Hmm.. I didn't realize SDV had such limitations. But I'm not exactly real clear on what they are...

Please confirm...
-SDV is limited to 3.5Mbps for channel?
-Too many watching the same channel is not a good thing? 500 viewer limit per neighborhood?

If this is the case, then maybe it should be standard def channels that use SDV and a few HD that don't tend to have high motion or are popular.

Makes even a bigger case that MPEG4 is now needed. And can SDV be upgraded to allow higher bandwidth? Is 500+ high quality HD channels really all that realistic?

The digital tier is full of SD stations which are sent digitally... SD != Analog.

It's a possibility that they're moving SD stations to SDV, but it seems pretty pointless.
If they want to free up bandwidth, they should move all HD stations to SDV first,
and then work on moving the rest of the digital tier to SDV.
SWITCHED DIGITAL VIDEO (SDV aka SDB)
IS NOW ACTIVATED ON TWC-SAN DIEGO.

In TWC-SD (San Diego), like most TWC systems, nearly all analog channels are REPLICATED
on the DIGITAL SIMULCAST tier, using six QAM carriers, up to 13 programs per carrier.

This means digital customers are not degraded by any A/D/A conversions IF the original source is
digital via fibre or SAT distribution to cable headend....which is the case for MANY so-called
"analog" channels. Notable exceptions: Travel, CMT, MTV, VH1, et al. (explains the terrible PQ).
[Check C-Band channel listings to see which channels are only available in analog to headends....]

BTW: Analog channels are now generated at each local node from the Digital Simulcast channels,
hence no analog distribution required (digitized or not) upstream from the local nodes.

This week, TWC-SD transitioned from test-only phase, enabling SDV for first set of 13 Digital
Simulcast channels: QVC, AMC, A&E, WE, SciFi, CMT, LMN, APL, TVLand, Golf, NGC, Travel and TVGuide.

In a typical neighborhood of say 400-500 subscribers, SDV can significantly reduce the
number of QAM carriers dedicated to Digital Simulcast, carrying only the programs actually
being watched by digital subscribers.

Of course, this is only the beginning.....

============================
On SA8300HD running MDN Navigator, Diagnostic Page 21 indicates Switched Digital Broadcast (aka SDV)
status and freq(s) used for SDB.....I had to watch for several minutes to see each freq displayed.
But take it with a grain of salt...they also displayed some freqs not actively used for SDB (future???).

Diagnostic Page 5 & 6 display freqs currently being used for tuner 1 and tuner 2....but since they swap
back and forth, it's not easy to see which is currently used....I changed channels several times to verify.
Over time, I could see different freqs being assigned to a particular program/channel.

Diagnostic Page 23 lists the program name. On our system they conveniently added "SDV" suffix
for the newly activated SDB/SDV programs.

============================
TWC-SOCAL is the collective name for three divisions in L.A. area:
http://www.timewarnercable.com/SoCal/AboutUs/socalteam.html

TWC-OC (Orange County) is further south....

585.000 MHz is the assigned frequency for SDV/SDB in San Diego. I guess More HD channels are on the way for non North County residents. I think the Family tier and some other channels are SDV. I somehow get the family tier as a freebie.

Hmm.. I didn't realize SDV had such limitations. But I'm not exactly real clear on what they are...

Please confirm...
-SDV is limited to 3.5Mbps for channel?
-Too many watching the same channel is not a good thing? 500 viewer limit per neighborhood?

If this is the case, then maybe it should be standard def channels that use SDV and a few HD that don't tend to have high motion or are popular.

Makes even a bigger case that MPEG4 is now needed. And can SDV be upgraded to allow higher bandwidth? Is 500+ high quality HD channels really all that realistic?The 3.75Mbps (not 3.5, as you stated) is for SD. Note that most of their experience when that article was posted (6/21/07was with SD (175 SD channels). Other SDV articles have indicated 2-3 HD channels per QAM (38Mbps per QAM).

585.000 MHz is the assigned frequency for SDV/SDB in San Diego. I guess More HD channels are on the way for non North County residents. I think the Family tier and some other channels are SDV. I somehow get the family tier as a freebie.Normally, there are multiple QAM channels assigned to the SDV pool. It really can't work effectively with just one.

-SDV is limited to 3.5Mbps for channel?

No, that is just the default TWC Austin was using for SD channels. They make a pool on a QAM and set the Mbps as appropriate for the content. The more MBps, the less channels that can use that QAM.


-Too many watching the same channel is not a good thing? 500 viewer limit per neighborhood?

It is just that if the channel is always watched, then there is no point in making it a switched channel. The whole idea of SDV is that out of 500 homes, at any given time many channel will go unwatched, so why send them out. For channels that SOMEONE out of the 500 is certainly going to be watching, there is no point in making it switched - you might as well assign it a permanent QAM.

xnappo

Clarification is needed for what defines "southern California" and which division of TWC supports which parts. It's a big area stretching all the way to the Mexican border.

TWC-SoCal is Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside County (maybe also Ventura County and parts of San Bernadino County) according to their coverage map.

TWC-San Diego is San Diego County only.

I have no idea what cable company supports Imperial County (maybe none because of its smaller population and mostly rural (i.e., farmlands) areas). Imperial County might actually get their support from Arizona.

FYI, San Diego County also is multi-operator for cable - TWC and Cox are the dominant companies, with Cox having the higher customer count. I don't have a coverage map handy, but the traditional dividing line in the City of San Diego proper has been the I-8 freeway - south of it, you're on Cox; north of it, you're on TWC. There are pockets outside of San Diego that are Cox, even though they're north of the I-8.

Up until recently, smaller companies provided service along the northern coastal areas until they were absorbed by Adelphia, which in turn was bought out by TWC. We still have issues, as the new 'TWC North County' area sometimes gets more HD than the regular TWC area.

More info (regarding HD for San Diego) usually on the local San Diego board here (http://hdtv.forsandiego.com).

I meant for SoCal is the non San Diego area. Orange County is probably what I meant. LA will probably get an upgraded network. Actually San Diego doesn't have SDV deployed yet. It's enabled but no channels are on SDV yet in San Diego.
Thanks hdtvfan2005.

Reading the local SoCal thread this morning sent me on a search for the TWC alerts page and on it was the announcement for the addition of the 12 channels you mentioned in your post. If this turns out to be true, I would be ecstatic and gladly admit that I was wrong. :) But I have to wait until the channels actually appear in my area. Here is the link to the announcement:

http://www.timewarnercable.com/socal/programming/alerts.html

As for the 70 channels they too were mentioned in the local thread, but I guess I'll leave that one alone. After all quality is more important than quantity anyway, and if they show up they show up. Kudos to TWC. Gotta give credit when and where it's due.

Rudy

great article! I hadn't read that before.Interesting article, which makes me curious if this is the reason why @ times when I select a channel on SDV I cannot receive that station, but generally receive it with no problem?

I have called TW regarding this issue on 2 occasions during the past month, which mysteriously clears up in a couple of days. :confused:

No, that is just the default TWC Austin was using for SD channels. They make a pool on a QAM and set the Mbps as appropriate for the content. The more MBps, the less channels that can use that QAM.


It is just that if the channel is always watched, then there is no point in making it a switched channel. The whole idea of SDV is that out of 500 homes, at any given time many channel will go unwatched, so why send them out. For channels that SOMEONE out of the 500 is certainly going to be watching, there is no point in making it switched - you might as well assign it a permanent QAM.

xnappo


Thanks, clearer now. Anyone have diagrams how SDV infrastructure looks like from source to end user?

Never mind, found this...
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/switched-digital-video1.htm

They changed their name to HD Theater.

Oh okay, thanks for the info!

Any idea when we're going to get CinemaxHD? We seem to have every Cinemax channel known to man except for the HD channel.

TWC SoCal does indeed include San Bernardino County.

Clarification is needed for what defines "southern California" and which division of TWC supports which parts. It's a big area stretching all the way to the Mexican border.

TWC-SoCal is Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside County (maybe also Ventura County and parts of San Bernadino County) according to their coverage map.

TWC-San Diego is San Diego County only.

I have no idea what cable company supports Imperial County (maybe none because of its smaller population and mostly rural (i.e., farmlands) areas). Imperial County might actually get their support from Arizona.

FYI, San Diego County also is multi-operator for cable - TWC and Cox are the dominant companies, with Cox having the higher customer count. I don't have a coverage map handy, but the traditional dividing line in the City of San Diego proper has been the I-8 freeway - south of it, you're on Cox; north of it, you're on TWC. There are pockets outside of San Diego that are Cox, even though they're north of the I-8.

Up until recently, smaller companies provided service along the northern coastal areas until they were absorbed by Adelphia, which in turn was bought out by TWC. We still have issues, as the new 'TWC North County' area sometimes gets more HD than the regular TWC area.

More info (regarding HD for San Diego) usually on the local San Diego board here (http://hdtv.forsandiego.com).

I think that Time Warner Desert Cities is part of The San Diego Area as the VP and Mgr. here is for --"Time Warner Cable, San Diego Division – Desert Cities" desert Cities is the Coachella Valley or Palm Springs area.
Roy

Albany TWC added four new HD channels last night (all SDV):

1834 Disney Channel HD
1886 Showtime West HD
1887 Showtime 2 HD
1888 TMC HD

Interesting note: No ABC Family HD. I thought ABC Family HD and Disney HD were a negotiated as a package deal?

"Time Warner Cable, San Diego Division – Desert Cities" desert Cities is the Coachella Valley or Palm Springs area."

Where NOTHING ever happens!

Albany TWC added four new HD channels last night (all SDV):

1834 Disney Channel HD
1886 Showtime West HD
1887 Showtime 2 HD
1888 TMC HD

Interesting note: No ABC Family HD. I thought ABC Family HD and Disney HD were a negotiated as a package deal?

I thought so too. I'm hoping ABC Family HD shows up tonight and this was just a roll out phase.

I'm in Rochester, NY. Saw that at sometime a TNHD has been added, it appears to be some cartoon channel, but NOT Cartoon Network.

Anyway, hope we get TMCHD soon, but I'm really waiting for SciFi HD

1887 Showtime 2 HD


I will be adding this to post 1

Just got the following in Austin:

1619 - Disney HD
1621 - ABC Family HD
1637 - ESPNews HD

xnappo

"Time Warner Cable, San Diego Division – Desert Cities" desert Cities is the Coachella Valley or Palm Springs area."

Where NOTHING ever happens!

Hey now! :D

Clarification is needed for what defines "southern California" and which division of TWC supports which parts. It's a big area stretching all the way to the Mexican border.

TWC-SoCal is Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside County (maybe also Ventura County and parts of San Bernadino County) according to their coverage map.

TWC-San Diego is San Diego County only.

I have no idea what cable company supports Imperial County (maybe none because of its smaller population and mostly rural (i.e., farmlands) areas). Imperial County might actually get their support from Arizona.

FYI, San Diego County also is multi-operator for cable - TWC and Cox are the dominant companies, with Cox having the higher customer count. I don't have a coverage map handy, but the traditional dividing line in the City of San Diego proper has been the I-8 freeway - south of it, you're on Cox; north of it, you're on TWC. There are pockets outside of San Diego that are Cox, even though they're north of the I-8.

Up until recently, smaller companies provided service along the northern coastal areas until they were absorbed by Adelphia, which in turn was bought out by TWC. We still have issues, as the new 'TWC North County' area sometimes gets more HD than the regular TWC area.

More info (regarding HD for San Diego) usually on the local San Diego board here (http://hdtv.forsandiego.com).

I did a search via TWC's web site...

For California, TWC does have cable in El Centro and they share resources with Yuma, AZ. Yuma supports eastern Imperial County and into AZ, EL Centro supports western Imperial County.

There is a separate division for Desert Cities. Maybe they share admin with San Diego? (I don't know - I don't think so)

Even Barstow has its own division.

NFL in Talks With ESPN,
In Bid to End Cable Battle
Proposed Venture
Would Add Games
For Many Viewers
By SAM SCHECHNER, MATTHEW FUTTERMAN and MERISSA MARR
June 21, 2008

Seeking to end an embarrassing dispute that kept live pro football games out of many homes, the National Football League's NFL Network is in talks to form a partnership with Walt Disney Co.'s ESPN cable sports network, according to people familiar with the situation.

An agreement would represent a big shift in strategy for the NFL: abandoning its effort to force cable operators into carrying its own network and thus paying it lucrative monthly fees. It would also send a message to other professional sports, which have enjoyed rising television fees for years, that even the biggest and most powerful league in the U.S. cannot launch a new channel without the consent of giant cable operators such as Comcast Corp. and Time Warner Cable Inc.


Getty Images
The NFL Network Total Access television show with (left to right) Marshall Faulk, Team Owner Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys, Deion Sanders broadcasts from the field level at the Dallas Cowboys game against the Green Bay Packers on November 29, 2007 at Texas Stadium.
For fans, a deal could close a bitter standoff between the league and four of the nation's largest cable operators that has left live games on Thursday and Saturday nights unavailable to many cable subscribers.

NFL executives including Steven Bornstein, chief executive of the NFL Network and previously chairman of ESPN and president of Disney's ABC network, have been holding high-level discussions with Disney executives in recent months, according to several people familiar with the situation. Some team owners have been briefed on the discussions, and Disney CEO Robert Iger and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell have been involved, these people said.

One likely scenario that has been discussed would involve combining the NFL Network with the ESPN Classic network, which has relatively low ratings but fairly wide distribution. ESPN would broadcast eight more games per season on ESPN Classic, according to Derek Baine, a senior analyst for SNL Kagan.

Under such a scenario, ESPN and the NFL could form a joint venture and share revenue, or ESPN could take an equity stake in the channel.

To be sure, there is no guarantee the two sides will reach a deal. Talks have been under way for some time, and an agreement doesn't appear to be imminent, according to people familiar with the situation.

"We have a long-term and extensive relationship with the NFL and to that end we are always in discussion with them about mutual projects,'' said Mike Soltys, vice president of communications for ESPN.

Dennis Johnson, an NFL Network spokesman, said: "We are in talks with ESPN and our other broadcast partners all the time about a wide range of issues."

