, I was wondering what that was.

kethdredd

04-14-08, 06:54 PM

BTW: Only about half of all cable users subscribe to digital cable.
The other half still watches all analog cable channels and don't want
inconvenience and extra cost of a cable box for every TV/VCR/DVD Recorder.

Well this may be true but the cable people are using the "digital switch" to get people to switch over to digital cable. They got my Mother to switch over because "they are going to do it in 2009 anyways".

xenophonite

04-14-08, 11:33 PM

What is SDC? You must mean SDV. No, TWC is not going to be using MPEG 4 anywhere in the near future as NONE of the cable boxes currently being deployed can decode it.

Bitrates will not be higher with SDV. In fact, under certain circumstances, they may be lower.

HD Showcase On Demand is not SDV - though there are some simularities. Generally, if a particular system is capable of SDV, then it is capable of On Demand. But not the other way around.

Yeah, I meant SDV. MPEG4 is simply a codec and the newer boxes are like computers. Why can't they just upload an MPEG4 decoder to some of the newer boxes? It's no different than a Treo or WM phone, where you can add various video codecs to video players, including MPEG4... if a phone can do it...

Bummer that bitrates won't improve. I hope they'll be some kind of improvement of the quality. On my 52" 1080p Vizio, I can see blockiness with high speed jerky images moreso than my smaller LCD, even on HBO and the HQ channels. Could be my Vizio but I suspect it's the somewhat low bitrate of the video itself with MPEG2.

So anyone know when SDV will hit KC TWC? Last year they told me early this year.

acs12798

04-15-08, 01:02 AM

Yeah, I meant SDV. MPEG4 is simply a codec and the newer boxes are like computers. Why can't they just upload an MPEG4 decoder to some of the newer boxes? It's no different than a Treo or WM phone, where you can add various video codecs to video players, including MPEG4... if a phone can do it...

Bummer that bitrates won't improve. I hope they'll be some kind of improvement of the quality. On my 52" 1080p Vizio, I can see blockiness with high speed jerky images moreso than my smaller LCD, even on HBO and the HQ channels. Could be my Vizio but I suspect it's the somewhat low bitrate of the video itself with MPEG2.

So anyone know when SDV will hit KC TWC? Last year they told me early this year.

I would guess(and it is just a guess) that these boxes are designed with just enough power to decode the mpeg2 stream. Mpeg4 takes more power to decode, and so the boxes may not be able to do so. I believe the newest cable models accounted by the manufacturers support Mpeg4, but no one I know of has announced deploying them.

sirjonsnow

04-15-08, 09:57 AM

Dave - what channels are they adding to Rochester today? I can't seem to find it on the TWC site.

davehancock

04-15-08, 10:38 AM

Dave - what channels are they adding to Rochester today? I can't seem to find it on the TWC site.Yeh, I misspoke - will be here on the 22nd. Must be fixated on today being TAX day.

SPG1

04-15-08, 08:53 PM

xnappo

04-15-08, 08:59 PM

I don't understand why TWC doesn't get agreements to add HD channels in ALL their divisions. That way everybody would have the same amount of HD channels and people wouldn't complain that their division of TWC has barely any HD channels.

From the way our local guys talk, I think they are moving the contracts to be that way... Slowly...

xnappo

toxteth

04-16-08, 08:56 AM

Might not be the correct thread, but has anyone seen any updates on the TWC vs. NFL network battle?

Gooddog

04-16-08, 09:51 AM

I don't understand why TWC doesn't get agreements to add HD channels in ALL their divisions. That way everybody would have the same amount of HD channels and people wouldn't complain that their division of TWC has barely any HD channels.

I believe they do make agreements that cover all divisions. The issue is not all the divisions have the bandwidth to carry everything. The local divisions determine what they carry out of the pool of channels that TWC has carriage agreements with.

reuthermonkey

04-16-08, 11:36 AM

Might not be the correct thread, but has anyone seen any updates on the TWC vs. NFL network battle?

from what I can tell, nothing new. Until the NFL network offers TWC the same agreement that they offered Comcast (sports tier OK), TWC won't let down. Good for TWC.

dj9

04-16-08, 01:47 PM

Yeah, I meant SDV. 0MPEG4 is simply a
codec and the newer boxes are like computers.

Nearly all STBs have either specialized video decoding hardware or a SoC (system on chip) that has one or more slower general-purpose processing cores that drive separate video decoders. This includes digital TV receivers, DVRs, DVD/Blu-ray players, network media players, and more. The general-purpose CPU is comparatively slow (250 MHz SPARC on the 8300HD; two MIPS cores at up to 400MHz on Blu-ray plyers based on the BCM7440 (http://www.broadcom.com/collateral/pb/7440-PB02-R.pdf).) Most devices that deal with DRM probably have separate processors to decipher that, too.

This should cheaper than buying one fast CPU, even though modern processors are perfectly capable of decoding high-bitrate MPEG-4 AVC video. Specialized processors are also more efficient, which means devices need less cooling and dissipate less heat. The Xbox 360 and PS3 decode HD DVD and Blu-ray in software, but they are an exception.

