I dont get how TWC can try this manuever when HBO, Showtime/TMC, and Cinemax on Demand are all included in the price of their respective packages (at least in Raleigh). How can you set a standard for how youre going to do something, and then hold someone else to a different set of rules?

If you only subscribe to one premium channel, the On Demand isn't included in the Digipic package.

For example if you subscribe to only HBO, you do not get the on demand channel thrown in. You have to pay the $4.00-6.95 for the premium on demand package just for HBO on Demand. The rest of the premium ODs are thrown into that but that's not great value if you don't subscribe to the main channels anyway.

Last I read (earlier in this thread) Starz still want it so that if you only subscribe to the Starz package you get Starz On Demand included without having to pay for all the other premium on Demand channels that you might not get anway.

this was said in a article:
"Meanwhile, Santelle was more optimistic about ESPN2 high definition and ESPNU coming to Time Warner."
“I really think we’re close to making it happen, especially ESPN2 HD, and we’re getting pretty close with ESPNU,” Santelle said. “I’ll say anywhere from 30 to 60 days.”
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the quotes are at the bottom of the article, which also mentions the feud with the NFL.

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/sports/15247989.htm

I wish I had a dollar for every time I've seen "we're close" on ESPN2HD. It was reported last year, "just in time for college football". Well, it's now 2006 "just in time for college football". I wonder which season we're actually discussing, 2009?

You forgot "in time for the World Cup" !!

Cain, can you clear you private messages please? :o

I'm so tired of Time Warner!!!!!

it all could be tiered and then the gd religious stations would not come into my home and spread their evil. Ala carte is what is in play here but it only works if TW or who ever offers the networks you want. If TW doesn't offer NFLN or ESPN2HD, etc it doesn't matter what tier they put them on. Remember that we only watch about 20 or less of the channels that we get in our homes. Ala carte would put a lot of the niche stations out of business because enough people would not buy them. That is why the religious stations are against Ala carte. For example we would not pay to have any shopping channels on our service but you might. We could care less about on demand services but that might be important to some people.

Are you suggesting that cable channel providers might have to ~shudder~ put out a product that's sufficiently good that enough people would want to pay for it to support its production? Amazing.

I've been a fan of moving to an ala carte model for some time. Let the cable company charge a bandwidth fee for every channel (yes, HD would cost more, since it uses more of the limited resources, but we'd get rid of this upside down model where analog-only customers use more bandwidth while paying less money), and pass along to the subscribers whatever fee the channel provider wants to charge. It will be up to the channel providers to figure out their own price points. It will be up to the suits at ESPN if they want to charge a higher price to milk us sports fans who will pay a bit more for the channel, or if they want to basically give away their service to keep viewer numbers higher for ad sales.

In the end, there will be far fewer channels out there to choose from, but it will free up bandwidth for the channels people really want, not to mention forcing the cable companies to notice what the customers actually want...
-JMP

Are you suggesting that cable channel providers might have to ~shudder~ put out a product that's sufficiently good that enough people would want to pay for it to support its production? Amazing.

I've been a fan of moving to an ala carte model for some time. Let the cable company charge a bandwidth fee for every channel (yes, HD would cost more, since it uses more of the limited resources, but we'd get rid of this upside down model where analog-only customers use more bandwidth while paying less money), and pass along to the subscribers whatever fee the channel provider wants to charge. It will be up to the channel providers to figure out their own price points. It will be up to the suits at ESPN if they want to charge a higher price to milk us sports fans who will pay a bit more for the channel, or if they want to basically give away their service to keep viewer numbers higher for ad sales.

In the end, there will be far fewer channels out there to choose from, but it will free up bandwidth for the channels people really want, not to mention forcing the cable companies to notice what the customers actually want...
-JMP

ironically if cable had been a la carte from the beginning it's unlikely ESPN would have survived because in the early days their programming was mainly craptacular stuff no one was watching. anyone for hacky sack championships from new zealand? ok, maybe i made that up, but it's not far from what they were showing...

i cast a nay vote for a la carte, i'd rather have a station no one watches that might grow up to be something worthwhile instead of aborted shortly after birth.

this was said in a article:
"Meanwhile, Santelle was more optimistic about ESPN2 high definition and ESPNU coming to Time Warner."
“I really think we’re close to making it happen, especially ESPN2 HD, and we’re getting pretty close with ESPNU,” Santelle said. “I’ll say anywhere from 30 to 60 days.”
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the quotes are at the bottom of the article, which also mentions the feud with the NFL.

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/sports/15247989.htm

E-mail Dressler and put him on the spot (again). At the very least, it would be funny to see if he contradicts one of his henchmen. That poor guy might mysteriously disappear.

I wish I had a dollar for every time I've seen "we're close" on ESPN2HD. It was reported last year, "just in time for college football". Well, it's now 2006 "just in time for college football". I wonder which season we're actually discussing, 2009?

You're right- first, it was "very, very close- in time for College Football (2006)". Then it was, "we are very close-- should be there for MLB Opening Day (2006)". Then it was, "we are trying to get it in place for the World Cup". Now it's, "within 30 to 60 days". Fact is, that until Dressler's name is in (non-erasable) ink on a contract, and it shows up on your on-screen guide ... forget ESPN2HD, or anything other than religious/shopping/worthless on-demand car advertising.

No HD additions or anything of value in 2 years.

What's depressing to me is that even when/if TWC does reach a deal with ESPN for ESPN2HD, how long before I get it? They made a deal for UniversalHD (I believe) late last year, and we still don't have it here in Greensboro! Not that I am pining for it like I do for ESPN2HD, but it's the principle of the thing. Almost everytime I visit someone else in the state, their TWC offers it but ours still doesn't!

[/whine mode off]

What's depressing to me is that even when/if TWC does reach a deal with ESPN for ESPN2HD, how long before I get it? They made a deal for UniversalHD (I believe) late last year, and we still don't have it here in Greensboro! Not that I am pining for it like I do for ESPN2HD, but it's the principle of the thing. Almost everytime I visit someone else in the state, their TWC offers it but ours still doesn't!

[/whine mode off]

I hear ya-- we have UHD here in Raleigh. 99% of the time, it's an absolute waste of bandwidth. However, for 3 days in April (the Masters golf) and 2 weeks in August (US Open Tennis), it is inserted on my "FAV" button on my remote.

TWC is the worst, aren't they? I'm very pessimistic about ESPN2HD, and definitely do not expect them to make a deal for the NFL Network. Only megoliths like Time Warner can ignore customer demand like they do. It reminds me of IBM in the 80s. Eventually, more agressive and nimble companies will chip away as customers realize they have alternatives. One day they'll sit in their board room and wonder why so many subs left them.

does time warner nyc have 5c enabled on non local channels?

maybe if the NFL would ditch the Sunday Ticket exclusive with DirecTV, TWC would agree to carry both the NFL network and Sunday Ticket.

sorry, just dreaming for a minute...

Has Time Warner added a single HD channel since this thread started? Man, I thought the "what's the next HD channel on Comcast" thread used to be depressing. This is even worse. Especially since we don't even get local CBS or Fox HD here is Hawaii.

Has Time Warner added a single HD channel since this thread started? Man, I thought the "what's the next HD channel on Comcast" thread used to be depressing. This is even worse. Especially since we don't even get local CBS or Fox HD here is Hawaii.

They've added Cinemax & Showtime HD here in San Antonio. Of course, I would have rather had the NFL Network, ESPN2 or my local Fox affiliate (owned by Sinclair so no HD feed for TWC) since I'm a big football fan.

They've added Cinemax & Showtime HD here in San Antonio.

that was so long ago and in such a limited market I don't think it counts for much.

Especially since we've had Showtime HD for about two years here, so you are playing catchup with that channel. No MaxHD though, so you're ahead there.

Let's see now.

Cinemax to show all six Star Wars movies in HD in November. I don't think the original three have been seen in HD, but I could be wrong.

Cinemax is owned by Time Warner. It has almost no distribution on TWC systems. Could it be possible that this programming event could coinside with Cinemax HD launch on TWC? And if they add one HD channel, wouldn't it be a good time to roll out a few more?

Pure speculation, but they have been testing HD on a couple of channels (123 & 124) in Raleigh. Each had one 720p and three 1080i channels running (duplicates of current channels). How'd they do that ???

that was so long ago and in such a limited market I don't think it counts for much.