The NFL ran up against the cable operators in early 2006, when the league decided to withhold eight games from its lucrative TV licensing packages to put on its own channel. In effect, the league was giving up the hundreds of millions of dollars it would have received if it had licensed rights to those games to a sports network. Instead, it sought to put those games on its own channel, creating a valuable cable asset with no middleman. The NFL also may have misplayed its hand in demanding about 70 cents per subscriber, high for a channel with so few games per season. Cable operators balked, and football fans didn't protest as much as the league thought they might.

Time Warner Cable, the country's second-largest cable operator, has refused to carry the NFL Network on the league's terms. Comcast, the country's largest cable operator, pulled the NFL Network from millions of homes after a bruising bitter battle over the rights to the eight games, for which it had offered over $400 million.

The NFL Network's major distribution is on satellite service DirecTV. It is available in approximately 40.3 million homes, according to Nielsen Media Research, roughly one-third of all households with TV. It averaged 196,000 viewers during prime-time in 2007, according to Nielsen. ESPN Classic is in 62.7 million homes, according to ESPN.

For football fans who don't already receive the NFL Network, the merger would likely bring those eight games into their living rooms for the first time. But if ESPN gets a price increase, it could also boost cable fees across the board.

The merger would give an edge to ESPN over its broadcast competitors, and provide a boost in subscriber revenue for ESPN Classic, which averaged only 107,000 viewers in 2007, according to Nielsen. It would also be a bitter pill for Mr. Bornstein, who was a rival of Disney CEO Mr. Iger when he was at Disney.

The writing may have been on the wall for the NFL network since late December. The network was scheduled to be the exclusive national broadcaster of one of the most highly anticipated events of the season: the game in which the New England Patriots defeated the New York Giants to become the NFL's first regular-season undefeated team since the 1972 Miami Dolphins. (The Giants later beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl.)

Politicians, including Sen. John Kerry (D., Mass.), urged the league to make the game more widely available -- and the NFL eventually capitulated, allowing both CBS and NBC to broadcast the game. The move undercut its negotiating position, by signaling that the league could be strong-armed into opening up a sufficiently important match-up to a wider audience.

SDV is being deployed in San Diego. They changed the frequency to 747.000 MHz from 585.000 MHz. It's not commercially being deployed but they are creating unknown digital simulcast channels to test out the system.

There is a separate division for Desert Cities. Maybe they share admin with San Diego? (I don't know - I don't think so)We're a satellite (no pun intended) division of TW San Diego. According to their websites, they have the same head guy as VP General Manager.

I know for sure (from long, painful experience) that our customer service calls get routed to the San Diego C.S. unit.

Hey now! :D

Sorry. Should have said, "with TWC". :o

SDV is being deployed in San Diego. They changed the frequency to 747.000 MHz from 585.000 MHz. It's not commercially being deployed but they are creating unknown digital simulcast channels to test out the system.As I pointed out to you two days ago (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=14115884&postcount=4012): Normally, there are multiple QAM channels assigned to the SDV pool. It really can't work effectively with just one. What you are seeing is probably just the use of different QAM channels in the pool. We've had SDV here in Rochester since January and, at least in my neighborhood, the SDV pool has at least 8 QAM channels.

Thank goodness Time Warner Cable held out against the whiney, whiney people that were overly concerned that they might miss 8 entire football games in a one year period of time. It looks like cable has broken the back of at least one organization that might have tied up an HD channel's bandwidth with approximately 24 hours of fresh programming out of an 8,760 hour year. This is not to mention the increased cost to consumers. Of course, a deal with ESPN Classic will raise the cost of that channel to digital subscribers at least to some degree.

I praise cable providers for their steadfastness in the face of adversity. The pressure was put on, but they stood their ground and cable subscribers are the beneficiaries.

As I pointed out to you two days ago (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=14115884&postcount=4012): Normally, there are multiple QAM channels assigned to the SDV pool. It really can't work effectively with just one. What you are seeing is probably just the use of different QAM channels in the pool. We've had SDV here in Rochester since January and, at least in my neighborhood, the SDV pool has at least 8 QAM channels.

OK now I see that. No HD yet on SDV in San Diego. Just SD simulcast channels. Too bad they won't reclaim all the analog channels and go all digital for more HD :).

Too bad they won't reclaim all the analog channels and go all digital for more HD :).

How many analog TVs do you figure are connected to analog cable?

Gary J,

I'd say about 2 but TWC could release a cheap box or get people to have digital converters. Who knows maybe I should say the analog reclaiming could be a mid to long term project.

2 what? I am saying how many analog TVs using analog cable in how many households? Far too many to make it anything but a long term project until digital TVs are far more prevalent. Try telling Granny why her TV doesn't work any more. :)

2 what? I am saying how many analog TVs using analog cable in how many households? Far too many to make it anything but a long term project until digital TVs are far more prevalent. Try telling Granny why her TV doesn't work any more. :)

I'd say 2 in my household. I still estimate it won't be for a while. Maybe as a part of a long term solution.

Thanks hdtvfan2005.

Reading the local SoCal thread this morning sent me on a search for the TWC alerts page and on it was the announcement for the addition of the 12 channels you mentioned in your post. If this turns out to be true, I would be ecstatic and gladly admit that I was wrong. :) But I have to wait until the channels actually appear in my area. Here is the link to the announcement:

http://www.timewarnercable.com/socal/programming/alerts.html

As for the 70 channels they too were mentioned in the local thread, but I guess I'll leave that one alone. After all quality is more important than quantity anyway, and if they show up they show up. Kudos to TWC. Gotta give credit when and where it's due.

Rudy

Well Expect the extra HD channels on July 9th. More will be added as needed. I'm sure some time soon San Diego non Adelphia will get a major upgrade in HD channels since we are missing the ex adelphia channels. Adelphia used to serve a more northern part of san diego.

Was checking the guide last night as saw TNHD had Emperor's New Groove was on, I figured that would be a good chance to see the channel's quality - it was cropped 4:3! You'd think a company would show their own product in even cropped widescreen, if not OAR, at least.

Now I just need to read up on the TWC box/remote so I can set it to skip that channel along with TNT and A&E

They just need to provide free boxes to all subscribers, or force them to get boxes, so we can get rid of the stupid analog channels.

They just need to provide free boxes to all subscribers, or force them to get boxes, so we can get rid of the stupid analog channels.

Let's see. A wild guess of 10 million boxes at $10 per = $100M. Right.

Let's see. A wild guess of 10 million boxes at $10 per = $100M. Right."Box" will be a bit more than $10. Comcast proposed DTR is more like $40. So you are talking $400M.

But one of the real issues is Grandma & Grandpa who are used to tuning "their" cable channels directly on their 1982 Zeneth. Cable boxes (and a 2nd remote control) are something they will likely have a hard time dealing with. People just don't want to fiddle with a box and it's complexities.

On the other hand, SDV technology is resolving the problem, so we don't really need to force something on the majority of cable customers that they don't want.

I figured TWC's box cost. I previously mentioned Granny but forgot the cost of TWC installing the boxes on her Zenith(s).

I don't see TWC going all digital just yet. Maybe in other 3 to 5 years or when they really really need bandwidth. If 1 GHz tuning can work with the 864 MHz legacy boxes then it could be fine as well. It's going to be hard on older people to get used to the box again. Most universal remotes aren't that hard to program. Some say SDV is the solution but maybe a part of the solution. MPEG-4 and reclaiming are other parts of the solution. I see this as a long term project. I think they will slowly shut off analog channels and move those to digital. It will take time but it will happen.

I don't see TWC going all digital just yet. Maybe in other 3 to 5 years or when they really really need bandwidth.

There will still be many analog TVs still connected to analog cable then just as there are still many dial-up internet users.

"Box" will be a bit more than $10. Comcast proposed DTR is more like $40. So you are talking $400M.

But one of the real issues is Grandma & Grandpa who are used to tuning "their" cable channels directly on their 1982 Zeneth. Cable boxes (and a 2nd remote control) are something they will likely have a hard time dealing with. People just don't want to fiddle with a box and it's complexities.

On the other hand, SDV technology is resolving the problem, so we don't really need to force something on the majority of cable customers that they don't want.

My wife and I are Grandma & Grandpa (68 & 71) and we don't have a box now (cablecard on one and QAM on the other), but we could handle a box just fine. So will the other Grandma's and Grandpa's that will have to start using a box because they have an antenna. No big deal. Plug the antenna or cable into the box and attach the box to the back of the set. Talk to the box with the remote.

According to you, my cablecard won't work with SDV. That's a handicap in the development of digital and digital HD. Why? Available bandwidth becomes dependent upon some technical "sharing" process. Why?

Just make the damn change to digital for EVERYONE at THE SAME TIME and make it as simple and inexpensive as possible.

The problem, I think, is that cable seems to WANT to continue with analog channels. I don't know if it's because they would like to create a glowing image of themselves by SAVING their customers the sheer horror of making the adjustments I mentioned or because they have a way to make more money by maintaining analog channels. It seems to me that maintaining analog is a disservice rather than a service.

I have been using cable for 42 years and I have enjoyed it greatly, but I haven't liked the idea of cable maintaining analog since I first heard it expressed by a cable executive on CSPAN a few years ago. By playing the role of "savior of the universe", cable is screwing up the works for sure.

My wife and I are Grandma & Grandpa (68 & 71) and we don't have a box now (cablecard on one and QAM on the other), but we could handle a box just fine. So will the other Grandma's and Grandpa's that will have to start using a box because they have an antenna. No big deal. Plug the antenna or cable into the box and attach the box to the back of the set. Talk to the box with the remote.


That's not the issue. It's the sheer number of analog TVs in millions of houses for the foreseeable future. One of mine is 30 years old and still working. It makes more sense when the numbers have dwindled to a manageable number. It would be like the government saying there will only be hybrid vehicles allowed on the road in 5 years. Not going to happen.

That's not the issue. It's the sheer number of analog TVs in millions of houses for the foreseeable future. One of mine is 30 years old and still working. It makes more sense when the numbers have dwindled to a manageable number. It would be like the government saying there will only be hybrid vehicles allowed on the road in 5 years. Not going to happen.

There have been a good many years to prepare to deal with the "sheer number" of analog tv's. Further, many of those tv's already have cable or DBS boxes. Others would have been reluctantly replaced by digital sets.

It might even be time for you to acknowledge that times have changed and place that 30 year old tv in the Smithsonian. My wife and I have lived in our house for exactly 40 years and we just replaced the flooring, furnace and flush. Out with the old and in with the new. (Of course, we've replaced all of these things before.)

If a replaced that old TV I would see exactly the same pictures on the screen as the old one. Makes no sense to me. And makes my point.

That's not the issue. It's the sheer number of analog TVs in millions of houses for the foreseeable future. One of mine is 30 years old and still working. It makes more sense when the numbers have dwindled to a manageable number. It would be like the government saying there will only be hybrid vehicles allowed on the road in 5 years. Not going to happen.

The analog TVs aren't the problem. It's the few analog TVs that tune directly from the wall that are the issue. If the cable companies merely required that everyone has a cable box, and then offered "free" digital cable to everyone with the digital box, it would solve itself. The old users who didn't want a cable box before will be happy to have a cable box because they'll get twice as many channels with the upgrade.

Very easily solved.

The analog TVs aren't the problem. It's the few analog TVs that tune directly from the wall that are the issue. If the cable companies merely required that everyone has a cable box, and then offered "free" digital cable to everyone with the digital box, it would solve itself. The old users who didn't want a cable box before will be happy to have a cable box because they'll get twice as many channels with the upgrade.

Very easily solved.

There you go! At at cost of hundreds of millions of dollars to the consumer and hundreds of millions to the cable companies for free digital cable the problem is indeed solved. Brilliant!

There you go! At at cost of hundreds of millions of dollars to the consumer and hundreds of millions to the cable companies for free digital cable the problem is indeed solved. Brilliant!

What really should have happened is:

1. The FCC require that the digital converter boxes from the over-the-air program included a QAM tuner (most of the chipsets in them already can do so and are purposefully DISABLED because of the coupon requirements)

2. The FCC should have required the channels in the cable co's non-digital lineup be broadcast in clear QAM.

Too late now though.

xnappo

Don't see where Gary J reported it. But TWC added Family Ch. HD, Disney HD and ESPN News HD to our Summerville, SC line-up this morning. Still waiting for Sci-Fi HD and AMC HD.

There you go! At at cost of hundreds of millions of dollars to the consumer and hundreds of millions to the cable companies for free digital cable the problem is indeed solved. Brilliant!

hundreds of millions to the consumer and cable companies? Your ass must be sore from pulling an unfounded number that big out.

A cable box costs $8/mo to the consumer.
Providing digital cable has no added cost for the cable co considering it's a broadcast medium. It's not even lost potential revenue considering these late adopters obviously had no desire to pay for digital cable anyways.

If you're going to throw out baseless statistics, let's start easy: How many analog TVs are connected directly to the wall without an STB?

If you're going to throw out baseless statistics, let's start easy: How many analog TVs are connected directly to the wall without an STB?

Not going to re-hash it. Read the current few pages of the thread.

Don't see where Gary J reported it. But TWC added Family Ch. HD, Disney HD and ESPN News HD to our Summerville, SC line-up this morning. Still waiting for Sci-Fi HD and AMC HD.

ESPN News HD looks good too! A lot of different content from Sportscenter.

Not going to re-hash it. Read the current few pages of the thread.
i'm subscribed to the thread and am quite up to date. You're fixated on transitioning when digital TVs are in the majority. I'm saying that waiting that long is pointless and can be taken care of pretty easily.

providing "free" digital cable (as in, bumping basic cable from 72 channels to ~150 like D*/E* does) is a wise tradeoff for getting rid of those 72 analog channels and replacing them with 2x as many HD channels, or 6x as many SD digital channels.

They can make a lot more money on that freed up bandwidth than they can by keeping those analog channels out there for the few grannies who a) don't already have STB's, and b) don't want them. Who cares if they fall under that small market? What's their alternative: Paying even more to D*/E* for *gasp* a Set-top-box!

I a) don't have STB's for 5 TVs and 4 more in a vacation home and b) don't want them. Have to count up Grannies. ;)

I'm a TW cable subscriber (HD package w/ HD-DVR). When I surf the HD channels, a lot of the those are displayed with a message that says something like "channel can not be displayed at this time, please try again later". It seems to be happening more often now. Is this becsuse TW is using SDV? If so, will this issue continue? I have my DVR set to record a certain show (on a HD cable channel) each week... I only got the last 20 minutes of last weeks show. I guess the channel was turned off for the first 40 minutes.