Early DVD capable computers had MPEG2 decoding hardware; recent nVidia and ATI cards also can perform almost all H.264 decoding work.

Devices based on specialized video processors are not nearly as flexible. This is evident with the early Blu-ray players that can't be upgraded (v. the PS3) and the inability to fully accelerate H.264 streams that use features unsupported by HD DVD/Blu-ray on recent ATI and nVidia hardware.

I'd assume that most portable video devices also use specialized hardware (digital cameras, camcorders, portable video players).

Why can't they just upload an MPEG4 decoder to some of the newer boxes? It's no different than a Treo or WM phone, where you can add various video codecs to video players, including MPEG4... if a phone can do it...
It's not that simple. These devices cannot play more complex, higher resolution/bitrate video. PDAs have fast CPUs to perform more advanced tasks quickly; these CPUs also happen to be fast enough to playback low-res video.

SPG1

04-16-08, 05:17 PM

I say TWC puts NFL Network on the Digital Sports Tier, which costs $2.50 a month here in Staten Island. Currently, for $2.50 a month I get NHL Network, NHL Network HD, CSTV, Tennis Channel, and about 6 college channels. Now add NFL Network and NFL Network HD, and you got a sweet package for only $2.50 a month. That is, if they don't raise the price after adding NFL Network and NFL Network HD................... And if they do add NFL Network, it better not take them 2 months to add NFL Network HD. They did that to us here in Staten Island when they launched NHL Network. We didn't get NHL Network HD until 2 months later.....

Gary J

04-16-08, 05:22 PM

I say TWC puts NFL Network on the Digital Sports Tier

The NFL Network doesn't say that.

SPG1

04-16-08, 05:26 PM

The NFL Network doesn't say that.
I know, TWC says that, right? Anyway it would make both sides happy. But what i want is for them to just add it to the regular lineup, not a sports package, but if it's neccesary for TWC to put it on the digital sports tier, then so be it. I have the Digitial Sports Tier because of NHL Network. TWC didnt have any problems with NHL Network. WHY are they having problems with NFL Network?

SPG1

04-16-08, 05:30 PM

TWC eventually has to agree with the NFL Network to put it on the regular lineup. But if they don't eventually TWC will just put it on the Digital Sports Tier. I'd rather them put it on the regular lineup and not make us pay $2.50 a month just for 1 channel.

Gary J

04-16-08, 05:37 PM

TWC eventually has to agree

Why? They have not agreed for two years running now. What makes you think you will not pay $2.50 either way?

davehancock

04-16-08, 05:50 PM

SPG1

04-16-08, 05:52 PM

Why? They have not agreed for two years running now. What makes you think you will not pay $2.50 either way?
Well i already subsribe to the Digital Sports Tier, but I rather them put it on the regular tier so we DONT have to pay for the channel.

SPG1

04-16-08, 05:54 PM

Because NFL wants them to PAY a high per subscriber price, but insists that it be on the expanded basic (most popular tier). In other words, they are NOT willing to settle on a sports tier - even though they did that with others.
I wish that TWC and NFL Network would just agree on putting it on the regular lineup so we don't have to pay anything.

SPG1

04-16-08, 05:56 PM

Here's another one, why don't we have Sci-Fi HD? It seems everybody else has it but TWC.

danki6x

04-16-08, 06:05 PM

Well i already subsribe to the Digital Sports Tier, but I rather them put it on the regular tier so we DONT have to pay for the channel.
But, all will pay whether they ever watch it or not. TWC cannot absorb the price of the channel and keep the current rates. Our Sports Tier is $5, so I would suspect it would also jump to $5 for all. It is amazing that we are used to paying for TV channels with commercials too. What next, paying for tap water in a bottle? /Dan

danki6x

04-16-08, 06:12 PM

I sent a paper letter regarding HD and a week after I mailed it I had a phone call from an assistant to the VP with notes from the VP. Apparently they meet daily (I think she said) and they discussed some of my issues and I gave her a couple more on the phone. Anyway, the meat that you might be interested in... She read the list of HD to be added in Orange (the city of, which I think would for sure cover many areas of the Los Angeles metro area, and it was quite large (15 or so but was listening for my favorites and not counting). Sounded like the ones San Diego just got. She said all should be active by end of year with most scheduled by August. She also said some of the limiting rules have been dropped or relaxed and they can get rid of some of the "must carry rule" channels and move things off analog to get the bandwidth. Paper letters do work best with TWC unless you like the boiler plate e-mail replies. /Dan

davehancock

04-16-08, 06:36 PM

I wish that TWC and NFL Network would just agree on putting it on the regular lineup so we don't have to pay anything.But that's where you have it wrong - FL wants $1/month/subscriber - so we ALL (even if we don't want NFL) will pay AT least $1/month more if they put it on the regular basic tier.