Especially since we've had Showtime HD for about two years here, so you are playing catchup with that channel. No MaxHD though, so you're ahead there.

I meant to say StarzHD instead of Showtime. We got both MaxHD & StarzHD a couple of months back. I'd still rather have my local Fox affiliate and the NFL network.

Pure speculation, but they have been testing HD on a couple of channels (123 & 124) in Raleigh. Each had one 720p and three 1080i channels running (duplicates of current channels). How'd they do that ???
Someone in my local NYC TWC forum mapped the frequencies of all the HD channels, with one frequency for 3 HD channels excerpted here (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8259485&&#post8259485). To squeeze in 4 HDs, even if one is in the more easily compressible 720p format, likely involves some heavy rate shaping (see link) with requantization (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8011489&&#post8011489), although rate-shaping hardware/software firms have long claimed they can fit 4 HDs where only ~2 went once (256-QAM, ~39-Mbps cable slots). Suspect the only way to judge how much PQ may have been been lost in the 'squeeze' is with direct A-B comparisons and rapid switching with 'untinkered' sources--unless someone has access to instruments such as spectrum analyzers and attempts to measure differences, or makes easier bit rate comparisons.

Just to add to the optimistic speculation, TWC, after testing switched video (SV) in a few states, supposedly plans on rolling it out nationwide, either this year or within several years, depending on what you're reading. SV, only delivering programming when it's requested--somewhat akin the video on demand--can save a lot of bandwidth on cable systems for more HD channels and other services. -- John

We were one of the first SDV areas, and they have added 0 new channels.

wasn't Universal HD added at the same time we went SDV?

i believe it was before

We were one of the first SDV areas, and they have added 0 new channels.
Interesting. I skimmed some of the posts a while back, including those of the area TWC rep, in the local forums for your area. Believe Austin, Texas, is another test area. Wonder what your local TWC rep has to say about possible new HD, and what channels are included in the switched-video testing. Understand from the posts there that tuning the SV is indistinguishable from non-SV tuning. -- John

i believe it was before

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6655377&&#post6655377

not that it matters much, it was so long ago anyway and there's been nothing since.

Indeed it does seem switched video is the holy grail... although I'm sure it's a bit more complicated than that. I'm no engineer, but I've been around the block enough to think I won't see seeing this until fall 07 at the earliest. Right now, I'm most anxious for them to get beyond 2.5.070 with a fix for the "no trick plays" bug with external drives so I can get an external drive into the flow.

I've spoken with a high-up exec at our local TWC here in Charlotte and he tells me that, along with Los Angeles, we have the tightest bandwidth situation in the country. That means no new HD content until they implement switched video, but he gave me no timetable for that. But, curiously, they seem to be able to add any bandwidth-hogging analog SD channels that come knocking at the door (especially Spanish language channels).

It's been well over 2 1/2 years, probably closer to 3, since they added any new HD channels here. It's disgraceful.

I've heard the same thing about the alleged lack of bandwidth and do not believe it. For one, UHD was added then taken away.

In any event, besides switched video, the expanded basic tier is moving into digital ("digital conversion"), saving a huge amount of bandwidth. If 50 channels are moved from analog to digital, those same fifty channels will now only occupy 10. The remaining 40 can easily hold 2 hd stations each, perhaps 3 with rate shaping. Thats room for 80-120 additional HD stations.

I've heard the same thing about the alleged lack of bandwidth and do not believe it. For one, UHD was added then taken away.

In any event, besides switched video, the expanded basic tier is moving into digital ("digital conversion"), saving a huge amount of bandwidth. If 50 channels are moved from analog to digital, those same fifty channels will now only occupy 10. The remaining 40 can easily hold 2 hd stations each, perhaps 3 with rate shaping. Thats room for 80-120 additional HD stations.
when they do digital conversion, I'm pretty sure it's a digital simulcast, which means it takes up more bandwidth, not less, but increases picture quality on SD channels for digital costumers. it'll be 2-3 more years until TWC and other cablecos starting knocking channels off the analog tier.

but increases picture quality on SD channels for digital costumers

Are you kidding? The digital channels are compressed at such a low bitrate that an amplified analog signal looks so much better...

I've spoken with a high-up exec at our local TWC here in Charlotte and he tells me that, along with Los Angeles, we have the tightest bandwidth situation in the country. That means no new HD content until they implement switched video, but he gave me no timetable for that. But, curiously, they seem to be able to add any bandwidth-hogging analog SD channels that come knocking at the door (especially Spanish language channels).

It's been well over 2 1/2 years, probably closer to 3, since they added any new HD channels here. It's disgraceful.

well we've got switched digital and you still have more HD than we do! Yes we have UniversalWasteofSpaceHD, but you had both UPN and WBHD.

"We have two systems (Raleigh, N.C., and Austin, Texas) in full production with a varied number of channels and it's going quite well. But our findings have told us to pay attention to the plan and be careful about the spectrum. The results have produced 60 percent gains in efficiency, and as time passes, we'll gain even more efficiency," LaJoie said.

Thanks Mike LaJoie, CTO of Time Warner Cable. It really helped. :rolleyes:

TWC in NYC duplicated its analog delivery with QAM digital several years ago, along with additional digital-only channels. And yes, unless the analogs are dropped (not enough have been), more cable bandwidth is needed for the duplicate 'digital simulcast' channels. NYC TWC, with a large 860-MHz system, has claimed lack of bandwidth for its slow HD additions for years now.

Spent some time comparing analog channels with the digital versions a few years back, concluding that most of the time the digitals did look better than the analog. But also suspect that squeezing 8-10 SD channels into each cable frequency slot, compared with the original satellite (C-band, etc.) downlinks to the head end, both original analog or digital signals suffer PQ-wise. TWC here, and other systems, use rate shaping (http://broadcastengineering.com/aps/acquisition/broadcasting_dtv_digital_cable/index.html), which includes PQ-diminishing requantization (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8011489&&#post8011489), to 'squeeze' signals. -- John

Are they contractually obligated to carry the both the East/West versions of HBO and Showtime? We don't have StarzHD or MaxHD here, and if it's a bandwidth issue, I'd really rather have some new channels instead of the duplicate of HBO/SHO showing what was on a couple hours ago. Especially since it's usually not even a movie, but just the 25th rebroadcast of Weeds or Entourage.

Here in Southern California, HD PQ has gone from bad to worse. The rate shaping requantization has made HDnet and TNT HD almost unwatchable. I can no longer accept HD that looks like a Madacy DVD (massive blocking).

I'm moving back to E*. My father has E* and the same TV I have and E* HD-lite blows away what I am currently getting from TWC. I had been with TWC specifically for FSN HD for the Lakers in HD. The PQ on FSN HD has never been great to say the least, and Dish's expanded HD channel lineup made the decision to switch easy.

I thought Mark Cuban does not allow rate shaping.

I thought Mark Cuban does not allow rate shaping.

It's done by the cable company. He has no more control over that then he does over HDLite on D* and E*, which is to say, none. He sells them the content and they do with it as they wish.

TWC in San Diego will be getting Starz-HD & Cinemax-HD.

http://hdtv.forsandiego.com/messages/2/5053.html?1157068156

I didn't think TWC had national carriage agreements for Starz-HD and Cinemax-HD?? It figures that TWC will start adding content right after I commit to changing providers. But no regrets still. How long have we heard that ESPN2HD is "real close"???

It'll be interesting to see if any other locales add these channels.

more subscription based HD and yet still no WB (or rather the CW) in HD. Pretty pathetic.

TWC San Diego is sucking a little lately. No WB HD, no CW HD, no MHD, no Universal HD. Yet Cox Cable just 15 miles north has them. I'm happy with the picture quality I get on TWC, and even their customer service is quite good. But they are slacking big time in keeping up with HD. I mean give us UHD please. And WB is a local, there is no reason they should be denying us that. Dish is looking better and better.

The sad thing is that the WB and TWC are sister companies under Time Warner. You'd think they could work out a deal.

The sad thing is that the WB and TWC are sister companies under Time Warner. You'd think they could work out a deal.
But it depends on who owns the local WB station wether a carriage deal is struck. Not between Warner and TWC.