I'm a TW cable subscriber (HD package w/ HD-DVR). When I surf the HD channels, a lot of the those are displayed with a message that says something like "channel can not be displayed at this time, please try again later". It seems to be happening more often now. Is this becsuse TW is using SDV? If so, will this issue continue? I have my DVR set to record a certain show (on a HD cable channel) each week... I only got the last 20 minutes of last weeks show. I guess the channel was turned off for the first 40 minutes.Intriguing. Reads like the capacity might be over-burdened for the SDV setup--too many subscribers/node making requests. I've only (rarely) gotten that message with VOD--akin to SDV, but with head end server storage instead of instant (reportedly) digital switching. If so, would think others in your local group here would be seeing similar things. -- John

I'm a TW cable subscriber (HD package w/ HD-DVR). When I surf the HD channels, a lot of the those are displayed with a message that says something like "channel can not be displayed at this time, please try again later". It seems to be happening more often now. Is this becsuse TW is using SDV? If so, will this issue continue? I have my DVR set to record a certain show (on a HD cable channel) each week... I only got the last 20 minutes of last weeks show. I guess the channel was turned off for the first 40 minutes.

It could be that your upstream communication signal level isn't very good. Does 'OnDemand' work without issues?

xnappo

I a) don't have STB's for 5 TVs and 4 more in a vacation home and b) don't want them. Have to count up Grannies. ;)

And if Time Warner tells you that you have to buy STB's for your TVs to work, what are you gonna do? You'll complain, sure. But then you'll look at the alternatives which both require you to have STBs for every TV. You - like almost every other american who'd be put in this situation - would then decide that your desire for the beauty of cable television's poor programming is greater than your desire to save the $8/mo for an STB.

You in your stated situation likely won't upgrade your TVs in a vacation home for years, if not decades. The cable company's wasted analog bandwidth and lack of progress in its technical development can't be limited because of holdouts who won't transition to DTV in February of 2009 or February of 2029.

Yes I probably would buy some STB's for some of them. No worries though because it will not happen anytime soon. It will happen at a more sensible time when the cost is much less for all involved. Besides if you can been paying attention even a little bit the whole situation has been undeniably ameliorated by SDV. With three more HD channels added today I am not even going to count up how many I get now. Must be getting near 50.

It could be that your upstream communication signal level isn't very good. Does 'OnDemand' work without issues?

xnappo

I haven't had any problems with OnDemand. Although I don't watch OnDemand too often.

Originally Posted by xnappo
It could be that your upstream communication signal level isn't very good. Does 'OnDemand' work without issues?

xnappoI haven't had any problems with OnDemand. Although I don't watch OnDemand too often.Could be that the return path is marginal. In any event, you should be complaining to TW and have them send a tech out to make sure that all the levels are good. Things can happen in the network (and your house wiring) that degrade signals that once were good.

I'm a TW cable subscriber (HD package w/ HD-DVR). When I surf the HD channels, a lot of the those are displayed with a message that says something like "channel can not be displayed at this time, please try again later". It seems to be happening more often now. Is this becsuse TW is using SDV? If so, will this issue continue? I have my DVR set to record a certain show (on a HD cable channel) each week... I only got the last 20 minutes of last weeks show. I guess the channel was turned off for the first 40 minutes.
It's a "busy" alert saying all SDV channels are occupied, please try again later.

This will probably be more of a problem every half hour as viewers search
around for something else to watch....and perhaps during commercials....
Unfortunately, it can kill a recording....be sure to file a complaint....

IF additional SDV channels are brought on-line, should be less of a problem....

I'm a TW cable subscriber (HD package w/ HD-DVR). When I surf the HD channels, a lot of the those are displayed with a message that says something like "channel can not be displayed at this time, please try again later". It seems to be happening more often now. Is this becsuse TW is using SDV? If so, will this issue continue? I have my DVR set to record a certain show (on a HD cable channel) each week... I only got the last 20 minutes of last weeks show. I guess the channel was turned off for the first 40 minutes.

As xnappo and davehancock mentioned, the "return" signal strength may be too low. I'm experiencing that myself. I have two recently 'gatored SA8300HD-DVR's, plus RoadRunner broadband on my cable feed. Navigator isn't as robust as Passport was when dealing with a marginal signal. While it's perplexing that one of my DVR's (the "newer" one) is working perfectly, the one I've had for 3 years has recently lost it's ability to display any channels other than a few analog. Can't bring up anything from my recording list residing on the hard drive, either. Occasionally, everything will work fine. It's maddening. I'm getting them to bring out an amplifier for the line inside the house and we'll see what that does. I'm betting it solves all my problems with that DVR, and I'll bet that's your problem as well.

TWC Triad has added the following channels today:

565-ESPN News HD
566-Disney HD
567-ABC Family 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-Discovery Channel 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
565-ESPN News HD
566-Disney HD
567-ABC Family HD
569-Golf Channel HD/Versus HD
575-CNN HD
581-Lifetime Movie Network HD
611-HD Movies On Demand
612-HD Showcase On Demand

As xnappo and davehancock mentioned, the "return" signal strength may be too low. I'm experiencing that myself. I have two recently 'gatored SA8300HD-DVR's, plus RoadRunner broadband on my cable feed. Navigator isn't as robust as Passport was when dealing with a marginal signal. While it's perplexing that one of my DVR's (the "newer" one) is working perfectly, the one I've had for 3 years has recently lost it's ability to display any channels other than a few analog. Can't bring up anything from my recording list residing on the hard drive, either. Occasionally, everything will work fine. It's maddening. I'm getting them to bring out an amplifier for the line inside the house and we'll see what that does. I'm betting it solves all my problems with that DVR, and I'll bet that's your problem as well.

Thanks for the replies. I'll be calling TW tech support to have them come out to hopefully fix the problem.

TWC Triad has added the following channels today:

565-ESPN News HD
566-Disney HD
567-ABC Family HD

We know have as follows:
.
.
546-TLC HD
547-Animal Planet HD
548-Science Channel HD
549-TLC HD
.
.


You have TLCHD listed twice. I think 549 is actually Discovery HD.

Could be that the return path is marginal. In any event, you should be complaining to TW and have them send a tech out to make sure that all the levels are good. Things can happen in the network (and your house wiring) that degrade signals that once were good.

I had similar issues a couple of months ago in the Rochester NY area when they started adding on some additional SDV channels. TWC came out replaced some connections and cleaned things up a bit. Things have work fine since then.

Okay sooooo... when does Southern California get more HD channels? I'm out in Ventura County and I'm reading all these articles from blogs stating TWC has new HD channels available for different parts of the country. Where's SoCal?

Okay sooooo... when does Southern California get more HD channels? I'm out in Ventura County and I'm reading all these articles from blogs stating TWC has new HD channels available for different parts of the country. Where's SoCal?

Why not try your local thread that's been established to deal with just those kinds of questions?

Okay sooooo... when does Southern California get more HD channels? I'm out in Ventura County and I'm reading all these articles from blogs stating TWC has new HD channels available for different parts of the country. Where's SoCal?
Read this post from the TWC L.A. thread :)

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14116398#post14116398

The Olympics are coming soon on 8/8/08 on NBC-HD, Bravo-HD, USA-HD, MSNBC-HD & CNBC-HD. So far no TWC division has added it. Contact Corporate and your local TWC and find out whats going on.

Added what?

Does anyone know when new channels will be added in the Raleigh/Durham area. I have been anxiously waiting for new channels to be added, but my patience is almost running out. It seems like rest of NC has more HD channels that we do in the triangle.

Added what?

Bravo-HD, USA-HD, MSNBC-HD & CNBC-HD

Oh, that would be nice. I think I will inquire.

Bravo-HD, USA-HD, MSNBC-HD & CNBC-HD

Sci-fi HD would probably be included in such an addition right?

xnappo

so like, i've never seen an animated series in HD.
until time warner brought toon disney.
and that sh!t looks trippy.
thanks time warner.
now send me some LSD.

Recently I noticed new channels added in the 900s. Each channel is identified as "Switched Digital Video" in the program guide(upper part above show description by channel # on Navigator) We have:

948: ABC Family
949: FX
950: FOX News
951: History
952: MTV
953: Nickelodeon
954: TLC
955: Spike

Each of these channels say "To receive this channel, call Customer Care #" Also, according to the diagnostic screen, SDV is still listed as "SDV not enabled".

Is this a sign that SDV may be coming in the near future? We recently had the MDN 2.4.1 download.

You should not have to call anyone to receive SDV channels unless they are in a premium package. :confused:

As of July 28th SDV will be deployed for TWC San Diego. Any San Diego TWC Tivo user can use the tuning adaptor. Cablecard customers will probably have to go back to the box. TWC will provide the Tuning resolver for free. The Tuning resolver is likely made by Cisco and plugs into the tivo. Mainly for Cablecard tivos like the HD and Series 3 HD users. People who have STB's that have Mystro will not be affected.

http://hdtv.forsandiego.com/messages/2/6728.html?1214698989

For more info and channels. Most of the stuff is ethnic but the sports pack is SDV. Only a few HD channels. Finally TWC SD that isn't adelphia will get probably get more HD channels :).

Recently I noticed new channels added in the 900s. Each channel is identified as "Switched Digital Video" in the program guide(upper part above show description by channel # on Navigator) We have:

948: ABC Family
949: FX
950: FOX News
951: History
952: MTV
953: Nickelodeon
954: TLC
955: Spike

Each of these channels say "To receive this channel, call Customer Care #" Also, according to the diagnostic screen, SDV is still listed as "SDV not enabled".

Is this a sign that SDV may be coming in the near future? We recently had the MDN 2.4.1 download.

family choice?

Does anyone know when new channels will be added in the Raleigh/Durham area. I have been anxiously waiting for new channels to be added, but my patience is almost running out. It seems like rest of NC has more HD channels that we do in the triangle.

I am also getting tired of wiating for more HD channels, and I think we have as few as you do down here in the wilmington market. I am really thinking about going D*tv for my main tv and keep basic cble on the other tv locations.

In addition to the 34+ HD channels at TWC-KC, these just showed up today as tunable channels but not active just yet.

1014 TBS HD
1023 Science HD
1040 The Learning Channel
1044 CNN HD
1050 Travel HD
1055 Golf HD
1057 Animal Planet HD
1060 Fox News HD
1202 Outdoor HD
1217 Biography HD
1226 Planet Green HD

The 1000 range channels are SDV and the 1200 ones are non-SDV according to the Diag screen.

In addition to the 34+ HD channels at TWC-KC, these just showed up today as tunable channels but not active just yet.

1014 TBS HD
1023 Science HD
1040 The Learning Channel
1044 CNN HD
1050 Travel HD
1055 Golf HD
1057 Animal Planet HD
1060 Fox News HD
1202 Outdoor HD
1217 Biography HD
1226 Planet Green HD

The 1000 range channels are SDV and the 1200 ones are non-SDV according to the Diag screen.

Geez, I wish the Charlotte division would get with the program already

Big news, not only are the new channels above now available in KC, they have upgraded Navigator to 2.4.10_11.

They've also added Versus HD, ESPN News HD and Travel HD.

Big news, not only are the new channels above now available in KC, they have upgraded Navigator to 2.4.10_11.

They've also added Versus HD, ESPN News HD and Travel HD.

Any noticeable UI differences? You have an external drive by chance?

xnappo

Don't notice anything new in the settings. I do have a WD750GB drive direct attached. Never got it to work with old version, nor does it work now. Will tinker with it later.

Here are the HD channels in Kansas City after a major upgrade...

999 HD INDEMAND PPV
1024 Music HD (SDV)
1045 Discovery HD (SDV)
1052 Food Network HD (SDV)
1054 HGTV HD (SDV)

1401 - 1402 KCPT
1403 KCPT Create
1404 KCPT Kids
1411 WDAF - 4 Fox HD
1421 KMBC 9 ABC HD
1422 KMBC First Alert Weather
1431 KCWE The CW HD
1441 KSHB-41 NBC HD
1442 KSHB Action Weather Plus
1451 KCTV 5 CBS HD
1460 TNT HD
1461 National Geographic HD
1462 History Channel HD
1471 My KSMO TV HD
1496 Fox Sports Midwest - Kansas City
1497 ESPN-HD
1498 ESPN-2 HD
1499 A&E High Definition
1500 HD Theater
1501 MOJO (SDV)
1503 HD Net
1504 HDNET Movies
1506 Universal HD
1550 Movies on Demand HD
1555 HD Showcase On Demand
1700 HBO East High Definition
1720 Cinemax HD East
1740 Showtime High Definition
1760 Starz HD East

Added today...
1014 TBS HD (SDV)
1023 Science HD (SDV)
1040 The Learning Channel HD (SDV)
1044 CNN HD (SDV)
1050 Travel HD (SDV)
1055 Versus/Golf HD (SDV)
1057 Animal Planet HD (SDV)
1060 Fox News HD (SDV)
1202 Outdoor HD (SDV)
1204 ESPN News HD (SDV)
1217 Biography HD (SDV)
1226 Planet Green HD (SDV)

Geez, I wish the Charlotte division would get with the program already

They would say to you, if you managed to reach anyone who had any clue, that their bandwidth is maxed out and they're waiting on SDV to add more HD channels. But no one seems to know when this magical SDV will be rolled out here in the Queen City (I've asked numerous techs, CSR's, etc). So, they "can't" add any more HD channels, and nobody knows when they'll be "able" to. See how that works?

It's diabolically brilliant. They feign ignorance, and we nod and accept it. And to think we give these people a local monopoly to do this to us, as well as pushing a substandard software package on our STB's & DVR's to replace the pretty good one we had before. Gotta' love progress!

They would say to you, if you managed to reach anyone who had any clue, that their bandwidth is maxed out and they're waiting on SDV to add more HD channels. But no one seems to know when this magical SDV will be rolled out here in the Queen City (I've asked numerous techs, CSR's, etc). So, they "can't" add any more HD channels, and nobody knows when they'll be "able" to. See how that works?