SPG1

04-16-08, 08:46 PM

But that's where you have it wrong - FL wants $1/month/subscriber - so we ALL (even if we don't want NFL) will pay AT least $1/month more if they put it on the regular basic tier.
Yeah, most likely we will all have to pay more if they add NFL Network.....

davehancock

04-16-08, 08:49 PM

Yeah, most likely we will all have to pay more if they add NFL Network.....But you said:
Originally Posted by SPG1
I wish that TWC and NFL Network would just agree on putting it on the regular lineup so we don't have to pay anything.
:rolleyes:

I (as do most TW customers) prefer NOT to PAY!

SPG1

04-16-08, 09:04 PM

But you said:
:rolleyes:

I (as do most TW customers) prefer NOT to PAY!
Both sides; TWC and NFL Network are WRONG, because they still don't have an agreement, and TWC is WRONG even more because they want us to pay more. I don't think they will ever have an agreement.

Sorry if I am confusing any of you...

davehancock

04-16-08, 09:15 PM

Both sides; TWC and NFL Network are WRONG, because they still don't have an agreement, and TWC is WRONG even more because they want us to pay more. I don't think they will ever have an agreement.

Sorry if I am confusing any of you...Yes, your logic is a bit flawed here (or at least it is hard to see). If TW has to pay NFL $1/month for each and every basic subscriber, you do not think that the bill for each and every basic subscriber will go UP by AT LEAST $1/month.

You said: Originally Posted by SPG1
I wish that TWC and NFL Network would just agree on putting it on the regular lineup so we don't have to pay anything.

How can that be? How can TWC be wrong. You expect them to increase their costs FOR EVERYONE, to satisfy a limited portion of their subscribers - AND NOT RECOVER their costs? Dream on.

WilliamR

04-17-08, 09:01 AM

Gary J

04-17-08, 09:30 AM

Do you think it is best asking us, them or the local thread?

davehancock

04-17-08, 11:13 AM

Okay, approaching the end of April. Still no new HD channels in my part of NE Ohio (even though a city a few miles away has them). Can someone explain again why this can happen. I've heard people say its because each office does their own, etc. but what is preventing that office/location from doing the switch. Do they have to re-write the software themselves or something. Isn't it rather simple to switch over/add new channels, especially if it is already being done in other cities?Adding new HD channels takes a lot of bandwidth on the cable system. There are several approaches to this (but all of them take work on your local system). The most common approaches are:

Increase system bandwidth: Involves replacing all of the amplifiers and many lines in the system - all local work. Most of the larger systems today are 866MHz (or even 1Ghz) - but smaller systems (even if part of a big company like TW) may not be.
Use Switched Digital Video: Divide system up into local nodes and send signals out on node only when someone on node wants to receive them. This takes changes in the system AND cable box software that works with SDV. The Passport software that TW uses does not work with SDV (SARA does), so TW has decided in those areas to migrate to Navigator - which has been loaded with problems. That is most likely what is happening in your area.
Drop analog channels: A popular approach with the videophiles here, but one that creates HUGE problems for the majority of "regular" cable customers. This leave lots of room for HD (TWO digital HD channels take the same space as ONE SD analog one).
Compress existing HD channels to cram THREE HD stations into the space of TWO. Comcast seems to be taking this approach and is not one that I would like to see (I prefer fewer, but better quality HD to more crappy HD)

FromTheBalcony

04-17-08, 12:08 PM

I'm a huge NFL fan, but the NFL Network has to be one of the most amateurish channels I've ever seen. Gumbel being gone may help, but it's still painful to watch any of their programming. I'll give TWC a rare pass on this one.

Stan54

04-17-08, 01:21 PM

I really do not want TWC to carry the NFL Network unless it is on the Sports Tier and it should be turned off in the off-season so that it does not use valuable bandwidth. The same should be true of other seasonal sports.

We have a fine setup now with ESPN and a regional all-sports channel. This takes care of our basic appetite for sports. One-sport channels should be handled economically, efficiently and effectively on a specialty sports tier paid for by those that have the extra money necessary to satisfy their every desire.

Think of it! There are 8,760 hours in a year. The NFL Network offers, perhaps, 24 to 30 hours per year of significant programming.

Frankly, I think this is the time to draw a line in the sand.

lokilarry

04-17-08, 01:39 PM

SPG1

04-17-08, 03:13 PM

The way things are going between TWC and NFL Network, i dont think we will ever get the channel.....

WilliamR

04-17-08, 03:43 PM

Do you think it is best asking us, them or the local thread?

Us.

They will just lie.

Local thread doesn't seem to have the same amount of expertise as this general thread.

This thread is about Time Warner HD. My question is exactly about how Time Warner does HD. What is the problem?

lokilarry

04-17-08, 03:43 PM

The way things are going between TWC and NFL Network, i dont think we will ever get the channel.....

I think you are right.:(

Gary J

04-17-08, 03:52 PM

Isn't it rather simple to switch over/add new channels, especially if it is already being done in other cities?