Heck, I don't even have a local WB network in my viewing area. WLFL WB22 in Raleigh NC is the closest and by FCC guidelines their not considered as being in our viewing area. Even if they were, Sinclair owns the station and they ain't giving TWC HD. We're stuck with the Cable only WB network (becoming CW). Fat chance they'll be going HD in the near future. (luckly my local UPN stations going CW but their still only analog digitized SD digital and still MONO AUDIO) :eek:

Even if they were, Sinclair owns the station and they ain't giving TWC HD. We're stuck with the Cable only WB network (becoming CW).

Sinclair owns TWO of the local San Antonio affiliates so we have to do without Fox or WB in HD on our TWC service.

Sinclair owns TWO of the local San Antonio affiliates so we have to do without Fox or WB in HD on our TWC service.
I am sincerely sorry. That sux.

Yep, when I was in Greensboro, NC last year, where Sinclair owns UPN and ABC, we got neither of those in HD (plus the local WB hadn't started broadcasting in HD). Think about it...no HD superbowl, or BCS.

what's the deal with sinclair? why do they suck so much?

does sinclair own any of the local charlotte stations?

Their stations are on their website.

what's the deal with sinclair? why do they suck so much?

It's not that they suck so much as they just won't allow TWC to send out thier local feeds in HD. Sinclair believes that TWC should pay them for that priviledge since it cost them so much to upgrade. TWC believes that Sinclair should be able to recoup their government mandated capital upgrades via advertising revenues. SO, it's John Doe consumer that gets screwed while they have a stare-off.

In Milwaukeeland, our local UPN and WB channels started broadcasting awhile ago in HD and TWC did not want to pay the "ransom" for carriage.
So now, CW has allowed carriage with this Sinclair O&O station, even though it still has affliations with Time Warner (and CBS) and we are screwed with HD local service...once again.

You know, what with all the increases in my cable bill, add-on charges and tiers, it would be great of TWC asked us or even required us, if we want to pay for this HD carriage, just like we do ordering the HD package or some premium channel.

If this meant the NBC, etc. affiiates started to want some cash, so be it.
Satellite companies charge for locals, so with HD channel locals, until 2009 (when it becomes must-carry because it is only digital delivery), I don't see why not - at least for now.
This would be great for some to be able to finally get these HD stations, as it is difficult, if not impossible (for apartment and condo dwellers especially) than getting HD OTA, too.

Honestly, if I wanted OTA for HD locals like Sinclair keeps pushing (are you listening, both of you - TWC and Sinclair?), I would not be subscribing to cable service...they just don't "get it".

Let's see!

1. I get 14 HD channels all at full bandwidth 1920x1080 or 1280x720.
2. I get on demand which I don't care about but my wife loves.
3. I have the 8300HD DVR which is perfect for my needs(2 tuners, DD, 160 Gig HD, SATA capability now, and HDMI). Other people hate it but it works for me.
4. And probably the single biggest reason. Road Runner cable modem! 8 gigabits down stream and a very respectable 400 kilobits/sec upstream for $40/month.

All of this isn't cheap $136 a month. Try to get this with satellite. You can't get the true HD and you will never get the internet speeds I get with TWC.Road Runner, I also had RR, got rid of it once I got Verizon Fios Broadband 20MB download and 5MB upload speed, and all this speed is mine "not shared like cable", my speedtrst don't lie, and all for $40 a month, next to go out the door is my 2 TWC HD boxes, when I get Dish network installed, which has 30HD channels including the local channels, for the Platinum package which has over 260 channels for $99, I could not leave TWC soon enough, ever since they came and disconnected my service by mistake, they where supposed to disconnect my neighbors service but disconnected mine, it was a wednesday, when the Tech cam out to my house on Friday "2 days later" he went up the pole and found out the problem, he also put it in the work report, he told me they screwed up and they should make amends for me losing my days pay for staying home, do to thei f up, so after speaking to 3 managers, the last one told me SORRY but they could onl;y give me credit for the days lost, even though it was thier fault for me losing hte service, I have been with them for over 10 years, and they could not even give me half a month for free, when I told them "at the time I was steaming" that I would cancel, their response was, ok when do you want us to cut you off, now that is not the way to treat your customers. When I brought back my RR modem I was asked why and told them about that situation that happened a while back, and when I find a descent provider their other boxes would be returned also, and I am sure I will not be the only one in line to do so.

Curious, is your FIOS broadband via PPPoE?

BTW, the Internet itself is a shared network... your "speed," no matter how you're connected, is very much subject to overall traffic, especially dependant on what nodes you go through. That's what created the so-called edge network services, like what Akami provides.

Sinclair owns TWO of the local San Antonio affiliates so we have to do without Fox or WB in HD on our TWC service.

That is sad, but my Time Warner affiliate has them all beat for sucky service.
We get zero and I mean absolutly no stations in HD or digital.
No CBS, No ABC, No NBC, No FOX, Nothing.
And no ammount of phone calls will do any good
In fact I checked on their web page and we are the only market they serve in a 400 mile radius or more that has no HD networks on cable.
As soon as Dish Network uploads my locals on Sept 20th I will be leaving Time Warner for sure. I will at least have the ability to record the OTA HD channels with Dish.

That is sad, but my Time Warner affiliate has them all beat for sucky service.
We get zero and I mean absolutly no stations in HD or digital.
No CBS, No ABC, No NBC, No FOX, Nothing.
And no ammount of phone calls will do any good
In fact I checked on their web page and we are the only market they serve in a 400 mile radius or more that has no HD networks on cable.
As soon as Dish Network uploads my locals on Sept 20th I will be leaving Time Warner for sure. I will at least have the ability to record the OTA HD channels with Dish.

That is horrible service from TWC. It's not like Beaumont is a small town, they should be pushing all available locals and premium channels in HD.

That is sad, but my Time Warner affiliate has them all beat for sucky service.
We get zero and I mean absolutly no stations in HD or digital.
No CBS, No ABC, No NBC, No FOX, Nothing.
And no ammount of phone calls will do any good
In fact I checked on their web page and we are the only market they serve in a 400 mile radius or more that has no HD networks on cable.
As soon as Dish Network uploads my locals on Sept 20th I will be leaving Time Warner for sure. I will at least have the ability to record the OTA HD channels with Dish.


A sad story, arcade, but in the day of giant corproations, not at all unusual.

Folks with any provider can match it.

I know that venting anger here is sometimes cathartic, but if you really want to get some satisfaction there are a few routes to take. (Calling CSRS usually isn't one of the best except at rare companies.)

One would be to write a very polite, non-judgmental but wistfully sorry-that-it-has-come-to-this type of letter, describing excatly ewhat happened..

Then send it to every member of the AOL Board of directors and send it to all the appropriate senior managers at Time Warner Cable.

Then copy it to the editors of the Beaumont city agency which oversees cable, the Beaumont newspapers and maybe even the Houston papers.

I would also copy it to Craig Moffett, media analyst with Sanford Bernstein. He covers the media companies and is perhaps the most highly respected analyst on Wall Street. A negative word from him can send stock prices sliding.

None of that is as much fun as coming on the forum and venting. But I can guarantee you will get action.

AOL’s Board of Directors

Richard D. Parsons, Chairman of the Board and CEO, Time Warner Inc.
James L. Barksdale, Chairman and President, Barksdale Management Corporation
Stephen F. Bollenbach, Co-Chairman and CEO, Hilton Hotels Corporation
Frank J. Caufield, Co-Founder and General Partner, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCP)
Robert C. Clark, Distinguished Service Professor, Harvard University
Jessica P. Einhorn, Dean, Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University
Reuben Mark, Chairman and CEO, Colgate-Palmolive Company
Michael A. Miles, Special Limited Partner, Forstmann Little & Company
Kenneth J. Novack, Senior Counsel, Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, PC Mathias Döpfner
Chairman, CEO and Head of the Newspapers Division, Axel Springer AG
Francis T. Vincent, Jr., Chairman, Vincent Enterprises
Deborah C. Wright, Chairman, President and CEO, Carver Bancorp, Inc.

Key Time Warner Cable Executives

Glenn A. Britt , President and CEO
Landel C. Hobbs, Chief Operating Officer
Gerry D. Campbell, Executive Vice President, Phone Operations
Fred M. Dressler, Executive Vice President, Programming
James D. Fellhauer, Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Care Officer
Wayne Knighton, Executive Vice President, Operations, Texas Region
Robert D. Marcus, Senior Executive Vice President
John K. Martin, Executive Vice President and CFO
Executive Vice President, Product Management
Lynn M. Yaeger, Executive Vice President, Corporate Affair

That is horrible service from TWC. It's not like Beaumont is a small town, they should be pushing all available locals and premium channels in HD. That is a first that I've seen NO local channel carraige of the digital channels. And I thought my division was bad since they don't carry NBC (and WB, but I don't care about WB).....