It's diabolically brilliant. They feign ignorance, and we nod and accept it. And to think we give these people a local monopoly to do this to us, as well as pushing a substandard software package on our STB's & DVR's to replace the pretty good one we had before. Gotta' love progress!

As another disgruntled subscriber in the Charlotte area, I totally agree with your sentiments. Personally I wish I could switch to DirecTV but with my 6 tv's in our house, the cost for acquiring that many boxes from D* is just more than I wish to spend.

To me the worst part about this process is the total lack of knowledge. If I had any clue of when we would be getting more HD channels in Charlotte, I would be more pleased. Even if TWC stated that we would get 12 more HD channels in September, at least you have something to go on. Instead absolutely no one will give you ANY information...ever.

Add to this, TWC has discontinued newsgroup access on their internet side and there has been talk of eventually putting download caps too. Just not a huge fan of TWC at this point...

To me the worst part about this process is the total lack of knowledge. If I had any clue of when we would be getting more HD channels in Charlotte, I would be more pleased.
That was exactly my feelings when I sent a paper letter in the spring (it also complained about no notice about the rate increase). Had zero news and even zero rumors which are usually not close anyway. I got a phone call from an assistant to the VP that told me they were planning 10 or so HD in August, many more by end of year. Actually we are getting 10 on July 9 and many more to follow into early next year. Our area (Los Angeles area) was (actually still is) one of the worst, but we may be able to relinquish that title to you? /Dan

The one time I actually managed to get a phone call through to one of the local TWC executives, he told me that the two places in the US with the biggest bandwidth crunch were Charlotte..... and LA. C'mon, LA, are you serious? I mean, that's where TV comes from. You'd think they'd have the best cable service in the country. :pYes, but wasn't that formerly an Adelphia system? Adelphia had been neglecting the infrastructure for years and TW needed to do a lot of work to bring that system up to snuff. That takes time.

That was exactly my feelings when I sent a paper letter in the spring (it also complained about no notice about the rate increase). Had zero news and even zero rumors which are usually not close anyway. I got a phone call from an assistant to the VP that told me they were planning 10 or so HD in August, many more by end of year. Actually we are getting 10 on July 9 and many more to follow into early next year. Our area (Los Angeles area) was (actually still is) one of the worst, but we may be able to relinquish that title to you? /Dan

The one time I actually managed to get a phone call through to one of the local TWC executives, he told me that the two places in the US with the biggest bandwidth crunch were Charlotte..... and LA. C'mon, LA, are you serious? I mean, that's where TV comes from. You'd think they'd have the best cable service in the country. :p

But I still can't figure out what makes us poor hicks in Charlotte so darned special. We're a fairly technically-oriented and progressive community (lots of big banks and the support businesses that go along with them) with a pretty strong economy relative to most everywhere else. Yet our TWC seems to have the toughest time of any in the country getting new HD channels added to our lineup. Strangely, they seem to be able to add every bandwidth-sucking analog SD channel that comes along, though.

edit: Dave's post should have come after this one. I did the edit, delete, re-post thing and got caught. AVS really, really needs to extend the edit time before an edit tag is added; five minutes is not enough time.

TWC and AVS in one whine. Excellent!

Yes, but wasn't that formerly an Adelphia system? Adelphia had been neglecting the infrastructure for years and TW needed to do a lot of work to bring that system up to snuff. That takes time.
Most of LA area has been TW for many years (especially Orange County way). Problem I think is that they were early in the upgrade to a version of fiber (late 90's) and expensive/time consuming to upgrade to today's needs now. Adelphia being mixed in did not help. Over the last month they have gone around the poles and modified or checked things in my area for the new HD channels coming. I think they made the system usable up to 1000 MHz, but still not sure how they are adding the new HD channels. So they must be shuffling with internet, telephone, cable channels. /Dan

The one time I actually managed to get a phone call through to one of the local TWC executives, he told me that the two places in the US with the biggest bandwidth crunch were Charlotte..... and LA. C'mon, LA, are you serious? I mean, that's where TV comes from. You'd think they'd have the best cable service in the country. :p

But I still can't figure out what makes us poor hicks in Charlotte so darned special. We're a fairly technically-oriented and progressive community (lots of big banks and the support businesses that go along with them) with a pretty strong economy relative to most everywhere else. Yet our TWC seems to have the toughest time of any in the country getting new HD channels added to our lineup. Strangely, they seem to be able to add every bandwidth-sucking analog SD channel that comes along, though.

edit: Dave's post should have come after this one. I did the edit, delete, re-post thing and got caught. AVS really, really needs to extend the edit time before an edit tag is added; five minutes is not enough time.

I think it is all of NC and not just charlotte.

I think it is all of NC and not just charlotte.

From what i've read, other areas in NC like Raleigh and the Triad have more HD than Charlotte does.

Yep. I'm in the Triad, my buddy lives in Charlotte. We have more HD than they do. And the Triad just added some more new stuff like Disney HD the other day.

The Triad transformed itself last year. We used to be perennially behind the Charlotte, Raleigh, and Eastern NC markets in getting HD, but since we got SDV first, we are now usually among the early markets in the country to get new HD channels. My problem now is that I find SDV to be unreliable and continue to be miffed at the overall poor quality of TWC's HD picture. But with 5 TVs, I am reluctant to switch as long as TWC provides me with lovely, bandwidth hogging analog. Plus D* would actually cost me a tiny bit more than cable once their introductory rates wear off.

continue to be miffed at the overall poor quality of TWC's HD picture.

I thought SDV allows TWC to pass along the signal with no additional compression? My PQ looks pretty good.

I thought SDV allows TWC to pass along the signal with no additional compression? My PQ looks pretty good.

I continue to frequently see pixellation and other distortion particularly during flashes or strobes. This is for SDV and non-SDV HD channels. Also there are times when the SDV channels won't come in for brief periods, or the video locks while the audio still plays.

Well I guess glitch free broadcast is hard to come by whether it's digital, analog, satellite, internet, cell phones, etc.

I just went to our local Central Maine TWC office to ask questions about digital phone. In the process, I asked if more HD was coming and she said yes. She tried to look it up on the computer, but all she found was Southern Maine's upcoming lineup. I asked if SDV was part of the change and learned that it was. My reason for mentioning all of this is that she saw that I was listed for cablecard and she told me that I might have to swap it in for a "two way" cablecard to receive the new HD channels when they appear in our area. I know that it is actually the tv set that has to be two way, but there must be something about SDV that will require a "different" card.

Maybe Dave Hancock or someone else can fill me in on the new card for SDV. The office calls it "two way", but how does it work?

I just went to our local Central Maine TWC office to ask questions about digital phone. In the process, I asked if more HD was coming and she said yes. She tried to look it up on the computer, but all she found was Southern Maine's upcoming lineup. I asked if SDV was part of the change and learned that it was. My reason for mentioning all of this is that she saw that I was listed for cablecard and she told me that I might have to swap it in for a "two way" cablecard to receive the new HD channels when they appear in our area. I know that it is actually the tv set that has to be two way, but there must be something about SDV that will require a "different" card.

Maybe Dave Hancock or someone else can fill me in on the new card for SDV. The office calls it "two way", but how does it work?

All cablecards support 2-way. Its the host device that doesnt support 2way. What do you have the cablecard in? TiVo will soon have relief from SDV via a 'Tuning Adapter' which enables it to talk back to the node. The cablecard remains the same.

Maybe Dave Hancock or someone else can fill me in on the new card for SDV. The office calls it "two way", but how does it work?scsiraid gave you a very complete answer. There is a common misconception about "two way" CableCARDs and it looks like your TW office fell into that trap.

Other than the "tuning resolver" for TiVo, most any "two-way" device will have the label "tru2way". Such sets should be out around the end of the year.

scsiraid gave you a very complete answer. There is a common misconception about "two way" CableCARDs and it looks like your TW office fell into that trap.

Other than the "tuning resolver" for TiVo, most any "two-way" device will have the label "tru2way". Such sets should be out around the end of the year.

I think you're right about the TWC office falling into that trap (that the card is one way or two way).

The trouble is I can see the situation developing whereby TWC adds HD channels via SDV and, when I tell them I can't get them, they start a series of visits to change cards and solve what to them would become a mystery. While I might believe that what I need is a tru2way set (or a much despised box), I probably would let them proceed with changes because I would figure they might know what they're doing better than I do.

Perhaps, if new channels are announced, I'll skip them if they do not show up. Most of the channels I know about don't amount to a damn anyway. My current cablecard selection is pretty darn good. If they should offer FOX News Channel HD, however, I'm afraid that my resolve would quickly melt and I would soon be looking for a solution (box? Yuck!). ................ Life is just getting too technical.

The trouble is I can see the situation developing whereby TWC adds HD channels via SDV and, when I tell them I can't get them, they start a series of visits to change cards and solve what to them would become a mystery. While I might believe that what I need is a tru2way set (or a much despised box), I probably would let them proceed with changes because I would figure they might know what they're doing better than I do.Another scenario I see coming is when one has a "tru2way" set and has problems receiving SDV channels is that TW will just not acknowledge that your set SHOULD work and keeps telling you that SDV will not work with CableCARDs (even "two-way" CableCARDs).

Another scenario I see coming is when one has a "tru2way" set and has problems receiving SDV channels is that TW will just not acknowledge that your set SHOULD work and keeps telling you that SDV will not work with CableCARDs (even "two-way" CableCARDs).

Discouraging, ain't it?

Is anyone getting any of the Cinemax multiplex channels in HD now? I can't be the only one who has trouble watching the SD channels.

Is anyone getting any of the Cinemax multiplex channels in HD now? I can't be the only one who has trouble watching the SD channels.

Has Time Warner Cable launched the Time Warner-owned HD multiplexes from HBO and Cinemax in any market yet? I really didn't think I would keep my signature block for so long.:(

A little birdy told me the other HBO/Cine HD channels will be offered in Kansas City late August.

A little birdy told me the other HBO/Cine HD channels will be offered in Kansas City late August.

Oh my! Do tell, who this little birdy is? I guess u can't say names but maybe you can give us something?

Here's a hint..
http://blogs.kansascity.com/tvbarn/2008/06/time-warner-giv.html

TWC-KC is moving about 50-60 Standard Def channels to SDV in late Aug, which will create new capacity for about 15-18 new non-SDV HD channels. KC already has a bunch of HD on SDV. I'd think all premium movie channels would need to go non-SDV though.

Here's a hint..
http://blogs.kansascity.com/tvbarn/2008/06/time-warner-giv.html

TWC-KC is moving about 50-60 Standard Def channels to SDV in late Aug, which will create new capacity for about 15-18 new non-SDV HD channels. KC already has a bunch of HD on SDV. I'd think all premium movie channels would need to go non-SDV though.

Dave Hancock, this is what I was talking about a little while ago. Please comment. Do you think this is for real (standard definition)?

Dave Hancock, this is what I was talking about a little while ago. Please comment. Do you think this is for real (standard definition)?

If your system is like ours, 50-60 SD's will likely only free up 3-4 QAM's which is 6-8 full bandwidth linear HD's or 9-12 HD-Lite overcompressed linear HD's.

Here's a hint..
http://blogs.kansascity.com/tvbarn/2008/06/time-warner-giv.html

TWC-KC is moving about 50-60 Standard Def channels to SDV in late Aug, which will create new capacity for about 15-18 new non-SDV HD channels. KC already has a bunch of HD on SDV. I'd think all premium movie channels would need to go non-SDV though.

I take it that the 50 - 60 SD channels are digital and not analog channels. As Dave has pointed out, the D in SDV is digital. He did say, however, that the same process could be used for analog.

I take it that the 50 - 60 SD channels are digital and not analog channels. As Dave has pointed out, the D in SDV is digital. He did say, however, that the same process could be used for analog.It is theoretically possible to switch analog - but there is absolutely no reason to do it (and no equipment available to the cable companies to do it). If the KC situation is like Rochester, what you will find is that there are lots of foreign language and other special interest (meaning that few people watch them) programs available (for an extra fee). Switching these to SDV is the first step in converting a system to SDV. This way, there is limited exposure to problems with the SDV roll-out and it does free up QAMs to be used for the SDV Pool.

Confirmed:
Starz HD movie package and BiographyHD to be added in Brooklyn and Queens on 7/23 (SI assumed as well)

(unclear if Manhattan or any other TWC NY/NJ region is included... doubtful)

Good news for peeps in the Huntington Beach area. We just got a crapload of new HD channels.

402 KCBS HD (CBS)
404 KNBC HD (NBC)
405 KTLA HD (CW)
407 KABC HD (ABC)
408 KOCE HD (PBS)
409 KCAL HD (Ind)
411 KTTV (FOX) HD
412 KCET HD (PBS)
413 HD Special Events
414 MHD
415 TNT HD
416 HD Theater
417 TBS in HD
418 Discovery Channel HD
423 Golf/Versus HD
424 ESPN HD
425 ESPN2 HD
426 ESPNEWS HD
432 CNN HD
433 HGTV HD
434 Food Network HD
435 Disney Channel HD
436 ABC Family HD
437 TLC HD
438 A&E HD
439 History HD
440 National Geographic HD

^Do you know if they are SDV or non-SDV? You can check in the Diag screen.

So you think they had all that non-SDV bandwidth laying around?

^Do you know if they are SDV or non-SDV? You can check in the Diag screen.

I assume it's non SDV since I have the older SA8300HD without the cablecard.

HDC boxes aren't required for SDV. To check, go into the Diag screen by holding down the Select button on remote. When a mail icon appears on box, press down arrow on remote. A Diag screen should appear. Tune to one of the new HD channels. Page down to the SDV screen in Diag and it should show if SDV is active nor not.

^Do you know if they are SDV or non-SDV? You can check in the Diag screen.
We still have Passport. We do not have SDV yet. I am in Orange, but a couple cities are in the same "system". They did go around and "update" the feeds on the poles some. I think they extended to 1GHz from a conversation a neighbor told me about with the lineman, but still not sure how they added the space since nothing was moved off analog or such in a long time. /Dan

Originally Posted by xenophonite
^Do you know if they are SDV or non-SDV? You can check in the Diag screen.We still have Passport. We do not have SDV yet. I am in Orange, but a couple cities are in the same "system". They did go around and "update" the feeds on the poles some. I think they extended to 1GHz from a conversation a neighbor told me about with the lineman, but still not sure how they added the space since nothing was moved off analog or such in a long time. /DanThe 1GHz, more than anything, makes room for better RR performance. ALL of the cable boxes currently out there can't tune past 860MHz.