Adding a new channel is trivial. When TWC announced a deal for ESPNHD a few years ago we had it one hour later. That is the only sentence with a question mark I see. ;)

reuthermonkey

04-17-08, 05:50 PM

I know, TWC says that, right? Anyway it would make both sides happy. But what i want is for them to just add it to the regular lineup, not a sports package, but if it's neccesary for TWC to put it on the digital sports tier, then so be it. I have the Digitial Sports Tier because of NHL Network. TWC didnt have any problems with NHL Network. WHY are they having problems with NFL Network?
I wish that TWC and NFL Network would just agree on putting it on the regular lineup so we don't have to pay anything.
We ALL have to pay more if that's the case.

TW isn't having problems with the NFL Network. The NFL Network doesn't want to agree to the same offer that that the NFL Network gave Comcast (sports tier).

They're trying to screw TW by forcing all subs pay for the NFL Network. I'm not going to pay higher rates so you can watch 8 measly games.

Either the NFL Network gives TWC the same offer that they gave Comcast, or they don't get a deal. The only people who should get charged for specialty NFL, NBA, NHL, etc.. networks with such limited programming are people who watch them.

reuthermonkey

04-17-08, 05:55 PM

I think we all should agree to disagree. There are those of us who want the NFL network (myself included) and those that don't. Neither side will convince the other of their argument. There are plenty of channels (some in HD, no less) that are taking up bandwidth that I never care to watch - i.e. Lifetime Movies HD, Food HD, etc. There are other threads on the AVS forum that specifically address the issues between the NFL and TWC. It might be best to take this discussion there.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=704702&highlight=nfl+network+time+warner

Before I finish, however, let me say that every other large service provider carries the NFL network - Dish, Directv, Comcast, etc.

Last I checked, even Lifetime Movies and Food Network have more than a handful of hours of real programming each week. What's so unacceptable to you about having NFL Network on the sports tier like the NHL and NBA networks, CSTV, and Fox Soccer are?

Whether you concede it or not, the NFL Network wants a special agreement with TW that it didn't desire for the other cable operators.

SPG1

04-17-08, 09:25 PM

When are they going to add Speed Channel HD in Staten Island, or for the matter, anywhere? Its 30 days till the NASCAR Sprint Cup All-Star Race and I wont be able to see it in HD. :(

acs12798

04-18-08, 12:37 AM

Albany has added ESPN News, Travel Channel and WNYA(MyNetworkTV) In HD.

Our Lineup is now

803 HD PPV
1800 Movies on Demand HD
1801 HD Showcase
1804 WNYA HD
1805 TBS HD
1806 WRGBDT
1808 WXXADT
1810 WTENHD
1811 WMHTHD
1813 WNYTHD
1815 WCWN HD
1823 The Weather Channel HD
1825 Science Channel HD
1827 TNT HD
1835 Animal Planet HD
1836 Discovery Channel HD
1837 HD Theater
1838 A&E High Definition
1839 The History Channel HD
1840 Music: High Definition
1841 HGTV HD
1842 Food Network HD
1843 Travel Channel HD
1844 TLC HD
1846 CNN HD
1847 MSG: Madison Square Garden
1851 Fox Business Network
1855 MOJO
1857 HD Net
1858 HDNET Movies
1860 Universal HD
1864 Lifetime Movie Network East
1866 SportsNet NY HD
1867 Yankees Television HD
1869 ESPN-HD
1870 ESPN2 High Definition
1872 ESPN News HD
1873 Versus/Golf Channel HD
1874 Outdoor Channel HD
1875 NHL HD
1876 National Geographic HD
1880 HBO East High Definition
1882 HBO West High Definition
1883 Cinemax HD East
1884 Cinemax HD West
1885 Showtime High Definition
1890 Starz HD East
1891 Starz - West
1892 Starz Comedy HD
1893 Starz Kids and Family HD
1894 Starz Edge HD
1909 NBA League Pass HD
1929 NHL Center Ice HD
1929 MLB Extra Innings HD

skylab

04-18-08, 10:09 AM

Any news on the Mountain (HD)? D* has said it will carry it in SD only. Would love to have the option of catching some Mountain West football and basketball in HD. I have to admit, I never met a sports channel I didn't like. I'd much rather watch the sports networks like the Big Ten Network / the MTN/CSTV than 90% of what TWC carries on its non-sports channels.

If bandwidth is such an issue, TWC needs to bite the bullet and go all-digital (except for locals). How about adding a "women's issues" tier so I don't have to pay for all that stuff I never watch. Better yet, if TWC goes all digital, then ala-carte is the best option.

Gary J

04-21-08, 12:09 PM

Cable TV under fire for degrading HD quality
Owners of pricey home-entertainment systems complain quality isn't there
By Chris Williams
The Associated Press
updated 10:56 a.m. ET, Mon., April. 21, 2008

MINNEAPOLIS - In Brent Swanson's basement home theater, there should be nothing drab about "Battlestar Galactica." He's got a high-end projector that beams the picture onto a wall painted like a silver screen, and speakers loom in the corners, flanking two big subwoofers.

Yet when he tuned in Sci Fi HD for a recent episode filmed in high definition, the image was soft and the darkest parts broke up into large blocks with no definition. Explosions, he said, were just dull.