His local TW does have HD offerings though and I'm not at all defending TW here. They have the normal TW HD tier of HDNet, HDMovies, InHD, InHD2, ESPN HD, Discovery HD, TNT HD, and a new one to me, FOX Sports HD. They also have HBO HD and Showtime HD.

It's not like Beaumont is a small town,

If you wouldn't call Beaumont a small town, I'm guessing you've either spent none of your life there or almost all of it there. (either one explains how a person could be unaware how small Beaumont is). I'm surprised TWC doesn't give you the Houston locals in HD if you're in the Houston viewing area and could reasonably view Houston TV via OTA (although I'm guessing it'd take one hell of an antenna because you can't really get much Houston TV with an small indoor antenna here in Galveston).

Beaumont is way down the list of the 210 markets in the country.

In the latest list, released two weeks ago by Nielsen Media Research, here is where it ranks -- and it is not surrounded by large communities.


Rank-Market----TV Homes--% of US TV Homes
130 Chico-Redding 193,590 0.174
131 Amarillo 190,590 0.171
132 Columbus-Tupelo-West Point 187,150 0.168
133 Rockford 184,560 0.166
134 Wausau-Rhinelander 180,640 0.162
135 Monroe-El Dorado 178,200 0.160
136 Wilmington 174,170 0.156
137 Duluth-Superior 171,780 0.154
138 Topeka 171,310 0.154
139 Columbia-Jefferson City 170,260 0.153
140 Beaumont-Port Arthur 167,090 0.150
141 Medford-Klamath Falls 164,780 0.148
142 Erie 157,860 0.142
143 Sioux City 156,480 0.141
144 Joplin-Pittsburg 154,640 0.139
145 Albany, GA 153,190 0.138
146 Wichita Falls & Lawton 152,380 0.137
147 Lubbock 151,610 0.136
148 Salisbury 150,790 0.135
149 Palm Springs 149,880 0.135
150 Bluefield-Beckley-Oak Hill 145,550 0.131

Thanks Fredfa for your most useful post. I will indeed use the information.

As for Beaumont not being a large city that is hogwash.
If Beaumont were in most any other state it would be one of the largest cities.
Because we are in Texas we have the likes of Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin and many others to contend against.
My Time Warner office serves over 300,000 people with all the surrounding cities we have. We really could not get and do not need the Houston stations as we have our own local CBS, ABC, NBC and FOX affiliates right here in town.
I have talked repeatedly to the head of our Time Warner who always tells me that the local stations want too much money to carry their signal on cable.
I'm sure there is some truth to that but you would think they would do whatever it takes not to lose customers.
Beaumont is over twice the size of Galveston where a poster is from above, and I'll just bet if Time Warner serves them they have digital networks.
And yes I realize we have the usual HD package with HDNET and so forth it is only the national big four networks that I am complaining about.
Anyway thanks for letting me vent a little.

I'm surprised TWC doesn't give you the Houston locals in HD if you're in the Houston viewing area... Seeing as Beaumont has local network affiliates, it's my understanding that TWC isn't allowed to broadcast another local city's channels. I've inquired with my local TWC about doing the same thing, that is, supplying us with Cincinnati's local NBC station, which the Southwestern OH division already carries. The SW Ohio division covers Dayton and Cincinnati and in Dayton, the local NBC isn't carried by TWC.

Seeing as Beaumont has local network affiliates, it's my understanding that TWC isn't allowed to broadcast another local city's channels. I've inquired with my local TWC about doing the same thing, that is, supplying us with Cincinnati's local NBC station, which the Southwestern OH division already carries. The SW Ohio division covers Dayton and Cincinnati and in Dayton, the local NBC isn't carried by TWC.

TWC is allowed to broadcast another city's local channels -- it just needs to black out network programming. For example, WXIX-TV in Cincinnati is carried by TWC Dayton. The Cincinnati CBS affiliate is also carried (and one can watch different NCAA tournament games for example). I don't believe there is anything that would distinguish digital vs. analog, so TWC Dayton could pick up WXIX-DT.

TWC is allowed to broadcast another city's local channels -- it just needs to black out network programming. For example, WXIX-TV in Cincinnati is carried by TWC Dayton. The Cincinnati CBS affiliate is also carried (and one can watch different NCAA tournament games for example). I don't believe there is anything that would distinguish digital vs. analog, so TWC Dayton could pick up WXIX-DT.

Depends on your definition of "allowed". By law, they can do as you say. They must however have a carriage agreement with the TV station for each system - just because they have an agreement in one market does not mean they have an agreement in another.

It is somewhat easier when you have significantly viewed markets so close, as Dayton is to Cincy, but again, this is no different than people wanting DNS from E* or D* and the factors that go in to why they cannot get them.

There are also other factors on why the TV station might agree or not to do this - the least of which are rights to Syndicated Programming they have purchased and how that contract is written covering the local market.

Sinclair owns TWO of the local San Antonio affiliates so we have to do without Fox or WB in HD on our TWC service.


Got you beat here as sinclair not only owns Fox in Columbus, OH but also ABC

TWC is allowed to broadcast another city's local channels -- it just needs to black out network programming. That, IMO, defeats the purpose though. I mean, if I want to watch "Everybody Loves Raymond" or "King of Queens" reruns, great. I'm talking about primetime television though.

I'm changing to a competitive local cable company here in the KC area (Everest) on Thursday, due to the stalemates in carriage agreements (ESPN2HD, ESPNU, NFL, misc. other HD offerings), despite being otherwise pretty happy with TWC's service. Once done, I'll be letting the higher-ups at the local TWC office and TWC corporate (at least Fred Dressler and the CEO) why. I'm willing to pay for what I want, and not even being given a choice by corporate is not acceptable in my mind. They need to know that these decisions are truly costing them customers. I'm very fortunate that I have a competing cable company in the area that a) keeps prices down (but only where Everest is available - they charge about 30% higher where there is no competition elsewhere in the area), and b) offers everything TWC does and more, apparently with phenomenal customer service. And they're a somewhat small company, so the beaurocracy (sp?) associated with getting channels added and all service-related issues is minimized. I'm very much looking forward to it.

Honestly, the only reason I was this patient with TWC was because they accidently gave me the MLB Extra innings package for free. Once they "fixed the glitch", the tie was broken.

It seems they do not have the customer in mind when making decisions, and only add something when either regulated to do so, or when customer feedback is so overwhelmingly negative and it becomes a PR disaster (ESPNHD, anyone?) that they have to act. And hiding "protecting the customer" behind record profits is BS. I won't begrudge anyone making a profit, but don't do so at the expense of your customers.

I'm changing to a competitive local cable company here in the KC area (Everest) on Thursday, due to the stalemates in carriage agreements (ESPN2HD, ESPNU, NFL, misc. other HD offerings), despite being otherwise pretty happy with TWC's service.

Everest has a very nice HD lineup. If it was available here, I would drop Comcast in a second.

I won't begrudge anyone making a profit, but don't do so at the expense of your customers.

You go, Squeak! I'm all for your principle, but I think you could have said the above differently so as not to sound so... socialist. I believe "making a profit at the expense of your customers" is called capitalism. ;)

You go, Squeak! I'm all for your principle, but I think you could have said the above differently so as not to sound so... socialist. I believe "making a profit at the expense of your customers" is called capitalism. ;)
Re-reading that, it is kind of the definition, huh? :P How 'bout, "completely exploiting your customers??"

I'm very fortunate that I have a competing cable company in the area... That's a key factor there. How many markets in the entire US have competing cable companies ?? I'd bet it's 10% or less.

That, IMO, defeats the purpose though. I mean, if I want to watch "Everybody Loves Raymond" or "King of Queens" reruns, great. I'm talking about primetime television though.


Well, for me and alot of other sports fans out of market networks on cable is still a good thing. Bearcats basketball in HD (hopefully again this year), other NFL games not on the local Fox/CBS affiliate, different NCAA tournament games, different ESPN+ games, etc.