I can see why there may be some confusion on the "C" boxes and SDV. As TW refused to pay to upgrade the Passport software to handle SDV and instead elected to go with their own "Navigator" software (which is SDV ready) and as, in most TW passport markets they rolled Navigator out initially on "C" boxes, one could assume (and it might be true - I don't know, I'm on a SARA system) that in some markets the "C" boxes would get some SDV channels.

From this article http://www.tvpredictions.com/twhd070908.htm

In other news, Time Warner says its carriage agreement with Universal HD will soon expire in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Mount Vernon. If the agreement can not be extended, the cable operator, says Universal HD could be taken off the air.

As far as I know, no Time Warner systems are carrying any of NBC Universal's HD offerings(USA HD, SCI FI HD, MSNBC HD etc etc) other than Universal HD. Given that TW is having problems renewing the agreement for Universal HD and that pretty much all the NBC Universal stations have been on my local TWC's website list of stations that The following agreements with programmers are due to expire soon, and we may be required to cease carriage of these services in the near future. (http://www.timewarnercable.com/Carolinas/programming/channelChangeUpdate.html) for several months now and that no systems have added or have even mentioned adding USA or SCI FI HD especially with the Olympics coming, I just wonder if TW is having problems reaching a carriage agreement. Has anybody heard anything about these negotiations?

From this article http://www.tvpredictions.com/twhd070908.htm

In other news, Time Warner says its carriage agreement with Universal HD will soon expire in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Mount Vernon. If the agreement can not be extended, the cable operator, says Universal HD could be taken off the air.

As far as I know, no Time Warner systems are carrying any of NBC Universal's HD offerings(USA HD, SCI FI HD, MSNBC HD etc etc) other than Universal HD. Given that TW is having problems renewing the agreement for Universal HD and that pretty much all the NBC Universal stations have been on my local TWC's website list of stations that The following agreements with programmers are due to expire soon, and we may be required to cease carriage of these services in the near future. (http://www.timewarnercable.com/Carolinas/programming/channelChangeUpdate.html) for several months now and that no systems have added or have even mentioned adding USA or SCI FI HD especially with the Olympics coming, I just wonder if TW is having problems reaching a carriage agreement. Has anybody heard anything about these negotiations?



that's been saying that on the TWCNYC website for a long time now.
And TWC Corporate has been in negotiations with NBC for over a year now for various channels.
As it looks right now no TWC system is gonna get anymore HD channels from NBC in time for the Olympics.
thankfully Universal-HD we be showing content 24-7, hopefully we won't desperately need the other HD channels right now.

Good news for peeps in the Huntington Beach area. We just got a crapload of new HD channels.

402 KCBS HD (CBS)
404 KNBC HD (NBC)
405 KTLA HD (CW)
407 KABC HD (ABC)
408 KOCE HD (PBS)
409 KCAL HD (Ind)
411 KTTV (FOX) HD
412 KCET HD (PBS)
413 HD Special Events
414 MHD
415 TNT HD
416 HD Theater
417 TBS in HD
418 Discovery Channel HD
423 Golf/Versus HD
424 ESPN HD
425 ESPN2 HD
426 ESPNEWS HD
432 CNN HD
433 HGTV HD
434 Food Network HD
435 Disney Channel HD
436 ABC Family HD
437 TLC HD
438 A&E HD
439 History HD
440 National Geographic HD

Noticed I just got some of these same channels in the Dallas market.
Also upgraded to a DCH3416 and my SD quality seems to be much better with the HDMI and new box.

Should note this is in Lewisville, so the additions they made in the end of March are starting to fan out to the metro.

Austin TX getting 3 new HD channels tomorrow (new to us anyway):

Biography HD
Hallmark Movie HD
Travel Channel HD

I like more HD channels, but they never seem to be the ones I really want. (Currently SciFi HD). FX HD would be nice, but at least for some reason on my TV + cable system, FX has a really good SD picture (relatively speaking).

Does anyone have info on SDV deployment? I ask b/c I've noticed new channels in program guide searches lately. They're in the 790s/950s range on Time Warner in NE Ohio(the legacy Akron system that has had the Navigator conversion). When I look at the channel info in the diganostic screen, the name of channel 792 is "USA SDV" or 953 is "NICK SDV". When tuned the channels say "Call Customer Service to subscribe" and the SDV page of diagnostics still says SDV is not enabled.

I have read before that areas converting have odd channels up in the higher number ranges like this that are "test channels" for SDV. Just wondering if this is some sign of something to come. Any info appreciated.

I was hoping to get USA-HD in time for the Olympics and Burn Notice (great show!). Does anyone think we will get SciFi-HD in time for Battlestar Galactica in 2009? I'm assuming if/when we get SciFi-HD we would also get USA-HD.

I was hoping to get USA-HD in time for the Olympics and Burn Notice (great show!). Does anyone think we will get SciFi-HD in time for Battlestar Galactica in 2009? I'm assuming if/when we get SciFi-HD we would also get USA-HD.

it's likely that we'll get scifiHD by 2009. It's a lot less likely we'll get USA-HD by 8/8/08

While TW is keeping pace with the other Cable outlets I don't understand why there have been no new Carriage agreements since the deployment of SDV. It sure dosn't seem that TW is competing with Direct or Dish or even attempting to.
Come on TW let's see some more Carriage agreements to give your customers hope.

Has anyone else experienced FOX or CBS HD channels suffering lately? Mine are really jumpy, tons of pixels, sound cuts in and out, etc.

Anyway to fix this?

Has anyone else experienced FOX or CBS HD channels suffering lately? Mine are really jumpy, tons of pixels, sound cuts in and out, etc.

Anyway to fix this?First, you should realize that when you ask "has anyone else experienced......" it is very (VERY) location dependent. So you should add your location to your profile so that we can readily see where you are talking about.

This sort of problem is often due to low signal strength of the particular QAM channel that these two HD stations are on (usually cable pairs 2 local HD channels on one QAM channel). Likely, this particular QAM is at a higher frequency than others, making it more susceptible than others. This may be due to wiring in your house, or problems with the cable coming to your house. The best solution is to call cable and have a tech check out the signal levels.

Has anyone else experienced FOX or CBS HD channels suffering lately? Mine are really jumpy, tons of pixels, sound cuts in and out, etc.

Anyway to fix this?

I had a similar problem on FOX during the all star game the picture would get pixilated and the audio would drop for a few seconds. It cleared up before the actual game started. It was during the parade and the team introductions. This was in Lewisville Texas btw.

I currently subscribe to digital cable thru TW Rochester. We just got our first HDTV. At first I just plugged the cable directly into the TV so that I could use the Qam tuner and pull in some HD channels to see what they looked like. Beautiful of course! Then I hooked up the cable box, which isn't a HD box, but most of the channels looked quite soft, which according to my understanding is correct--HDTV doesn't handle the SD cable as well. My question is if I upgrade to the HDTV converter box---will all my channels then look better or ONLY the HD channels?
The way I understand it is that SD transmits in 480 and HD transmits in 720/1080. My TV is a 1080p so I would like to get the best picture possible but I wasn't sure if the hd converter box has anything to do with that as well.
The other thing I noticed is when I had the cable plugged directly into the tv I would get some really nice quality sound but after plugging the Non-hdtv convert box to the tv--all sound came thru as mono even on Showtime on demand. Does that sound right?
I hope this was ok to post here--I wasn't sure where else to put it.
Thanks

480i or 480p? When you get a HD cable box try enabling it to pass 480i, 720p and 1080i. This will allow the HDTV to do all de-interlacing and scaling which is better than the cable box doing it.

I currently subscribe to digital cable thru TW Rochester. We just got our first HDTV. At first I just plugged the cable directly into the TV so that I could use the Qam tuner and pull in some HD channels to see what they looked like. Beautiful of course! Then I hooked up the cable box, which isn't a HD box, but most of the channels looked quite soft, which according to my understanding is correct--HDTV doesn't handle the SD cable as well. My question is if I upgrade to the HDTV converter box---will all my channels then look better or ONLY the HD channels?
The way I understand it is that SD transmits in 480 and HD transmits in 720/1080. My TV is a 1080p so I would like to get the best picture possible but I wasn't sure if the hd converter box has anything to do with that as well.First, you should "upgrade" to the TW HD box. TW-Rochester doesn't charge any extra for the HD boxes.

Gary's advice was correct: Set it up to pass through the native broadcast scan rate and let your TV do the conversion. Also, it is likely that you will receive the best picture from the HD cable box if you use a HDMI connection. TW generally supplies low quality component cables with their HD boxes, so you will probably need to buy one. Don't fall for the high priced HDMI cables either. Monoprice (an AVS sponsor) provides good cables at a very low price.
The other thing I noticed is when I had the cable plugged directly into the tv I would get some really nice quality sound but after plugging the Non-hdtv convert box to the tv--all sound came thru as mono even on Showtime on demand. Does that sound right?It depends on how you had your cable box sound connected. You should be able to get good stereo from the cable box on your TV.
I hope this was ok to post here--I wasn't sure where else to put it.
ThanksThere are forums here specific to the cable boxes and cable software (you have SARA).

480i or 480p? When you get a HD cable box try enabling it to pass 480i, 720p and 1080i. This will allow the HDTV to do all de-interlacing and scaling which is better than the cable box doing it.

I'm curious about this. How do i get to the setting to get it to pass? I'm currently using the component cables supplied by TW and have it set to 1080i and the 4:3 override to 480P.

I'm curious about this. How do i get to the setting to get it to pass? I'm currently using the component cables supplied by TW and have it set to 1080i and the 4:3 override to 480P.

Here's the TW instructions:
http://www.twchdtv.com/rochester/Default.aspx?CID=2&PID=61

We've just gotten 'Start Over' in Austin on SARA. On our local mailing list, there seems to be some confusion over how you activate 'Start Over' vs. activating the DVR 'Play from Beginning'. Obviously with a DVR, if you were recording 'Play from Beginning' is preferred so you can fast forward.

Thanks,
xnappo

The page doesn't load for some reason i get address not found.

The page doesn't load for some reason i get address not found.
Opened OK for me. Here it is without the "http://www." so it is fully listed in this message: twchdtv.com/rochester/Default.aspx?CID=2&PID=61

It will probably work if you try again though. Maybe something turned off in your browser.

/Dan

Opened OK for me. Here it is without the "http://www." so it is fully listed in this message: twchdtv.com/rochester/Default.aspx?CID=2&PID=61

It will probably work if you try again though. Maybe something turned off in your browser.

/Dan

Didn't work for me earlier either, but it works now.

We've just gotten 'Start Over' in Austin on SARA. On our local mailing list, there seems to be some confusion over how you activate 'Start Over' vs. activating the DVR 'Play from Beginning'. Obviously with a DVR, if you were recording 'Play from Beginning' is preferred so you can fast forward.

Thanks,
xnappo

Here in Rochester if a show is able to start over a message pops up and tells you to click the enter/ok round center button on the remote to activate the 'start over' feature.

Just received the SDV letter in El Paso, TX (I have a CableCard).
Hopefully that means we may get some more HD.
Currently only the normal basic set:
HBO/Cinemax/Showtime/NBC/ABC/FOX/CBS/PBS/TNT/Discovery/ESPN/MOJO/HDNet/UHD
We are evidently in the TWC Southwest Division.

SCI-FI is my highlight.
I wonder if the analog feed will continue? Without the HD version, analog is not much different here.

Moving most of the Eastern feeds of the premium channels.
Cinemax E is conspicuously the only Cinemax channel listed.
- - I guess lots of folks watch the early eastern feeds of those?

I posted the full list in the local thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=14373122&postcount=916).

v/r,
C-F

Article today:

DIRECTV to Add 30 HD Channels In August
The satcaster says the majority of new channels will be regional sports networks.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (July 28, 2008) -- DIRECTV said today that it will launch more than 30 new High-Definition channels, beginning August 14, bringing its overall total to 130.

However, 23 of the new channels will be regional sports networks.

The satcaster also revealed that it will begin offering movies in 1080p high-def video, the highest resolution format available, and the same resolution available on the Blu-ray high-def disc. DIRECTV did not offer a launch date for 1080p movies, other than to say "later this year."

DIRECTV said the new HD channels that will launch next month are:
Showtime Extreme HD, Showtime Showcase HD, Planet Green HD, ABC Family HD, additional DIRECTV HD PPV channels and an additional 23 Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) in HD 24 hours a day.

The satcaster said it will also transmit all of its HD programming in the MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding standard by the end of this month, saying it's the first to do so in the industry.

“Despite all the sound and fury of confusing HD claims from our competitors, our customers understand that DIRECTV is the destination for the most compelling and complete lineup of HD content,” said Derek Chang, DIRECTV's executive vice president.

DIRECTV launched a new satellite in March (DIRECTV 11) that will enable next month's high-def expansion. The satcaster says the new satellite -- and an additional one that will be launched next year -- will give it capacity for 200 national HD channels.

The satcaster did not say if the DIRECTV 11 satellite will permit it to offer more high-def channels this fall.

Newsflash: Time Warner makes no announcement, as usual, when it comes to HD channels being added NATIONWIDE. Why do we still pay this idiots?

Article today:



Newsflash: Time Warner makes no announcement, as usual, when it comes to HD channels being added NATIONWIDE. Why do we still pay this idiots?

Because many of us have no other choice

Why do we still pay this idiots?

Newsflash: This should be - Why do we still pay these idiots? or Why do we still pay this, idiots?

Newsflash: This should be - Why do we still pay these idiots? or Why do we still pay this, idiots?


sorry, my bad...why do we pay THESE idiots? is what i meant

Newsflash: Time Warner makes no announcement, as usual, when it comes to HD channels being added NATIONWIDE. Why do we still pay this idiots?

since when does TWC add channels Nationwide? Unlike Comcrap and Satellite, your local cable system decides what channels it carries - that's why some systems have a ton of HD (NYC) and some systems hardly have any HD at all.