"It kind of looked like they took the standard definition and just blew it up," said Swanson, a 33-year-old graphic designer and videographer who subscribes to Comcast Corp.'s TV service. "I couldn't really tell if what I was seeing was really better than what I saw on regular television."

As cable TV companies pack ever more HD channels into limited bandwidth, some owners of pricey plasma, projector and LCD TVs are complaining that they're not getting the high-def quality they paid for. They blame the increased signal compression being used to squeeze three digital HD signals into the bandwidth of one analog station.

Limited capacity
The problem is viewers want more HD channels at a time when many cable and satellite providers are at the limits of their capacity, said Jim Willcox, a technology editor for Consumer Reports magazine.

"They have to figure out a way to deliver more HD content through their distribution networks," he said.

Compressing the signal is cheaper than costly infrastructure upgrades to increase capacity. Satellite TV providers — including DirecTV Group Inc. and Dish Network Corp. — also have the option of launching satellites to boost the number of HD channels on their systems.

While information is nearly always lost when signals are compressed and then uncompressed, the process can theoretically be made unnoticeable to eyes and ears — and Comcast says it should be.

But some viewers say they can see it. Willcox said complaints about compression have been showing up on Web forums, including the AV Science Forum, a site for serious audio visual enthusiasts.

"It's not exclusively Comcast, although Comcast, being the largest cable provider, is probably the largest target," he said.

Derek Harrar, a Comcast senior vice president in charge of video, said the company recently began using new technology on some channels to compress three HD channels into the bandwidth of one analog station. Other channels continue to get the previous 2-to-1 compression.

In a posting on the AV Science Forum, Ken Fowler of Arlington, Va., compared Comcast signals with those on Verizon Communications Inc.'s all-fiber-optic network, which doesn't have the same capacity limitations. Fowler found the higher-compressed HD stations, including Sci Fi, Animal Planet, the Discovery Channel, the Food Network and A&E, fared particularly poorly.

He analyzed the signals by recording them on a digital recorder, then transferring them to a personal computer for analysis. He found there was much less data, measured in bit rates, flowing to some channels than others.

For example, Discovery's bit rate was 14.16 megabits per second on Verizon's FiOS system but only 10.43 Mbps on Comcast; A&E HD was 18.66 Mbps on FiOS compared with 14.48 Mbps on Comcast. The FiOS system didn't offer Sci Fi HD, which Fowler's testing showed at 12.59 Mbps on Comcast.

He found the signals from the major networks and ESPN weren't getting the increased compression.

In an interview, Fowler said he reran his analysis about two weeks ago and found "basically the same thing."

Philadelphia-based Comcast wouldn't identify specific signals that are 3-to-1 compressed, and a Sci Fi channel spokeswoman referred questions back to Comcast.

Harrar said the company works to make sure any new compression technology is invisible to consumers, but Comcast is "constantly monitoring our network and making adjustments" for best picture quality. The company has been rolling out the new compression technology at different times around the country.

In fact, postings on the AV Science Forum from early April suggest the Comcast network has improved in some places.

And there are other reasons a high-definition picture can appear subpar: The source image might not have been recorded in HD, or the television's settings, the viewing angle and even the ambient lighting in the room could be the cause.

Better compression?
New York-based Time Warner Cable Inc. has avoided many of the criticisms aimed at Comcast, although the companies are technologically similar and face the same capacity limits.

Time Warner spokesman Alex Dudley attributed it to his company's testing procedures. He said that before Time Warner rolls out new technology that may affect image quality, it sets up two identical televisions in a lab, one with the old signal and one with the new. Technicians make adjustments until the pictures can't be told apart.

"The testers are our engineers who we call 'golden eyes,' who have a proven track record of picking up subtle differences in picture quality," he said.

Verizon's FiOS doesn't compress the signal once it receives it, and Willcox said it's considered the picture quality "benchmark." However, Verizon said the system is growing but is now available only in parts of 17 states and has just over a million subscribers — compared with more than 24 million for Comcast.

He said two possible solutions are on the horizon, an improved version of compression, called MPEG-4, and something called "switched digital video."

Comcast and Time Warner Cable have introduced switched video on a trial basis across their networks. In concept, it's like on-demand videos. The company sends only the channels the viewer is watching, instead of all the channels at once.

But switched video has its own issues, including possible slower channel switching times and compatibility problems with digital video recorders.

Willcox said cable providers can't afford to ignore quality complaints. Many customers are already picky about quality after paying $800 to $3,500 for an average-size, HD-ready LCD television.

Swanson, the "Battlestar Galactica" fan, is sticking with Comcast for now.

"It hasn't gotten bad enough for me to consider changing," he said.