Got you beat here as sinclair not only owns Fox in Columbus, OH but also ABC

I spoke to TWC Customer service here in San Antonio this morning and they told me that they were in discussions with Sinclair to broadcast just the Fox NFL games in HDTV. The rep even told me the channel they had reserved for it if they reach agreement.

He also said that tons of people were calling to complain about the NFL Network and that they might have an announcement on that soon.

Not 100% that any of this will happen but that is what they are saying locally to customers as of today.

Squeak, I salute you and congratulate you on switching. I can't even tell you how many times I wished we had a cable competitor here in the Greensboro area. Well done.

After making the change to Everest, I sent the following letter to Glen Britt (CEO), Landel Hobbs (COO), Fred Dressler (VP of Programming), and Roger Ponder (President - TWC Kansas City). I'll be curious to see if there is any response. I'll be sure to post it if there is:

Time Warner Cable Management,

I was hoping it wouldn't come to this. I was a fairly satisfied customer of Time Warner Cable. As a high-end customer, with lots of premium content, HDTV, high-speed Internet, etc., I understand that I'm a demanding customer. However, I continued to grow frustrated with the glacial pace at which Time Warner added new channels, particularly HD channels. It's tough to spend all that money on an HDTV set, and then not have as much content available as possible. I'm particularly confused as to why carriage agreements do not exist for channels owned by the Time Warner corporate parent, such as Cinemax-HD.

I'm a big sports fan and get irritated if an event I want to see is not available to me. A few years ago, I nearly dropped your service because I was irritated about the delay in adding ESPN-HD. About the time it was finally added, ESPN2-HD had been announced, and I mistakenly assumed it was part of the carriage agreement. Unfortunately, over a year has passed and it is still not available, nor is ESPNU. That, the stalemate around NFL Network, and the perpetual delay or failure to get channels added, pushed me over the edge and forced me to change providers to a competitive cable company in my area. My patience just ran out.

I understand you claim you're trying to protect your customers from increasing rates with your negotiations, and I admire your principles. However, I have no problem paying extra for the content I demand. If it's not available, I will find someone else who provides it. It's a decision I had to make as a consumer, just as you make decisions as an executive team.

Frankly, I'd take the comments about not passing on rate increases to your customers much more to heart if it weren't for the fact that, as soon as a competitive cable company was available in my neighborhood, Time Warner Cable cut my rates drastically to compete. However, these same rate increases are not available in areas where there is no competition. Although I ended up benefiting from it, this comes off as corporate greed and exploiting the very customers you claim to "protect" from rate increases. Suddenly, when competition is available, the profit margin per customer is far less important than keeping said customers at a lower profit. It appears there is room in between to add content.

I'd written before to Mr. Dressler, stating I was frustrated at the pace of content addition and pondering leaving. Sadly, this is no longer a threat, but a reality that has occurred. My approximately $1500/year of cable/Internet spending now goes to another company. I just wanted to pass along my experience so you know you are actually losing customers as a direct result of inaction and hard-nosed negotiating tactics. It appears to be a growing sentiment, particularly in the HDTV community, that Time Warner does not care about adding content for its customers, and that more and more are leaving for this reason. Hopefully this can help to improve service for your remaining customers.

I appreciate your time.

squeak49
Overland Park, KS

Also, if anyone cares, my first impressions of the change are posted here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8387739

After making the change to Everest, I sent the following letter to Glen Britt (CEO), Landel Hobbs (COO), Fred Dressler (VP of Programming), and Roger Ponder (President - TWC Kansas City). I'll be curious to see if there is any response. I'll be sure to post it if there is:

I'd be very interested to see the response. I think your letter neatly summed up how a quickly growing number of TWC customers are feeling about the lack of HD content. The fact that football season is here with no ESPN-2 HD or NFL Network tweaks me to no end.

I'd be very interested to see the response. I think your letter neatly summed up how a quickly growing number of TWC customers are feeling about the lack of HD content. The fact that football season is here with no ESPN-2 HD or NFL Network tweaks me to no end.

Personally, I'd be surprised if there was ANY response more than a form letter saying "we are sorry to see you go, we've got a great product".


All my notes to customer service have gotten me a "we'll pass your request along."

However, these same rate increases are not available in areas where there is no competition.

Nice letter...one question though. Did you mean increases or decreases in the above sentence?

After making the change to Everest, I sent the following letter to Glen Britt (CEO), Landel Hobbs (COO), Fred Dressler (VP of Programming), and Roger Ponder (President - TWC Kansas City). I'll be curious to see if there is any response. I'll be sure to post it if there is:

Time Warner Cable Management,

I was hoping it wouldn't come to this. I was a fairly satisfied customer of Time Warner Cable. As a high-end customer, with lots of premium content, HDTV, high-speed Internet, etc., I understand that I'm a demanding customer. However, I continued to grow frustrated with the glacial pace at which Time Warner added new channels, particularly HD channels. It's tough to spend all that money on an HDTV set, and then not have as much content available as possible. I'm particularly confused as to why carriage agreements do not exist for channels owned by the Time Warner corporate parent, such as Cinemax-HD.

I'm a big sports fan and get irritated if an event I want to see is not available to me. A few years ago, I nearly dropped your service because I was irritated about the delay in adding ESPN-HD. About the time it was finally added, ESPN2-HD had been announced, and I mistakenly assumed it was part of the carriage agreement. Unfortunately, over a year has passed and it is still not available, nor is ESPNU. That, the stalemate around NFL Network, and the perpetual delay or failure to get channels added, pushed me over the edge and forced me to change providers to a competitive cable company in my area. My patience just ran out.

I understand you claim you're trying to protect your customers from increasing rates with your negotiations, and I admire your principles. However, I have no problem paying extra for the content I demand. If it's not available, I will find someone else who provides it. It's a decision I had to make as a consumer, just as you make decisions as an executive team.

Frankly, I'd take the comments about not passing on rate increases to your customers much more to heart if it weren't for the fact that, as soon as a competitive cable company was available in my neighborhood, Time Warner Cable cut my rates drastically to compete. However, these same rate increases are not available in areas where there is no competition. Although I ended up benefiting from it, this comes off as corporate greed and exploiting the very customers you claim to "protect" from rate increases. Suddenly, when competition is available, the profit margin per customer is far less important than keeping said customers at a lower profit. It appears there is room in between to add content.

I'd written before to Mr. Dressler, stating I was frustrated at the pace of content addition and pondering leaving. Sadly, this is no longer a threat, but a reality that has occurred. My approximately $1500/year of cable/Internet spending now goes to another company. I just wanted to pass along my experience so you know you are actually losing customers as a direct result of inaction and hard-nosed negotiating tactics. It appears to be a growing sentiment, particularly in the HDTV community, that Time Warner does not care about adding content for its customers, and that more and more are leaving for this reason. Hopefully this can help to improve service for your remaining customers.

I appreciate your time.

squeak49
Overland Park, KS

Also, if anyone cares, my first impressions of the change are posted here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8387739

You're absolutely correct in everything you say. The sad thing is that most companies have resigned themselves to the reality that the few high end customers aren't their bread and butter. The typical cable subcriber will buy a $3000 TV and use a piece of coax to connect their set-top and watch everything in SD on channel 3, and never know the difference. Sad but true. Trust me, I know. So do you cater to the high end customer ??? Walmart doesn't and they seem to do OK. It's a tough call of how much to invest and when.

Single subscribers have no power...no matter how eloquent your letters. Just switch to the provider that provides for your needs the best.

I'd be very interested to see the response. I think your letter neatly summed up how a quickly growing number of TWC customers are feeling about the lack of HD content. The fact that football season is here with no ESPN-2 HD or NFL Network tweaks me to no end.that is the reason I went to Dish Network with 30HD Channels including the locals in HD, with better HD quality and digital sound, plus ESPN2-HD, NFL Network HD, plus a plethora more, I got the Platinum package, I could not have returned my TWCable HD boxes soon enough.

After making the change to Everest, I sent the following letter to Glen Britt (CEO), Landel Hobbs (COO), Fred Dressler (VP of Programming), and Roger Ponder (President - TWC Kansas City). I'll be curious to see if there is any response. I'll be sure to post it if there is[/url]

I also have emailed the CEO & COO a couple months ago with no response But did get a email from TWC's Security Dept wanting to know why I was Emailing TWC employees.

but anyway thanks for writing the email, I hope everyone who reads posts in this thread would take the time to send one out, Here's their email.