I pay those "idiots" because they continue to be a better bargain for me than satellite with its up front costs.

since when does TWC add channels Nationwide? Unlike Comcrap and Satellite, your local cable system decides what channels it carries - that's why some systems have a ton of HD (NYC) and some systems hardly have any HD at all.

I pay those "idiots" because they continue to be a better bargain for me than satellite with its up front costs.


the 'nationwide' crack was because TWC loves to announce they've added certain HD channels but when you read the fine print its only for 1 market. Whereas DirecTV is adding 30 channels for their entire subscription base. I get tired of TWC's press ploys in that way.

Secondly, I agree with your point that the ONLY reason I stay with TWC is because of DirecTV's upfront costs, especially when you consider all 5 of my tv's are HDTV and that would be costly. However, when the gap keeps growing between satellite's HD offerings and my measily offerings in Charlotte, at some point in time, I will be forced to jump ship. And thats just sad....too bad TWC in my area could care less about its customers.

Because many of us have no other choice

+1

Secondly, I agree with your point that the ONLY reason I stay with TWC is because of DirecTV's upfront costs, especially when you consider all 5 of my tv's are HDTV and that would be costly. However, when the gap keeps growing between satellite's HD offerings and my measily offerings in Charlotte, at some point in time, I will be forced to jump ship. And thats just sad....too bad TWC in my area could care less about its customers.

You have 5 HDTVs and are worried about upfront costs?? ha jk
Ever thought of sticking dish on your main TV? I have Dish Net with their 29.99 HD only package and after locals, dvr fee and taxes its roughly 42-43 dollars a month. I didnt pay any upfront cost.

You have 5 HDTVs and are worried about upfront costs?? ha jk
Ever thought of sticking dish on your main TV? I have Dish Net with their 29.99 HD only package and after locals, dvr fee and taxes its roughly 42-43 dollars a month. I didnt pay any upfront cost.


Hmm, didnt realize Dishnet had a HD-only package....gotta check that out. Does DirecTV also offer something like that?

Hmm, didnt realize Dishnet had a HD-only package....gotta check that out. Does DirecTV also offer something like that?

Maybe you should check that out too. But not in the thread called More news about HD on Time Warner Cable.

TWC adds OnDemand HD content from SiTV!

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6582280.html

It looks like San Diego is getting SDV. HDnet is now using 747.000 MHz which is a confirmed TWC SD SDV frequency.

Maybe you should check that out too. But not in the thread called More news about HD on Time Warner Cable.

Why not? There certainly is NO "More news about HD on Time Warner Cable" here in NC

According to the August Channelguide for Columbus, OH, the following channels will be added soon:

Discovery HD - Ch. 762
History HD - Ch. 767
Palladia HD - Ch. 774 (listed as MHD)

Not much, but good to see some new stuff.

http://www.timewarnercable.com/InvestorRelations/PressReleases/TWCPressReleaseDivDetail.ashx?PRID=2319&MarketID=50

2008 BEIJING SUMMER OLYMPICS COVERAGE AVAILABLE ON FOUR HIGH DEFINITION CHANNELS FOR FREE

USA HD, CNBC HD, Basketball HD and Soccer HD Included


New York, NY -

Digital customers in Time Warner Cable’s New York City Region can view 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics programming in High Definition at no additional charge from August 6th to August 24th on USA HD (Channel 195), CNBC HD (Channel 196), Basketball HD (Channel 197) and Soccer HD (Channel 198).

Customers can also view Olympic coverage in Korean on Channel 533 and in Mandarin on Channel 581.

People around the country should keep an eye out for a press release like this for your region.

http://www.timewarnercable.com/InvestorRelations/PressReleases/TWCPressReleaseDivDetail.ashx?PRID=2319&MarketID=50


People around the country should keep an eye out for a press release like this for your region.

wow i wonder if manhattan will get these nbc universal channels, you know how we always get screwed

http://www.timewarnercable.com/InvestorRelations/PressReleases/TWCPressReleaseDivDetail.ashx?PRID=2319&MarketID=50


People around the country should keep an eye out for a press release like this for your region.

I would love seeing this press release in my region [Charlotte NC] since we currently do NOT have USA HD, CNBC HD, Basketball HD or Soccer HD.

I would love seeing this press release in my region [Charlotte NC] since we currently do NOT have USA HD, CNBC HD, Basketball HD or Soccer HD.

well.. nobody with time warner cable does.

wow i wonder if manhattan will get these nbc universal channels, you know how we always get screwed

I would think so.... normally they make it clear when its only Brooklyn/Queen/SI.

I assume they had planned to need this space for some time...

But of course... be sure to make note.... the channels are temporary.... they are for the olympics only (i still remember when they tried to pull this crap on us 2/3 years ago with UniversalHD and the US Open... speaking of which... the US Open is only going to be on USAHD this year... USAHD better stick around for the 2 weeks following the Olympics...)

wow i wonder if manhattan will get these nbc universal channels, you know how we always get screwedLast I heard, Manhatten is part of the NYC region. :cool:

http://www.timewarnercable.com/InvestorRelations/PressReleases/TWCPressReleaseDivDetail.ashx?PRID=2319&MarketID=50


People around the country should keep an eye out for a press release like this for your region.

I will keep my eye out for that. Since we do not have any of those networks.

I really wish they would add those, since the other NBC Universal networks are carrying Olympic coverage, in HD.

I just found out from someone at ESPN that TWC has the rights to ESPNU-HD when it launches at the end of August.

1 down, 100 more to go.

Does "has the rights to" = going to add it?

Does "has the rights to" = going to add it?


You know that desicion is up to each TWC division.

Four new channels have just been added to the Bakersfield, CA Brighthouse Networks Digital Cable HD lineup this week. These are the first new channels to be added since local FoxHD was added in January, prior to the Super Bowl (yes, we were one of the last DMAs to get a Fox affiliate in HD). The channels are Discovery HD (57), Animal Planet HD (58), MGM HD, and TLCHD (68).

BHN Digital Cable HD lineup:

43 KGET (NBC)
46 KBFX (FOX)
47 KBAK (CBS)
48 KERO (ABC)
49 KVPT (PBS)
51 National Geographic HD
52 History Channel HD
53 TBS HD
54 A&E HD
55 TNT HD
56 Discovery HD Theater
57 Discovery HD
58 Animal Planet HD
59 HD Special Events (typically off-air)
60 Mojo
61 MGM HD
62 HDNet
63 HDNet 2
64 ESPN HD
65 ESPN2 HD
66 Universal HD
68 TLC HD

70 HBO HD West
71 HBO HD East
72 Showtime HD West
73 Showtime HD East
78 HD Video On Demand
79 HD Movies On Demand

http://www.timewarnercable.com/InvestorRelations/PressReleases/TWCPressReleaseDivDetail.ashx?PRID=2319&MarketID=50

The link now says just This press release is not currently available.
Was that a premature announcement or did the apparent deal with NBC-Universal fall through?

The link now says just
Was that a premature announcement or did the apparent deal with NBC-Universal fall through?

they removed the press release. why? who knows

Looks like USAHD could be really coming, judging from the San Antonio, TX TWC "Coming Soon" link:
http://www.timewarnercable.com/SanAntonio/Products/Cable/hdtv/channels.html?menu=28346
Where the Sci-Fi HD Channel is of course, is anyone's guess.
One would think that Sci-Fi HD would be as good an application of HD as any to get in your cable lineup, but then again...:rolleyes:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/20080801-9999-1s1mediacol.html

TWC San Diego will also get USA HD, CNBC HD, Basketball, and Soccer HD. Universal HD may be off the HD VIP pack during the olympics.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/20080801-9999-1s1mediacol.html

TWC San Diego will also get USA HD, CNBC HD, Basketball, and Soccer HD. Universal HD may be off the HD VIP pack during the olympics.

The placeholder channels for the Olympics are now up on TWC San Diego: 732 (Soccer), 733 (Basketball), 734 (USAHD), 735 (CNBCHD).

We can only hope that TWC SD management does something to make (at least) 734 and 735 permanent additions.

Bump

I gave up on TWC after a year of 8 HD Channels, broke down and went with DTV.

Then why post to a TWC thread if you're with DTV?

A useless post without knowing where you are.

I take it back. A useless post period.

Finally, two more HD channels: USA HD and CNBC HD. I noticed the new channels sometime last week. I'm out in Ventura County (Simi Valley), CA.

Finally, two more HD channels: USA HD and CNBC HD. I noticed the new channels sometime last week. I'm out in Ventura County (Simi Valley), CA.

They are only temporary for the Olympics.

It had been detailed in the 10 days of posts that were lost.

They're qualifying (in the Austin area) that the USAHD and supporting Olympic stations are only good 'till the 24th...but I'm hopeful that USAHD stays put. I'm really enjoying the wide coverage of the Games, sports I've never seen live before. Go USA!

Has anybody else in Orange County,CA noticed TWC's PQ has degraded ever since they added all the new channels(CNNHD,etc.)? Even before they added the Olympic channels I noticed some macroblocking on HDNEt and ESPN doesn't look as good as it used to either.

Has anyone with TWC HD in Dallas seen USA HD? I saw the basketball and soccer channels but I didn't see USA HD.

Has anybody else in Orange County,CA noticed TWC's PQ has degraded ever since they added all the new channels(CNNHD,etc.)? Even before they added the Olympic channels I noticed some macroblocking on HDNEt and ESPN doesn't look as good as it used to either.
In City of Orange, I have surprisingly not seen any additional problems with the signals. I was expecting problems since I have seen problems before with very minor channel additions. Even with USA and CNBC HD added, no issues more than normally see here. KCOP-HD coming September should not be a problem since we will lose USA/CNBC HD by then. /Dan

In City of Orange, I have surprisingly not seen any additional problems with the signals. I was expecting problems since I have seen problems before with very minor channel additions. Even with USA and CNBC HD added, no issues more than normally see here. KCOP-HD coming September should not be a problem since we will lose USA/CNBC HD by then. /Dan


Thanks Dan,what box are you using,I just "upgraded" to the 4250HDC a month ago,with HDMI out,maybe the box is the culprit? I always had stellar PQ with the 3250.

:):)Has anyone with TWC HD in Dallas seen USA HD? I saw the basketball and soccer channels but I didn't see USA HD.

check channel 742 for usa hd
743 for cnbc hd
qam tuners
126-3 usa hd
these vary by area
121-1/122-1/123-1 cnbc hd
121-1/122-2/123-2 olympic basketball
121-3/122-3/123-3 olympic soccer
112-1/109-2 universal hd

Does anyone know who I can contact about when/if I will ever get sci-fi in HD? I contacted my local branch and they acted like idiots. They acted like I was bothering them with my question. They said they had no information regarding that and couldn't do anything for me. I contacted Time Warner via the web and they said they would pass it on to corporate and had no other information. How can no one know when my area will get that channel? Any other options?

Does anyone know who I can contact about when/if I will ever get sci-fi in HD? I contacted my local branch and they acted like idiots. They acted like I was bothering them with my question. They said they had no information regarding that and couldn't do anything for me. I contacted Time Warner via the web and they said they would pass it on to corporate and had no other information. How can no one know when my area will get that channel? Any other options?

How can anyone know when there is no deal between Time Warner and NBCUniversal to carry it?

He has been around long enough to know all of that.

Does anyone know why Santa Monica doesn't receive TeamHD or GameHD for the premium sports packages?

Does anyone know why Santa Monica doesn't receive TeamHD or GameHD for the premium sports packages?


I think there's a lot of TWC markets that don't get those channels. My market, Charlotte, is one that does not have those...unfortunately.

How can anyone know when there is no deal between Time Warner and NBCUniversal to carry it?

Because other Time Warner markets carry it. I want to know when my market will get it. A lot have it, makes no sense my market can't too.

Because other Time Warner markets carry it. I want to know when my market will get it. A lot have it, makes no sense my market can't too.

Sci-fi? No, no TWC markets carry Sci-fi HD.

xnappo

Because other Time Warner markets carry it. I want to know when my market will get it. A lot have it, makes no sense my market can't too.

Not one TWC market carries Sci-Fi HD.

Kind of sucks, even though BATTLESTAR GALACTICA is the only thing I watch on SCI-FI.

Thanks Dan,what box are you using,I just "upgraded" to the 4250HDC a month ago,with HDMI out,maybe the box is the culprit? I always had stellar PQ with the 3250.
1.5 year old 8300HD DVR, Passport, component video used. /Dan

Not one TWC market carries Sci-Fi HD.

Wow, I could of sworn I've seen people posting in here on their channel lineup and it listed SCI-FI HD. Wow, totally confused now.

Wow, I could of sworn I've seen people posting in here on their channel lineup and it listed SCI-FI HD. Wow, totally confused now.

If posters typed, "SCI-HD" they might have meant science-hd and you might have read it as scifi hd.