© 2008 The Associated Press. URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24238071/

Stan54

04-21-08, 05:51 PM

Kudos to Ken Fowler! His testing will keep them on their toes. Subscribers really have to push on this issue. Better picture beats more fringe channels every time.

xenophonite

04-21-08, 08:32 PM

I did some testing with the internal antenna vs TWC in Kansas City. The biggest difference I see is when a camera pans from side to side, there is slower refresh on TWC. On OTA antenna, I can never see any refresh problems with camera pans. There also seems to be slightly more contrast or some form of similar clarity with OTA. But the panning refresh is clearly an issue.

Have an SA8300HDC with Navigator.

Hopefully they'll use MPEG4 and higher bit rates when SDV is turned on.

davehancock

04-21-08, 08:37 PM

Hopefully they'll use MPEG4 and higher bit rates when SDV is turned on.NO WAY will MPEG4 be used when SDV is turned on. NONE of the boxes being used are capable of decoding MPEG4.

Run4two

04-21-08, 08:53 PM

Won't they change boxes eventually? Hopefully sooner than later with competition from D*.

davehancock

04-21-08, 08:58 PM

Won't they change boxes eventually? Hopefully sooner than later with competition from D*.It will take a long time to replace a significant number of boxes to make MPEG4 practical. In the meantime, SDV WILL allow TW to compete with D*.

GregLee

04-21-08, 09:02 PM

In the meantime, SDV WILL allow TW to compete with D*.
If so, why would TW ever switch to MPEG4? Where's the incentive for them to make that investment?

xenophonite

04-21-08, 09:15 PM

davehancock

04-21-08, 09:30 PM

MPEG4 is just a codec that can be installed like any software. The newer boxes are like computers and should allow this (if they don't, it is horrific forward planning as MPEG4 has been around for a while). Even my Treo phone has a player with MPEG4 among a bunch of other codecs. Since SDV is bidirectional communication, the player on the box should be able to identify if its MPEG2/4 and then the appropriate stream could be sent.That is pure BS - and that's been pointed out to you before. A 1080 x 1920 30fps image is quite a bit different than a Treo. NONE of the STBs (either cable boxes or dish boxes) can be upgraded to MPEG 4 by simply downloading a piece of code.

humdinger70

04-22-08, 02:50 AM

SPG1

04-22-08, 09:12 AM

When they become decently available, TW may switch to the Cisco 8550 series (which were announced at CES 2008 back in January), which can do both MPEG2 and MPEG4. After those puppies are more widely in place will cable start making the transition to MPEG4.
Thank God, the cable boxes we have now are sooooooo buggy

xnappo

04-22-08, 09:52 AM

When they become decently available, TW may switch to the Cisco 8550 series (which were announced at CES 2008 back in January), which can do both MPEG2 and MPEG4. After those puppies are more widely in place will cable start making the transition to MPEG4.

I wonder if the SDV/onDemand stuff is sophisticated enough that it could send an MPEG4 version if the box were capable...

xnappo

davehancock

04-22-08, 12:41 PM

I wonder if the SDV/onDemand stuff is sophisticated enough that it could send an MPEG4 version if the box were capable...

xnappoInteresting thought. I'll bet that they could do that but it would require additional fiber capacity to carry both MPEG2 and MPEG4 versions to the node.

xnappo

04-22-08, 12:46 PM

Interesting thought. I'll bet that they could do that but it would require additional fiber capacity to carry both MPEG2 and MPEG4 versions to the node.

For SDV, yes - so it would depend on how much fiber capacity they have.

For onDemand - doesn't that route all the way from the headend?

xnappo

davehancock

04-22-08, 01:02 PM

For onDemand - doesn't that route all the way from the headend?I believe so. But that is only sent to the node (hence the delay) when requested. So the request could include the MPEG version.

RudyG

04-22-08, 01:14 PM

I'm surprised no one has mentioned QAM. If TWC were to go to MPEG4 exclusively this would render QAM useless as I believe it is MPEG2 based.
Besides, for a company as enormous as TWC to move from MPEG2 to MPEG4 would take decades. Yes that's plural.

Rudy

davehancock

04-22-08, 01:25 PM

I'm surprised no one has mentioned QAM. If TWC were to go to MPEG4 exclusively this would render QAM useless as I believe it is MPEG2 based.Rudy, these are TWO different things. MPEG is a digital encoding/compression technique. QAM a method to modulate a digital signal (MPEG2, MPEG4 or some other encoding method) on a RF carrier. Cable, by in large, uses this technique for digital channels (be they SD, HD, or music).

Perhaps what you are really getting at, is what about those "in the clear" QAM channels that folks can pick up. Yes, the decoders that most QAM equipped sets have these days are just MPEG2. That's a part of the problem. But relatively few of the HD channels available today are "in the clear". Those will remain MPEG2 for some time.

sasmps

04-27-08, 12:44 PM

TWC is rolling out Select Digital Video in the KC Marketspace this month, and I have been looking into the Tuning Resolver Interface Spec published by Cable labs. This spec suggest a device is being built that pulgs into the USB port of your Tivo Series 3 or Tivo HD box that will allow 2 way communication within the TWC network allowing you to request a specific channel.

Previous press releases suggest the availability of this device 2nd Qtr 2008. I was wondering if anyone has more information, or perhaps has this device as a beta tester for TWC.