CEO - Glenn.Britt@twcable.com
COO - Landel.Hobbs@twcable.com
VP of Programming - Fred.Dressler@twcable.com

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think I remember reading that Time Warner Cable was losing cable TV customers, but adding a lot of interner (Road Runner) and telephone customers. Overall, Time Warner Cable profits have been very large for the last few years.

Instead of sending letters to Time Warner that are ignored, we should be sending letters to our legislators. Until we have real competition, we will continue to get poor service. If our electricity providers offered the same level of poor service as out cable TV providers, it would be a front page story in your local paper.

Put yourself in the shoes of a Time Warner Cable executive. Would you offer a new channel that would eat away at your profits?

Put yourself in the shoes of a Time Warner Cable executive. Would you offer a new channel that would eat away at your profits? 99% of people can't look at things from the other side of the table because if they did, they'd see the logic. TW has one goal: MAKE AS MUCH PROFIT AS POSSIBLE. If they take on a new channel at terms that would eat into their profit, they'll increase customer's rates to make up for it. Then the customers complain about another rate increase. It's a no-win situation.

However, it's my understanding that most Time Warner Cable systems are unable to add HD channels simply because of bandwidth constraints. I believe that's the case with my system.

However, it's my understanding that most Time Warner Cable systems are unable to add HD channels simply because of bandwidth constraints. I believe that's the case with my system.

While that may be technically true, there are other ways to add HD channels. In my market, we have something like 50 separate channels that are nothing more than "regular" cable channels with Spanish sound tracks. Which I think is exactly the same as the "normal" channel with the SAP feed chosen. i.e totally redundant. Not sure what the equivalent is, but I bet you that represents at least half a dozen HD channels. AND I'd bet you there are a ton of other channels that could easily be dropped...

While that may be technically true, there are other ways to add HD channels. In my market, we have something like 50 separate channels that are nothing more than "regular" cable channels with Spanish sound tracks. Which I think is exactly the same as the "normal" channel with the SAP feed chosen. i.e totally redundant. Not sure what the equivalent is, but I bet you that represents at least half a dozen HD channels. AND I'd bet you there are a ton of other channels that could easily be dropped...
I suspect that these channels with the SAP sound selected are taking up no extra bandwidth whatsoever, as they are (probably) just mapping one channel to another [sort of like the way they map ch. 80 and 201 to the same frequency -- both tune to the exact same SD HBO channel]. I'll investigate when I have a few minutes....

Scott

On reflection, you probably are correct Scott.

Yes, if you like digging around in STB diagnostic modes, you can tell if a non-English channel is just a remapped version of another channel. Did that a few years back with NYC's TWC Science Channel and found the Spanish channel version was the same frequency as the original English version. While the video is identical, requiring no added bandwidth, assume the additional language track takes a tiny slice of cable spectrum.

We also have a ton of subscription special-language channels on NYC TWC, and a supposed TWC 'insider' once posted in the local forum that these channels are where switched video, which requires no spectrum until it's requested and delivered to a limited cable node (<500 customers), might appear. So, since switched video reportedly behaves just like standard-cable video, it might already be in place to test SV operation. -- John

Speaking of switched digital video, the tech unit of my local TW cable system, in response to my question, has just e-mailed my, saying that it is expected in the 3rd or 4th quarter of next year.

That's better than nothing. But I have the feeling that, like many such projects, the target date is "in about a year", no matter when you ask.

Speaking of switched digital video, the tech unit of my local TW cable system, in response to my question, has just e-mailed my, saying that it is expected in the 3rd or 4th quarter of next year.

That's better than nothing. But I have the feeling that, like many such projects, the target date is "in about a year", no matter when you ask.

I would say it is probably the same as nothing. Even when they do it the content will remain unchanged.

They do it here in TWCSC and still no ESPN2HD, NFLNHD, etc.

Our COO is spending a great deal of time on Integrating former Adelphia and Comcast systems. Time that could be used to help out the Original TWC systems:
-
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http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6371206.html?display=Breaking+News
-
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"Time Warner Cable chief operating officer Landel Hobbs laid out in more detail the second-largest cable operator’s plans to integrate its recently acquired Adelphia Communications systems, adding that it will cost about $650 million over the next two or three years.

At the Merrill Lynch Media & Entertainment Conference Tuesday, Hobbs said Time Warner has to upgrade about 20,000 miles of Adelphia plant, the largest amount being in the Carolinas, with about 6,000 miles plant to be upgraded.

Also included in the upgrade are billing-system and provisioning-system conversions for high-speed-Internet service, which should be completed by mid-2007. Hobbs said Time Warner has to change out roughly 20 provisioning systems.

He said those upgrades are beginning already, adding that Time Warner plans to start the launch of digital-phone service in most of the new Adelphia markets by the end of this year -- the Northeast will begin the rollout in early 2007.

Hobbs said the phone rollout is critical to being able to offer the triple play. As part of the upgrade, Time Warner will also have to integrate Adelphia’s several different billing systems to its own, he added.

“If you start thinking through the items that will really impact our ability to execute on this, it’s upgrades, billing-system conversions, provisioning conversions and when are you going to get the products in the field,” Hobbs said.

Aside from the upgrade, Hobbs said the Adelphia integration has four other priorities:

• Customer care: All customer calls were rerouted to Time Warner on day one of the deal being closed.

• Programming: primarily standardizing channel lineups. With the exception of Dallas and Buffalo, N.Y. -- the two stand-alone systems Time Warner received in the Adelphia deal -- most of the other systems are “being integrated or plugged into existing Time Warner Cable markets,” Hobbs said.

• Human resources: Time Warner brought on 12,000 additional employees as a result of the merger.

• Marketing: Hobbs said Time Warner has already spent about $8 million “out of the box” on marketing, dropped 4 million mail pieces and rebranded the systems. He added that marketing initiatives are “working smoothly.”"
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http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6371206.html?display=Breaking+News

"The Power of You" my ass.

Does anyone actually believe that?

You're right- first, it was "very, very close- in time for College Football (2006)". Then it was, "we are very close-- should be there for MLB Opening Day (2006)". Then it was, "we are trying to get it in place for the World Cup". Now it's, "within 30 to 60 days". Fact is, that until Dressler's name is in (non-erasable) ink on a contract, and it shows up on your on-screen guide ... forget ESPN2HD, or anything other than religious/shopping/worthless on-demand car advertising.

No HD additions or anything of value in 2 years.


<sarcasm>
Is it "close" yet?
</sarcasm>

NFL Network Cuts Comcast Deal
A Broadcasting & Cable EXCLUSIVE
By John M. Higgins and Ben Grossman Broadcasting & Cable 9/14/2006

The three-year-old NFL Network has quietly cut a deal for this season with Comcast Corp., the largest U.S. cable operator, to carry its controversial package of eight live football games on terms far weaker than the league is seeking.

Meanwhile, the NFL Network will go dark on Time Warner Cable systems recently acquired from Adelphia Communications in a bankruptcy sale.The Adelphia dispute is part of a larger duel in which the No. 2 cable operator is resisting paying the NFL network's high license fee and carriage demands. Time Warner has said the NFL is looking for a 250% increase in those fees.

When the NFL Network’s new eight-game, Thursday-Saturday package kicks off on Thanksgiving, Comcast will air the games on a digital tier available to fewer than one third of its subscribers. The league has been seeking carriage on basic cable, which would be available to nearly all of the operator's 23.3 million subscribers.

While the league is seeking fees in the 70-90 cents per subscriber per month range, according to cable executives, Comcast is paying a significantly lower rate under terms of the current arrangement.Comcast seems to hold more leverage at the moment – it has the right to put the network on a digital sports and entertainment tier that is available to a tiny fraction of its subscribers.

Comcast and NFL Network executives would not comment.

more of the article here:

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/index.asp?layout=articlePrint&articleID=CA6372251

"terms far weaker than the league is seeking"
"on a digital tier available to fewer than one third of it's subscribers"
"paying significantly lower rate"
"has the right to put it on a digital sports tier"

Cable 7, NFL 0, at the end of the first quarter.

"terms far weaker than the league is seeking"
"on a digital tier available to fewer than one third of it's subscribers"
"paying significantly lower rate"
"has the right to put it on a digital sports tier"

Cable 7, NFL 0, at the end of the first quarter.

I would expect that TWC could use Comcast's contract as leverage to get the NFL network on in a similar capacity IF they really give a crap about their customers.