Known Deals Done With TWC, Not available in all areas

HD PPV
HD Movies OnDemand
HD Adult OnDemand
HD Showcase Content:
-Speed
-WE
-Sundance
-AMC
-SiTV
HBO-HD
Cinemax-HD
Showtime-HD
Showtime 2-HD
The Movie Channel-HD
Starz-HD
Starz Comedy-HD
Starz Edge-HD
Starz Kids & Family-HD
HDNet
HDNet Movies
MOJO
Universal-HD
TNT-HD
TBS-HD
MHD
Food Network-HD
HGTV-HD
A&E-HD
History Channel-HD
Biography-HD
Lifetime Movie Network-HD
Hallmark Movie Channel-HD
CNN-HD
Fox News-HD
Fox Business Network-HD
The Weather Channel-HD
National Geographic-HD
DHDT
The Science Channel-HD
The Discovery Channel-HD
The Learning Channel-HD
Animal Planet-HD
Planet Green-HD
Travel Channel-HD
Golf/Versus-HD
ESPN-HD
ESPN2-HD
ESPN News-HD
Disney Channel-HD
ABC Family-HD
Toon Disney-HD
NBA TV-HD
NHL Network-HD
The Outdoor Channel-HD
MGM-HD
Big Ten Network-HD
Game-HD (MLB Extra Innings & NHL Center Ice in HD)
Team-HD (NBA League Pass in HD)
USA-HD --- (added temporarily for the olympics)
CNBC-HD --- (added temporarily for the olympics)
ESPNU-HD --- (Channel Launching in Bklyn, Queens & S.I. in September)
The Tennis Channel-HD --- (Channel Launching in Bklyn, Queens & S.I. in September)
CBS CS-HD --- (Channel Launching in Bklyn, Queens & S.I. in September)
Sleuth-HD --- (Has the rights to, Channel Launching in 2008)
MLB Network-HD --- (Has the rights to, Channel Launching in 2009)



Negotiations Known In Progress With TWC

NFL Network-HD
MavTV-HD
IFC-HD
AMC-HD
WE-HD
FUSE-HD
Sci-Fi-HD
Bravo-HD
USA-HD --- (added temporarily for the olympics)
CNBC-HD --- (added temporarily for the olympics)
MSNBC-HD --- (Channel Launching in Q4 of 2008)
Chiller-HD --- (Channel Launching in 2008)




Negotiations Unknown With TWC

Rave-HD
Equator-HD
Gallery-HD
Animania-HD
Rush-HD
Ultra-HD
Monsters-HD
HD News
Film Fest-HD
Kung Fu-HD
WorldSport-HD
World Cinema-HD
Gameplay-HD
Family Room-HD
Treasure-HD
TBN-HD
RFD-HD
Lifetime Television-HD
QVC-HD
World Fishing Network-HD
Wealth TV-HD
Smithsonian-HD
WGN-HD
County Music Channel-HD
Cartoon Network-HD
FX-HD
Speed-HD
Fuel-HD
Nickelodeon East-HD
MTV-HD
VH1-HD
Spike-HD
HBO2-HD
HBO Family-HD
HBO Comedy-HD
HBO Signature-HD
HBO Zone-HD
HBO Latino-HD
MoreMax-HD
ActionMAX-HD
5StarMAX-HD
ThrillerMAX-HD
WMAX-HD
@MAX-HD
OuterMAX-HD
ShowCase-HD
ShowExtreme-HD
TMCxtra-HD
Encore-HD
BBC America-HD --- (Channel Launching in Fall of 2008)
Crime & Investigation HD --- (Channel Launching in Q4 2008)
TV One-HD --- (Channel Launching in Q4 2008)
HSN-HD --- (Channel Launching in Q4 2008)
Golf-HD (Full Time) --- (Channel Launching in December 2008)
Versus-HD (Full Time) --- (Channel Launching in December 2008)
E! Entertainment-HD --- (Channel Launching in December 2008)
Style-HD --- (Channel Launching in December 2008)
G4-HD --- (Channel Launching in December 2008)
ION TV-HD --- (Channel Launching in 2008)
SI TV-HD --- (Channel Launching in 2008)
ShowBeyond-HD --- (Channel Launching in Q1 2009)
ShowWomen-HD --- (Channel Launching in Q1 2009)
ShowFamilyZone-HD --- (Channel Launching in Q1 2009)
ShowNext-HD --- (Channel Launching in Q1 2009)
FLIX-HD --- (Channel Launching in Q1 2009)
OWN-HD (Discovery Health) --- (Channel Launching in 2009)
BTNC-HD --- (Channel Launching in 2009)
Al Jazeera-HD --- (Channel Launch TBA)
Soundtrack Channel-HD --- (Channel Launch TBA)
Comedy Central-HD --- (Channel Launch Rumored)
BET-HD --- (Channel Launch Rumored)
MTV2-HD --- (Channel Launch Rumored)
TruTV-HD --- (Channel Launch Rumored)
Headline News-HD --- (Channel Launch Rumored)
Oxygen-HD --- (Channel Launch Rumored)



SDV Commercially Deployed for TWC

As Of August 2008


Time Warner Cable Albany, N.Y.
Time Warner Cable Syracuse, N.Y.
Time Warner Cable Rochester, N.Y.
Time Warner Cable Binghamton, N.Y.
Time Warner Cable Southern Tier N.Y.
Time Warner Cable Buffalo/Niagara (Late Summer)
Time Warner Cable Austin, Texas
Time Warner Cable San Antonio, Texas
Time Warner Cable North Texas (Dallas-Fort Worth)
Time Warner Cable Southwest Texas
Time Warner Cable Oceanic Hawaii
Time Warner Cable Portland, Maine
Time Warner Cable Raleigh/Durham, N.C.
Time Warner Cable Charlotte, N.C.
Time Warner Cable Wilmington, N.C.
Time Warner Cable Greensboro, N.C.
Time Warner Cable Columbia, S.C.
Time Warner Cable Green Bay, Wis.
Time Warner Cable Milwaukee, Wis.
Time Warner Cable San Diego, Calif.
Time Warner Cable Kansas City, Mo.
Time Warner Cable Ohio Systems (Except Mid-Ohio)



Unknown SDV Deployment for TWC

Divisions with Passport need to Convert to Navigator in order to deploy SDV.
Divisions with SARA are fully capable now to deploy SDV.

Time Warner Cable Alabama
Time Warner Cable Barstow
Time Warner Cable Clarksburg
Time Warner Cable Desert Cities
Time Warner Cable Erie
Time Warner Cable Fort Benning
Time Warner Cable Hudson Valley
Time Warner Cable Jackson, MS/Monroe, LA
Time Warner Cable Los Angeles
Time Warner Cable Maine
Time Warner Cable National (non-clustered systems)
Time Warner Cable Nebraska (Lincoln) (Summer)
Time Warner Cable New York and New Jersey
Time Warner Cable Southern California
Time Warner Cable Southwest Florida
Time Warner Cable St. John
Time Warner Cable Terre Haute


OCAP Deployment for TWC

Time Warner has deployed OpenCable-based set-tops in 13 divisions:

New York City and Northern New Jersey
Parts of Los Angeles (including Garden Grove, Chatsworth)
San Diego
Eastern North Carolina (Wilmington)
Raleigh, N.C.
Charlotte, N.C.
Lincoln, Neb.
Kansas City, Mo.
Milwaukee
Northeast Ohio
Cincinnati
Dayton, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio



Going All Digital

Staten Island, NY - Done
Queens, NY - Done
Brooklyn, NY - Done
Manhattan - by the End of the Year



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)
It is currently unknown which TWC systems if any has done this yet.

ANDYHDTV, I am in Central Maine on the Augusta system which was formerly Adelphia. Most information that I see regarding TWC Maine references Portland which operated many years before taking over Central Maine (Augusta) Adelphia.

Do you have the ability to break out the information you have to show what is happening or scheduled for the Augusta system of TWC? In particular, I would like to know the status of SDV on the system.

Negotiations In Progress With TWC

NFL Network-HD
Big Ten Network-HD
IFC-HD
AMC-HD
WE-HD
FUSE-HD
MavTV-HD
Sci-Fi-HD
Bravo-HD
USA-HD --- (added temporarily for the olympics)
CNBC-HD --- (added temporarily for the olympics)
MSNBC-HD --- (Channel Launching in Q4 of 2008)
Chiller-HD --- (Channel Launching in 2008)


Is this good news or bad news? Since they are on the same list as NFL and BigTen(which I expect TWC will never see). Since so many areas have added USA Network HD for the Olympics, is it realistic that it may stick around after the Olympics? If TWC was able to work something out for this month, can they come to an agreement that will permanently add USA and maybe SCIFI and MSNBC? It really doesn't make sense that USA would be added then removed.

If TWC was able to work something out for this month, can they come to an agreement that will permanently add USA and maybe SCIFI and MSNBC? It really doesn't make sense that USA would be added then removed.

NBC want to get their money's worth from what they spent on the Olympics. so they probably offered a package arrangement for those channels that was easier for TWC to accept. I wouldn't be surprised if they offered it to TWC free just so they could get the ad revenue from the extra ratings.

As soon as the Olympics is over NBC will revert back to whatever carriage deals they were asking for before.

Since so many areas have added USA Network HD for the Olympics, is it realistic that it may stick around after the Olympics? If TWC was able to work something out for this month, can they come to an agreement that will permanently add USA and maybe SCIFI and MSNBC? It really doesn't make sense that USA would be added then removed.

May not make sense but it's business as usual for TWC. I remember a couple of years ago I got to see 3 eps of BSG in HD on UHD during the Winter Olympics (what a revelation!). Then, after the Games were over, poof, so was UHD on my cable lineup. Made no sense to me then, either. If they've got the bandwidth to add it temporarily, why not permanently? But TWC works in mysterious ways. :rolleyes:

NBC want to get their money's worth from what they spent on the Olympics. so they probably offered a package arrangement for those channels that was easier for TWC to accept. I wouldn't be surprised if they offered it to TWC free just so they could get the ad revenue from the extra ratings.

Actually, it's being reported that NBC-Universal forced (http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/12/nbc-universal-to-carriers-add-temporary-hd-channels-or-live-wit/) cable ops, including TWC, to add the Olympic channels in order for their subscribers to watch the streaming video at NBCOlympics.com. It doesn't seem as though TWC necessarily wanted to carry the channels, and it may even hurt negotiations for permanent carriage.

ANDYHDTV, I am in Central Maine on the Augusta system which was formerly Adelphia. Most information that I see regarding TWC Maine references Portland which operated many years before taking over Central Maine (Augusta) Adelphia.

Do you have the ability to break out the information you have to show what is happening or scheduled for the Augusta system of TWC? In particular, I would like to know the status of SDV on the system.

Sorry, I have no way of providing information just for Maine. I actually didn't even know TWC had systems up their. My ignorance I guess. But I will add you to the SDV unknown list. try emailing your local office.

Actually, it's being reported that NBC-Universal forced (http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/08/12/nbc-universal-to-carriers-add-temporary-hd-channels-or-live-wit/) cable ops, including TWC, to add the Olympic channels in order for their subscribers to watch the streaming video at NBCOlympics.com. It doesn't seem as though TWC necessarily wanted to carry the channels, and it may even hurt negotiations for permanent carriage.

That sounds plausible as well. But is online streaming really enough leverage to force TWC to carry 4 new channels? Online is still a niche so why would TWC care if some of their broadband viewers can't watch online? What are they going to do? Downgrade and switch to DSL?

If that's the case then I'm with NBC. Anything that forces TWC to get off their ass and add content gets my vote.

In my case I can't see any of the new channels anyway because SDV is screwed up in my area. Yay.

If that's the case then I'm with NBC. Anything that forces TWC to get off their ass and add content gets my vote.

+1 more vote

In my case I can't see any of the new channels anyway because SDV is screwed up in my area. Yay.

I see them and we (Charlotte) don't have SDV yet.

TWC works in mysterious ways.

I see them and we (Charlotte) don't have SDV yet.

For whatever reason those channels reach me as some kind of SDV. For some other reason my box doesn't understand what to do with the SDV signal and won't let me access them.

All these things are a mystery to TWC as well since they have no idea what's going on. Up until yesterday the tech didn't even know the HD olympic channels existed. I'm still waiting to hear what they've found out.

Amusingly I can see all the channels fine using the QAM tuner in the TV. I just can't record anything.

When is TWC going to carry the Fox Soccer Channel HD?? I think one of the dish companies carries it already. What about ESPNews HD??
mgd

For whatever reason those channels reach me as some kind of SDV. For some other reason my box doesn't understand what to do with the SDV signal and won't let me access them.

All these things are a mystery to TWC as well since they have no idea what's going on. Up until yesterday the tech didn't even know the HD olympic channels existed. I'm still waiting to hear what they've found out.

Amusingly I can see all the channels fine using the QAM tuner in the TV. I just can't record anything.

If you can see the channels using QAM they are not SDV. SDV inherently can not be viewed in via clear qam.

When is TWC going to carry the Fox Soccer Channel HD??

When soccer becomes more than a fringe sport in this country. Till then, it would be monumental waste of limited bandwidth. Good grief, we don't even have SciFi-HD yet. We don't have Cinemax-HD yet. We don't have Starz-HD yet. And you want soccer? Pul-eeze.

When soccer becomes more than a fringe sport in this country. Till then, it would be monumental waste of limited bandwidth. Good grief, we don't even have SciFi-HD yet. We don't have Cinemax-HD yet. We don't have Starz-HD yet. And you want soccer? Pul-eeze.

I could care less about Premiums in HD... I'd more likely watch SoccerHD anyways...

If you can see the channels using QAM they are not SDV. SDV inherently can not be viewed in via clear qam.

Tell that to my box.

When soccer becomes more than a fringe sport in this country. Till then, it would be monumental waste of limited bandwidth. Good grief, we don't even have SciFi-HD yet. We don't have Cinemax-HD yet. We don't have Starz-HD yet. And you want soccer? Pul-eeze.

I could care less about Premiums in HD... I'd more likely watch SoccerHD anyways...

Classic we should have this channel because I like it, no that channel because I like it. ;)

I thought we had 10 of millions of soccer moms? :)

I thought we had 10's of millions of soccer moms? :)

We do. But then they become football moms, basketball moms, and lots of other sports moms when their kids hit adolescence. Soccer in this country is basically a kid's game, but kids grow up eventually and leave soccer behind like dolls and toy fire trucks.

I could care less about Premiums in HD...

+1. Since there's no way to get all the HD premium channels without subscribing to each premium service, I don't give a crap about those channels. I was pissed when earlier this year TWC killed HBO West to give us Cinemax and STARZ HD. I hope they over compress the hell out of those two channels :mad:. If they added USA, SCIFI, FX and MSNBC HD this year, I'd be happy. I wouldn't care if they ever added another channel.

Downgrade and switch to DSL?

Ahem. Excuse me, downgrade? In the time the Olympics have been on my cable has gone out twice. My internet connection has worked fine. Watched some online events plus video from other events. Thank you AT&T, F*** you TWC!!

Add Soccer HD...

Of course, let's have bandwidth strapped systems like TWC add pointless channels. Who cares that they don't even carry NFL or BigTen. I'm sure they would win customers that way:rolleyes:.

Ahem. Excuse me, downgrade? In the time the Olympics have been on my cable has gone out twice. My internet connection has worked fine. Watched some online events plus video from other events. Thank you AT&T, F*** you TWC!!

I think you missed the point there.

Downgrade from Road Runner to DSL, not cable TV. It's the online access that their customers would use that tied TWCs hands.

I mean they really wouldn't care in the slightest if AT&T users couldn't view online coverage because they didn't carry NBCs channels.