Also if there is a better place to post this please let me know.

Thanks!

davehancock

04-27-08, 01:55 PM

TWC is rolling out Select Digital Video in the KC Marketspace this month, We've been throwing around the acronym "SDV" so much now that we've lost sight of what it means: It is Switched Digital Video.

sasmps

04-27-08, 02:32 PM

Whoops.... thanks for the correction.

xenophonite

04-29-08, 01:44 PM

The first post in this thread says that SDV is deployed in Kansas City. Is it actually in use yet? How would I know? I have the 8300HDC.

xenophonite

04-29-08, 02:14 PM

That is pure BS - and that's been pointed out to you before. A 1080 x 1920 30fps image is quite a bit different than a Treo. NONE of the STBs (either cable boxes or dish boxes) can be upgraded to MPEG 4 by simply downloading a piece of code.

Not sure why you're calling out BS as I'm talking about what should be, not making claims of what is. The STB hardware is already capable of 1080x1920. Sad if the hardware makers didn't futureproof for MPEG4 as it's been around a long time. If it's not a simple download of piece of code, all I can say is very very poor planning as it's easy to add MPEG4 to software based players that allow codec plugins.

Gary J

04-29-08, 02:40 PM

The STB hardware is already capable of 1080x1920.

Don't try to tell John Mason (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6337518#post6337518) that.

reuthermonkey

04-29-08, 04:23 PM

The first post in this thread says that SDV is deployed in Kansas City. Is it actually in use yet? How would I know? I have the 8300HDC.

It is not deployed in Kansas City yet. Soon though. "summer" is the ETA.
EDIT: SDV is in fact enabled in Kansas City, MO. I just checked my SA8300 HD DVR and both pages 20 and 21 of the config pages shows SDV as being on.

Hopefully we'll finally get some new HD stations.

xnappo

04-29-08, 04:31 PM

Not sure why you're calling out BS as I'm talking about what should be, not making claims of what is. The STB hardware is already capable of 1080x1920. Sad if the hardware makers didn't futureproof for MPEG4 as it's been around a long time. If it's not a simple download of piece of code, all I can say is very very poor planning as it's easy to add MPEG4 to software based players that allow codec plugins.

Ummm, the 8300 is old. It runs on a 300MHz processor(or thereabouts). The only reason is can do MPEG2 in HD is because it has a custom chip designed to decode it. STBs don't use raw horsepower in a CPU to decode video. Because they are a custom application they design a system with ICs to do a specific task. This is more cost efficient.

[EDIT] 250Mhz http://www.dslreports.com/faq/sciatl/3.0_Cable_boxes#11925

xnappo

davehancock

04-29-08, 06:45 PM

Originally Posted by davehancock
That is pure BS - and that's been pointed out to you before. A 1080 x 1920 30fps image is quite a bit different than a Treo. NONE of the STBs (either cable boxes or dish boxes) can be upgraded to MPEG 4 by simply downloading a piece of code.Not sure why you're calling out BS as I'm talking about what should be, not making claims of what is.Because you previously (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=13642020&postcount=3677) said MPEG4 is simply a codec and the newer boxes are like computers. Why can't they just upload an MPEG4 decoder to some of the newer boxes? It's no different than a Treo or WM phone, where you can add various video codecs to video players, including MPEG4... if a phone can do it...And several folks pointed out reasons it is not so simple. But you continue to ignore the reality of processing HD data streams and again posted the same idea.

As xnappo points out, custom processors for decode are more cost efficient.

WilliamR

04-30-08, 09:03 AM

I just read an article that Time Warner is going to spin off its cable division because of continued losses.

jacksonian

04-30-08, 09:08 AM

I just read an article that Time Warner is going to spin off its cable division because of continued losses.
Care to link?

Gary J

04-30-08, 09:11 AM

If you are saying losses in the cable division you read it wrong.

reuthermonkey

04-30-08, 09:22 AM

Care to link?

If you are saying losses in the cable division you read it wrong.

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Time-Warner-To-Split-Off-Time-Warner-Cable-94013

Yes, he did read it wrong. TWC is one of the most profitable companies owned by TimeWarner. I'm confused on why they're doing this...

Gary J

04-30-08, 09:58 AM

I'm confused on why they're doing this...

The same shareholders would now have a stake in a company whose stock price would not be weighed down by unprofitable divisions. Wall Street uses terms like "unleashing shareholder value" for this.

carljanderson

04-30-08, 10:00 AM

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Time-Warner-To-Split-Off-Time-Warner-Cable-94013

Yes, he did read it wrong. TWC is one of the most profitable companies owned by TimeWarner. I'm confused on why they're doing this...