I would expect that TWC could use Comcast's contract as leverage to get the NFL network on in a similar capacity IF they really give a crap about their customers.

Yes indeed.

Just received a new channel lineup mailing for my OC Time Warner that adds Universal HD, StarzHD, and Cinemax HD effective October 18th. Cool.

No NFL network or ESPN2 HD. (Doesn't bother me though...)

Just received a new channel lineup mailing for my OC Time Warner that adds Universal HD, StarzHD, and Cinemax HD effective October 18th.
Unless they are implementing switched digital video, I can only assume PQ is going to get worse (rate shaping has killed PQ for me...especially on HDnet). I'm willing to hold on to TWC until then to see.

Just received a new channel lineup mailing for my OC Time Warner that adds Universal HD, StarzHD, and Cinemax HD effective October 18th. Cool.

No NFL network or ESPN2 HD. (Doesn't bother me though...)

Robert, do you live in Orange County, CA (is that what you mean by OC)? Is that part of the LA system? Reason I ask is that I was told by the TWC programming guy here in Charlotte that here and LA were the most bandwidth-challenged in the TWC family. That was his excuse for not adding any more HD channels here.

Seems to me that different TWC locations do what they want to when they want to. It used to be when TWC corporate signed a deal all would get these new channels. So now it looks like if there is not any local competition ,then these channels are most likely not being added. At my location we were one of the first to get SDV and we have had only one HD added this year and that was UHD. Ironically enough is a SDV channel ,and if you do not have a TWC stb. you can not tune in that channel because it is a SDV channel. CC customers and tivO customers are screwed.

I wasn't aware that CableCard didn't support SDV. I traded my CC for a 8300 a few months ago. Looks like I'm in good shape.

Here in SoCal (OC and LA), TWC took over the former Adelphia and Comcast subs. I expected them to transition all these users before adding more channels. Looks like they are transitioning and adding/absorbing channels [and hopefully implementing SDV] simultaneously.

However, if the PQ problems continue much longer...I will have no choice but fully move over to E*. I don't plan to watch NBA on TNT with Atari sized pixel blocks during pans and fades. [Praying for SDV for all premium HD channels!!!]

SDV is the death of a CC. After doing a Google search I see that Verizon FiOS is setting up in the area(OC). That must have had been what sped up the additional channels being added.

I know that Verizon has been trying to get cable franchise licenses for Orange County, but I don't think they've had much success. I've only seen reports of them securing franchises for Beaumont, Apple Valley, Hermosa Beach, and Murrieta in CA. Without the franchise, they can only provide us Internet...no TV.

My guess for this speed up is that with the acquisitions, they wanted to assimilate the channel lineups from Comcast and Adelphia. So everybody has what they had before, plus more.

The new channel lineups and effective dates are available - http://www.timewarnercable.com/corporate/channellineups.html

Just received a new channel lineup mailing for my OC Time Warner that adds Universal HD, StarzHD, and Cinemax HD effective October 18th. Cool.

No NFL network or ESPN2 HD. (Doesn't bother me though...)

Lucky you, still no indication of StarzHD and CinemaxHD around here.

And don't get too excited about UniversalWasteofSpaceHD.

And don't get too excited about UniversalWasteofSpaceHD.


I sure everyone hated watching The Ryder Cup live in HD on UHD today. :rolleyes:

I sure everyone hated watching The Ryder Cup live in HD on UHD today. :rolleyes:

well they did if they don't like watching a small solitary ball rolling on the grass.

So if you don't like it it's a waste? Pretty arrogant.

NFL Network Cuts Comcast Deal
A Broadcasting & Cable EXCLUSIVE
By John M. Higgins and Ben Grossman Broadcasting & Cable 9/14/2006

The three-year-old NFL Network has quietly cut a deal for this season with Comcast Corp., the largest U.S. cable operator, to carry its controversial package of eight live football games on terms far weaker than the league is seeking.

Meanwhile, the NFL Network will go dark on Time Warner Cable systems recently acquired from Adelphia Communications in a bankruptcy sale.The Adelphia dispute is part of a larger duel in which the No. 2 cable operator is resisting paying the NFL network's high license fee and carriage demands. Time Warner has said the NFL is looking for a 250% increase in those fees.

When the NFL Network’s new eight-game, Thursday-Saturday package kicks off on Thanksgiving, Comcast will air the games on a digital tier available to fewer than one third of its subscribers. The league has been seeking carriage on basic cable, which would be available to nearly all of the operator's 23.3 million subscribers.

While the league is seeking fees in the 70-90 cents per subscriber per month range, according to cable executives, Comcast is paying a significantly lower rate under terms of the current arrangement.Comcast seems to hold more leverage at the moment – it has the right to put the network on a digital sports and entertainment tier that is available to a tiny fraction of its subscribers.

Comcast and NFL Network executives would not comment.

more of the article here:

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/index.asp?layout=articlePrint&articleID=CA6372251


So TWC are you a player or are you going to sit back and fall WAY BEHIND!!!!

So TWC are you a player or are you going to sit back and fall WAY BEHIND!!!!


You had to ask?

Robert, do you live in Orange County, CA (is that what you mean by OC)? Is that part of the LA system? Reason I ask is that I was told by the TWC programming guy here in Charlotte that here and LA were the most bandwidth-challenged in the TWC family. That was his excuse for not adding any more HD channels here.

Yes archiguy, my TWC is part of the LA system. It will be interesting what these new channels do to the picture quality...

Lucky you, still no indication of StarzHD and CinemaxHD around here.

And don't get too excited about UniversalWasteofSpaceHD.

They've given us UHD twice and taken it back before. Much of their offerings are pretty weak BUT.... Firefly and BSG in HD. Good enough for me...

I know that Verizon has been trying to get cable franchise licenses for Orange County, but I don't think they've had much success. I've only seen reports of them securing franchises for Beaumont, Apple Valley, Hermosa Beach, and Murrieta in CA. Without the franchise, they can only provide us Internet...no TV.

My guess for this speed up is that with the acquisitions, they wanted to assimilate the channel lineups from Comcast and Adelphia. So everybody has what they had before, plus more.

Last I heard the state wide cable franchise bill was stiitng on the Govenator's desk. Has he signed it? Anyone know?

TWC is carrying the Saturday FSN HD NCAA College Football games in HD, at least in some areas on INHD2.

TWC is carrying the Saturday FSN HD NCAA College Football games in HD, at least in some areas on INHD2.
It's on TWC ch.292 INHD2 on the Raleigh/Durham/Fayetteville system in North Carolina in 720p.

TWC is carrying the Saturday FSN HD NCAA College Football games in HD, at least in some areas on INHD2.
In SoCal it is on the HD Sports Special events channel. I wish they would save bandwidth by using INHD2...but they never touch it here.

TWC is carrying the Saturday FSN HD NCAA College Football games in HD, at least in some areas on INHD2.

I wish they did that in NYC, everytime I ask the suits here at TWCNYC why they just dont show games on INHD2 they ignore my question.

It's on TWC ch.292 INHD2 on the Raleigh/Durham/Fayetteville system in North Carolina in 720p.

was the program guide changed for the event or did they just put it on

Off Air in the program guide here in SoCal

was the program guide changed for the event or did they just put it on
No guide change. The EPG listed a Melissa Ethridge concert I believe at that time.

well, now you've done it!

Fred's retiring. I wouldn't expect any big push for programming change in the coming months. This is what happens when you stalk TWC executives and demand change! :D


Dressler to Depart Time Warner
Time Warner Cable programming executive Fred Dressler will soon take a seat on the bench as sources close to the MSO said its chief programming-rights negotiator is expected to retire at the end of the year.

Time Warner officials would not confirm Dressler’s imminent retirement, but sources close to the MSO, as well as network executives who’ve been in contact with Dressler, said he’ll leave the company after 30 years on the job. An official announcement could come as early as this week.

Sources inside the MSO said either of its two senior vice presidents of programming -- Lynne Costantini or Melinda Witmer -- could succeed Dressler. Former Adelphia Communications senior VP of programming Judy Meyka’s name has also come up as a possible replacement.

Dressler’s successor will report to senior executive VP Robert Marcus, who oversees the programming department.

Rumors about Dressler's departure have been floating throughout the industry for years.