May not make sense but it's business as usual for TWC. I remember a couple of years ago I got to see 3 eps of BSG in HD on UHD during the Winter Olympics (what a revelation!). Then, after the Games were over, poof, so was UHD on my cable lineup. Made no sense to me then, either. If they've got the bandwidth to add it temporarily, why not permanently? But TWC works in mysterious ways. :rolleyes:
UHD is permanent on the HD tier in our area. Just not blocked for us not subscribing to the tier during the Olympics. Many (most?, you?) have a financial option to see this channel. /Dan

I think you missed the point there.

Downgrade from Road Runner to DSL, not cable TV. It's the online access that their customers would use that tied TWCs hands.

That was my point. I have TWC for cable and AT&T for DSL. Regardless of what TWC did, I'd still be able to watch online since I do not use their internet. And I think I've found another reason against ever getting their service.

UHD is permanent on the HD tier in our area. Just not blocked for us not subscribing to the tier during the Olympics. Many (most?, you?) have a financial option to see this channel. /Dan

The same happened here last Olympics. UHD did not become permanent until sometime in early 2007. And even after that, they still want $6.95 for the crap tier it comes on.

The same happened here last Olympics. UHD did not become permanent until sometime in early 2007. And even after that, they still want $6.95 for the crap tier it comes on.
Ours is $5, and I find myself watching UHD, Mojo, and the HDNets more than any other HD channels... They certainly are the prettiest HD channels, imo.

UHD is by far the loudest too. ;)

That was my point. I have TWC for cable and AT&T for DSL. Regardless of what TWC did, I'd still be able to watch online since I do not use their internet. And I think I've found another reason against ever getting their service.

Yeah but it seems the whole reason TWC is carrying those channels is because they don't want to annoy their Road Runner broadband user base.

What I was saying is why would they care so much if they did annoy them? Those users who actually do watch online video are on 5Mb-10Mb connections, so the chances of them switching providers and voluntarily dropping to lower DSL speeds just because they can't watch the Olympics is pretty unlikely.

If you can see the channels using QAM they are not SDV. SDV inherently can not be viewed in via clear qam.

I believe SDV channels could be sent scrambled or in the clear. What you cant count on is it staying on the same channel and sub-channel. If the people on your node stopped watching that channel (those watching it thru their STB), the node could start using that slot for another channel.

Ours is $5, and I find myself watching UHD, Mojo, and the HDNets more than any other HD channels... They certainly are the prettiest HD channels, imo.

TWC San Diego charges around 9.95 a month for this tier.

TWC San Diego charges around 9.95 a month for this tier.

for 4 channels? Uggh. $5 is definitely my limit.

TWC-NYC (Brooklyn/Queens/SI only) are getting CBS College Sports HD, The Tennis Channel HD, and ESPNUHD on 9/18

new deals are done

cbs college sports hd first i have heard of this deal
tennis channel hd first twc launch
espnu hd first launch

all are being added in brooklyn/queens,staten island

Really? I have to see it posted three times before i believe it. :p

Yippee!! Tennis Channel HD!! Thanks TWC! Why make a deal with USA/SCIFI HD when you can make a deal with TENNIS??:rolleyes: And CBS College Sports. Two channels that have the SD versions on the extra $5 tier. Way to live up to that "Home of Free HD" tagline.

If they offered those two here, I think it would be the first time I was pissed about new HD channels. What a waste!! I hope that area has SDV.

Now ESPNU HD, I'd like to get that one. I've been waiting for the complete ESPN package. Already have ESPN/ESPN2. Next I'd like ESPNU/ESPNEWS.

TWC San Diego charges around 9.95 a month for this tier.That's before the obligatory $3.00 discount, which maybe, in certain situations, one needs to request.

Yes we do get it with the discount. The TWC lady discounted it and we got the DVR.

TWC San Diego has no HD showcase OD yet they advertise it in the VOD menus.

Here it's $6.95. No discounts on anything.
We also have HD Showcase OD. It blows. You're really not missing anything.

TWC San Diego has no HD showcase OD yet they advertise it in the VOD menus.

HD Showcase OnDemand being added on TWC NY/NJ on 9/18

Here it's $6.95. No discounts on anything.
We also have HD Showcase OD. It blows. You're really not missing anything.

Except being able to see AMC's exceptional series 'Mad Men', nominated for 16 Emmys, in gorgeous, sumptuous HD. That makes that channel a must-have, all by itself.

Negotiations Known In Progress With TWC

NFL Network-HD
Big Ten Network-HD
IFC-HD
AMC-HD
WE-HD
FUSE-HD
MavTV-HD
Sci-Fi-HD
Bravo-HD
USA-HD --- (added temporarily for the olympics)
CNBC-HD --- (added temporarily for the olympics)
MSNBC-HD --- (Channel Launching in Q4 of 2008)
Chiller-HD --- (Channel Launching in 2008)




Negotiations Unknown With TWC

Rave-HD
Equator-HD
Gallery-HD
Animania-HD
Rush-HD
Ultra-HD
Monsters-HD
HD News
Film Fest-HD
Kung Fu-HD
WorldSport-HD
World Cinema-HD
Gameplay-HD
Family Room-HD
Treasure-HD
TBN-HD
RFD-HD
Lifetime Television-HD
QVC-HD
World Fishing Network-HD
Wealth TV-HD
Smithsonian-HD
CBSCS-HD
WGN-HD
County Music Channel-HD
Cartoon Network-HD
FX-HD
Speed-HD
Fuel-HD
Nickelodeon East-HD
MTV-HD
VH1-HD
Spike-HD
The Tennis Channel-HD
HBO2-HD
HBO Family-HD
HBO Comedy-HD
HBO Signature-HD
HBO Zone-HD
HBO Latino-HD
MoreMax-HD
ActionMAX-HD
5StarMAX-HD
ThrillerMAX-HD
WMAX-HD
@MAX-HD
OuterMAX-HD
ShowCase-HD
ShowExtreme-HD
TMCxtra-HD
Encore-HD
BBC America-HD --- (Channel Launching in Fall of 2008)
Crime & Investigation HD --- (Channel Launching in Q4 2008)
TV One-HD --- (Channel Launching in Q4 2008)
HSN-HD --- (Channel Launching in Q4 2008)
E! Entertainment-HD --- (Channel Launching in December 2008)
Golf-HD (Full Time) --- (Channel Launching in December 2008)
Versus-HD (Full Time) --- (Channel Launching in December 2008)
ION TV-HD --- (Channel Launching in 2008)
SI TV-HD --- (Channel Launching in 2008)
ShowBeyond-HD --- (Channel Launching in Q1 2009)
ShowWomen-HD --- (Channel Launching in Q1 2009)
ShowFamilyZone-HD --- (Channel Launching in Q1 2009)
ShowNext-HD --- (Channel Launching in Q1 2009)
FLIX-HD --- (Channel Launching in Q1 2009)
OWN-HD (Discovery Health) --- (Channel Launching in 2009)
BTNC-HD --- (Channel Launching in 2009)
Al Jazeera-HD --- (Channel Launch TBA)
Soundtrack Channel-HD --- (Channel Launch TBA)
Comedy Central-HD --- (Channel Launch Rumored)
BET-HD --- (Channel Launch Rumored)
MTV2-HD --- (Channel Launch Rumored)
TruTV-HD --- (Channel Launch Rumored)
Oxygen-HD --- (Channel Launch Rumored)
Headline News-HD --- (Channel Launch Rumored)
G4-HD --- (Channel Launch Rumored)


Known Deals Done With TWC, Not available in all areas

HD PPV
HD Movies OnDemand
HD Adult OnDemand
HD Showcase Content:
-Speed
-WE
-Sundance
-AMC
-SiTV
HBO-HD
Cinemax-HD
Showtime-HD
Sho Too-HD
The Movie Channel-HD
Starz-HD
Starz Comedy-HD
Starz Edge-HD
Starz Kids & Family-HD
ESPN-HD
ESPN2-HD
HDNet
HDNet Movies
MOJO
Universal-HD
TNT-HD
TBS-HD
DHDT
MHD
Golf/Versus-HD
Food Network-HD
HGTV-HD
A&E-HD
History Channel-HD
National Geographic-HD
Lifetime Movie Network-HD
NBA TV-HD
NHL Network-HD
CNN-HD
The Weather Channel-HD
The Science Channel-HD
The Discovery Channel-HD
The Learning Channel-HD
Animal Planet-HD
Fox Business Network-HD
Hallmark Movie Channel-HD
Travel Channel-HD
ESPN News-HD
Disney Channel-HD
ABC Family-HD
Toon Disney-HD
Fox News-HD
The Outdoor Channel-HD
Biography-HD
Planet Green-HD
Game-HD (MLB Extra Innings & NHL Center Ice in HD)
Team-HD (NBA League Pass in HD)
USA-HD --- (added temporarily for the olympics)
CNBC-HD --- (added temporarily for the olympics)
MGM-HD --- (Has the rights to, Launch on TWC TBA)
ESPNU-HD --- (Channel Launching in August 2008)
Sleuth-HD --- (Has the rights to, Channel Launching in 2008)
MLB Network-HD --- (Has the rights to, Channel Launching in 2009)



SDV Commercially Deployed for TWC

As Of August 2008


Time Warner Cable Albany, N.Y.
Time Warner Cable Syracuse, N.Y.
Time Warner Cable Rochester, N.Y.
Time Warner Cable Binghamton, N.Y.
Time Warner Cable Southern Tier N.Y.
Time Warner Cable Buffalo/Niagara (Late Summer)
Time Warner Cable Austin, Texas
Time Warner Cable San Antonio, Texas
Time Warner Cable North Texas (Dallas-Fort Worth)
Time Warner Cable Oceanic Hawaii
Time Warner Cable Portland, Maine
Time Warner Cable Raleigh/Durham, N.C.
Time Warner Cable Charlotte, N.C.
Time Warner Cable Wilmington, N.C.
Time Warner Cable Greensboro, N.C.
Time Warner Cable Columbia, S.C.
Time Warner Cable Green Bay, Wis.
Time Warner Cable Milwaukee, Wis.
Time Warner Cable San Diego, Calif.
Time Warner Cable Kansas City, Mo.
Time Warner Cable Ohio Systems (Except Mid-Ohio)



Unknown SDV Deployment for TWC

Divisions with Passport need to Convert to Navigator in order to deploy SDV.
Divisions with SARA are fully capable now to deploy SDV.

Time Warner Cable Alabama
Time Warner Cable Barstow
Time Warner Cable Clarksburg
Time Warner Cable Desert Cities
Time Warner Cable Erie
Time Warner Cable Fort Benning
Time Warner Cable Hudson Valley
Time Warner Cable Jackson, MS/Monroe, LA
Time Warner Cable Los Angeles
Time Warner Cable Maine
Time Warner Cable National (non-clustered systems)
Time Warner Cable Nebraska (Lincoln) (Summer)
Time Warner Cable New York and New Jersey
Time Warner Cable Southern California
Time Warner Cable Southwest Texas
Time Warner Cable Southwest Florida
Time Warner Cable St. John
Time Warner Cable Terre Haute


OCAP Deployment for TWC

Time Warner has deployed OpenCable-based set-tops in 13 divisions:

New York City and Northern New Jersey
Parts of Los Angeles (including Garden Grove, Chatsworth)
San Diego
Eastern North Carolina (Wilmington)
Raleigh, N.C.
Charlotte, N.C.
Lincoln, Neb.
Kansas City, Mo.
Milwaukee
Northeast Ohio
Cincinnati
Dayton, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio



Going All Digital

Staten Island, NY - Done
Queens, NY - Done
Brooklyn, NY - Done
Manhattan - by the End of the Year



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)
It is currently unknown which TWC systems if any has done this yet.

all systems that got the olympic bball and soccer have mpeg-4 transcoders.

I just wanted to know If TWC was planning on having those stations cuz one of the Dish companies does. In the meantime I will just have to watch the WORLDS most popular sport in SD.
mgd

I think you mistook my point. I wasn't offering a personal value judgment about soccer; frankly, I couldn't care less about it. The problem is that nobody else does either, at least once they pass out of early childhood. Too many other flashier and more popular sports grab their attention and soccer gets left behind with the other trappings of early youth.

What we need is HD shopping channels.


http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Laughing/drunk-irish-048.gif

Except being able to see AMC's exceptional series 'Mad Men', nominated for 16 Emmys, in gorgeous, sumptuous HD. That makes that channel a must-have, all by itself.

Good point. I've always wanted to see another AMC show "Breaking Bad". Read about it after the fact but unfortunately it's not on demand anymore. Seemed like a good show. But I'd rather have the actual AMC HD than the On Demand portal.

Yes we do get it with the discount.Actually, it's apparently pretty tricky.

When I got HD service, I ordered the VIP Package. On the website, it said "$6.95", but when I got my bill, I saw that I was being charged $9.95. When I called and complained, they gave me the $3.00 discount (which shows up every month as a "service discount", whatever that's supposed to mean).

Now, if I hadn't noticed and hadn't complained, I'd have been paying an extra $3.00 a month all along. That whole pricing scheme, where if you know about the reduced price and complain about it, you get it--otherwise, you don't, seems pretty silly to me. But, then, I've never worked for a cable company.

And, now, I've just noticed that on the website, the price of the VIP Package is listed as $9.95, so now I don't know what gives.

Bickering removed, infractions issued.

I must say I notice some pixelation on the temporary Olympic channels. It also seems when NBC dissolves some graphics they pixelate on purpose.

I must say I notice some pixelation on the temporary Olympic channels. It also seems when NBC dissolves some graphics they pixelate on purpose.

I haven't noticed it on the temporary ones but i do notice it on nbc when there is a lot of quick movements like with volleyball.

I haven't noticed it on the temporary ones but i do notice it on nbc when there is a lot of quick movements like with volleyball.

I notice a lot of pixelation on WWE's Friday Night Smackdown on HD channel 711 whenever there is fast motion, blinking lights, or smoke/fog. In an attempt to blame this on Time Warner, I watched the local over-the-air CW 11.1 HD broadcast and the same pixelation was noticeable. (So, it's not TW's fault.)

On WWE's Wrestlemania XXIV blu-ray, however, there was no pixelation despite frequent fast motion, blinking lights and smoke/fog.