So Time Warner can get a HUGE infusion of cash in order to pay down debt, or to purchase some profitable media companies. TWX owns 84% of TWC stock currently, so judging from market value TWX stands to get about 20 billion in cash.

diy_canuck

04-30-08, 10:39 AM

For anyone that cares (I certainly don't as I would never watch this channel) as of last night I noticed TWC-Syracuse now has Lifetime-HD. (Channel 833 if I remember correctly)

MJinNC

04-30-08, 01:08 PM

So I keep hearing about D-tv's 80 national hd chanels, when is TWC in Se NC going to offer at least half of that. I currently get about 20 hd chanels with Unc-pbs being like 6 of them. Also whats up with CBS? survivor not in HD?

Marcus Carr

04-30-08, 02:04 PM

Time Warner: 3.4M HDTV Subscribers

The cable operator says the first quarter sub increase set a company record.

By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (April 30, 2008) -- Time Warner Cable says it now has 3.4 million High-Definition subscribers, representing 41 percent of its digital cable audience.

The cable operator made the disclosure today in an investors call following the release of its first quarter report.

Time Warner said HD customers increased by 418,000 in the first quarter, the highest increase ever for the company in one quarter.

Company CEO Glenn Britt also said that Time Warner Cable now offers more than 50 high-def channels in some markets and that capacity will soon no longer be an obstacle to expanding local HD lineups.

Time Warner is installing a new capacity-increasing technology called "Switched Digital Video."

"Once we have switching we can essentially add all the HD channels we can get our hands on," Britt said. "And so the gaiting factor is how many HD channels are really available as opposed to various marketing hype. Are they really available in a way that we can give them to customers? Then we have to have contracts for them and then launch them. So I think you should assume capacity is not the constraint -- it’s getting channels and signing contracts."

Britt added that some high-def channels may not be "terribly attractive" to consumers so Time Warner will not add them. He did not name specific channels.

"We are going for programming that we think consumers want," Britt said. "So since we are not trying to market by bragging about the number of channels, we’re going for quality, you may see a difference in our advertising versus some other competitors. But rest assured we are going to have everything that people really want."

Britt's comment was an apparent reference to DIRECTV's marketing campaign which says the satcaster has the most high-def channels with 95.

Time Warner COO Landel Hobbs said the company expects that 50 percent of its digital cable customers will subscribe to high-def by year's end.

http://www.tvpredictions.com/twhd043008.htm

xenophonite

04-30-08, 03:08 PM

"Time Warner COO Landel Hobbs said the company expects that 50 percent of its digital cable customers will subscribe to high-def by year's end."

I'd bet at least 10-20% of customers have hi-def TVs and don't know they need an HD cable box to get HD. I knew someone (in his 60's) who bought an HDTV and hooked it up to his cable box thinking he had HD. There are probably many out there who think they have HD but really don't.

WilliamR

04-30-08, 03:24 PM

The Business of Television
Time Warner to Unload Time Warner Cable
CEO Jeff Bewkes: Separation Imminent
By Glen Dickson & Robert Marich, Broadcasting & Cable, 4/30/2008

Media conglomerate Time Warner finally committed to spinning off its 84%-owned cable operation, Time Warner Cable, after floating the possibility for several years.

In announcing Time Warner’s first-quarter earnings -- which showed strong results from the cable unit and Time Warner’s programming networks but continued declines at its AOL unit -- CEO Jeff Bewkes said the separation of Time Warner Cable, the country’s second-largest operator behind Comcast, was imminent. But no details were immediately given on how the Time Warner Cable stock would be separated.

“We’ve decided that a complete structural separation of Time Warner Cable, under the right circumstances, is in the best interests of both companies’ shareholders,” Bewkes said in a statement. “We’re working hard on an agreement with Time Warner Cable, which we expect to finalize soon. At the same time, we’ll continue to pursue the rest of our aggressive agenda that we believe will deliver increasing value to our shareholders.”

In Time Warner earnings for the quarter ended March 31, net income slid 1% when excluding $670 million in one-time gains during the year-ago period from proceeds from asset sales. The company earned 21 cents per diluted share from continuing operations, one cent less than the consensus forecast of stock analysts, compared with 31 cents a year ago that was inflated by the year-ago asset sales. Excluding those asset sales, per-share earnings were flat.

Including the year-ago asset-sale gains, Time Warner net income declined 36% to $771 million. Revenues rose 2.1% to $11.42 billion from $11.18 billion.

“Our results this quarter -- particularly the underlying operating strength at our cable, networks and filmed-entertainment businesses -- gave us the confidence to reaffirm our full-year business outlook,” Bewkes said in a statement.

The current quarter was depressed by a one-time $116 million restructuring charge related to consolidating its New Line Cinema movie studio into Warner Bros.

In providing investors guidance, Time Warner forecasted that adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization will rise 7%-9% for the full year. That’s a healthy gain given the weak economy.

Time Warner Cable’s operating income was $636 million, up from $579 million in last year’s first quarter. Sanford C. Bernstein analyst Craig Moffett noted the cable unit’s strong performance in a research report, highlighting the fact that Time Warner Cable added 55,000 new basic-cable subscribers despite heightened competition from telephone-company competitors like Verizon Communications. That beat consensus estimates from Wall Street analysts of a loss of 32,000 basic subscribers.

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/ind...leID=CA6556092