Earlier this year, Dressler was rumored to be leaving Time Warner to take an executive position at upstart regional sports network SportsNet New York, which Time Warner co-owns with Comcast and Major League Baseball’s New York Mets. Dressler was intimately involved in securing distribution deals for the network, and he is said to have personally negotiated its Cablevision Systems deal.

Dressler has been one of the most influential MSO programming negotiators in the industry, and he is known in particular for taking a hard stance against rising sports costs. He was the driving force behind Time Warner’s 2003 launch of its digital sports tier, which includes such networks as CSTV, NBA TV and The Tennis Channel.

But the tiers are devoid of highly rated networks such as ESPN and the RSNs, and Dressler has been unable to convince NFL Network to launch on the tier. Sports-network executives said the tiers have failed to draw a sizable audience, averaging penetration of 10%-20%.

An NFL Network spokesman jokingly said, “Maybe Mr. Dressler can bring his failed sports tiers into retirement with him.”

News of Dressler's exit was reported in Sports Business Journal Monday.

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6377276.html?display=Breaking+News

But the tiers are devoid of highly rated networks such as ESPN and the RSNs, and Dressler has been unable to convince NFL Network to launch on the tier. Sports-network executives said the tiers have failed to draw a sizable audience, averaging penetration of 10%-20%.

An NFL Network spokesman jokingly said, “Maybe Mr. Dressler can bring his failed sports tiers into retirement with him.”

So the pissing match between TWC and the NFL Network sounds like it is more of a personal grudge rather than what is best for the customers. Comcast was able to get the NFL Network to agree to being on a sports tier so there is no reason why TWC can't do the same.

If the NFL Network thinks that TWC had "failed sports tiers", perhaps they should realize that most people are not sports junkies and that their product is not the best thing since sliced bread.

The only people suffering here are the sports junkies like myself :mad:

Dressler has been one of the most influential MSO programming negotiators in the industry, and he is known in particular for taking a hard stance against rising sports costs.

Okay, I've wondered what this means for a long time; finally going to ask: What does "MSO" mean? Is it a generic term for "cable company"?

Sports-network executives said the tiers have failed to draw a sizable audience, averaging penetration of 10%-20%. Here's an idea, NFL Network: Maybe 10-20% is all that's willing to pay add'l for a sports tier, not that's it's a failure at all !

Okay, I've wondered what this means for a long time; finally going to ask: What does "MSO" mean? Is it a generic term for "cable company"?

MSO = Multiple System Operator

Dressler to Depart Time Warner


thank god, maybe we can get some deals done now.

Sources inside the MSO said either of its two senior vice presidents of programming -- Lynne Costantini or Melinda Witmer -- could succeed Dressler. Former Adelphia Communications senior VP of programming Judy Meyka’s name has also come up as a possible replacement.
Hmmmmmm, Lynne, Melinda or Judy. Guess you can expect to look forward to more Lifetime/Oxygen/Food/HGTV network like deals than sports deals. :eek:

Guess you can look forward to more Lifetime/Oxygen/Food/HGTV network like deals than sports deals.

"Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuudge"

new link

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6377276.html?display=Search+Results&text=Dressler

Time Warner Unifies L.A.

By Steve Donohue 10/3/2006 5:20:00 PM

Time Warner Cable said it is moving quickly to integrate the systems it recently acquired from Adelphia Communications and Comcast in the Los Angeles area, boasting Tuesday that it will standardize the digital-channel lineup in the region beginning in November.

The changes will involve switching to genre-based channel lineups, the introduction of Digital Phone, new HDTV channels and additional ethnic-language launches, Time Warner said.

Its Los Angeles-area systems will adopt genre-based channel lineups, grouping networks by categories such as kids, sports, movies and HD, Time Warner said, adding that the move is designed to ease channel surfing.

The MSO said its new lineup includes 20 HD channels, one-dozen new Spanish-language channels, three additional Asian-language channels and three networks that target the African-American community.

Time Warner said it is marketing the changes through a campaign involving TV, radio, outdoor and print advertising, in addition to bill inserts and e-mail messages.

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6377770.html?display=Breaking+News

:rolleyes: The MSO said its new lineup includes 20 HD channels

:rolleyes: The MSO said its new lineup includes 20 HD channels If they listed them, it might be believable.

:rolleyes: The MSO said its new lineup includes 20 HD channels

doesn't say "good" channels though.

:rolleyes: The MSO said its new lineup includes 20 HD channels

In the LA area beginning Oct 18, there will be 19 channels but that is if you include HD special events and HD Pay per View. The new channels are Universal, Cinemax and Starz. So there are really 17.

I believe it is 20

Here is the list they sent me for what the guide will be on Oct 18:

KCBS HD (CBS) •402
KNBC HD (NBC) •404
KABC HD (ABC) •407
KTTV HD (FOX) •411
KCET HD (PBS) •412
HD Special Events (FSN HD) •413
TNT HD •415
Discovery HD Theater •416
Universal HD •419
HDNet •420
HDNet Movies •421
INHD •422
INHD2 •423
ESPN HD •424
HBO HD •427
Showtime HD •428
Starz HD •429
Cinemax HD •430
HD (Pay-per-view) •431
iN Demand Sports HD •733

Minus Starz and Cinemax that is the exact same lineup they have had in place in this area for a year. Maybe longer I can't remember.

The lack of any "new" channels (NatGeoHD, FoodHD etc.) indicates to me that they still haven't made any effort to speed up channel acquisition.

I do not see ESPN2HD listed.

Interesting... (20) channels just like the "news" release stated. Was this release division-specific ?? I thought it was TWC nationwide. My local TWC already carries most of those except for the local network affiliates, obviously, and Starz and Cinemax.

The release is clearly just for the greater Los Angeles area. The only additions for exisiting TWC subscribers for this area are UniversalHD, CinemaxHD, and StarzUPCONVERT. The additions are must greater for those who are being transitioned from Adelphia and Comcast.

I've twcny does anybody know if we are getting any new hd channels in are area

why not ask in the local area?

I've twcny does anybody know if we are getting any new hd channels in are area

join us

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=297592&page=289&pp=30

what i have been reading in this forum mr dressler doesn't give to much information on whats happening with cable channels

I've twcny does anybody know if we are getting any new hd channels in are area
Nobody has any information about any new channels being added to NYC at any time in the forseeable future.

The FCC dismissed the complaint between Time Warner Cable and NFL Network, citing the parties' effort to reach an earlier agreement concerning their program carriage dispute

Here in Dallas, TWC still hasnt giving us HDNet even after changing the channle line up. Since NCAA Football > NFL, I couldn't careless if they having their Network. But I do want ESPN-2 and the station that carry everywhere else, HDNet.

Nobody has any information about any new channels being added to NYC at any time in the forseeable future.

Jeeze Scott, do you have to be SO rooted in reality<g>?

save this link as a favorite

TWC wants your input, (not about programming)

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=733414

Thanks Andy, very good catch.

Since she vetoed almost every relevant question I had it won't really beneift me much.

The only main question I have right now is "will I have Cinemax HD before they broadcast the Star Wars in HD marathon?" and they won't answer that.

Look like we have someone new to ask our questions too as soon as Dressler retires.


http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6378785.html?display=Breaking+News

"Time Warner Cable promoted Melinda Witmer to senior vice president and chief programming officer. She’ll succeed outgoing executive VP of programming Fred Dressler as the cable distributor’s top programming negotiator.

Witmer and Time Warner Cable senior VP of programming Lynn Costantini had been vying for Dressler’s spot after he said last week that he would retire at the end of the year.

Time Warner also said Friday that it promoted Costantini to the new position of senior VP and chief business-affairs officer. The company said Costantini will focus on building and expanding the role of the business-affairs group, working with the MSO’s advanced-technology and new-product-development groups."

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6378785.html?display=Breaking+News

TW in Columbus is broadcasting the Blue Jackets hockey game in HD on channel 753
The picture is awesome

I hope we get 753 FoxHD all season and this is not just part of the free preview of NHL center ice.

I hope we get 753 FoxHD all season and this is not just part of the free preview of NHL center ice.

Its FSN-Ohio(HD). For some reason, FSN-Ohio is doing a horrible job of promoting its HD station. With FSN-Ohio HD you *should* also get other FSN-HD content, including NCAA Football on Saturdays and NCAA College basketball. Now only if TWC in the rest of Ohio would get on board and start carrying the station (FSN-Ohio did broadcast a few Cavs games in HD last year, but this was only available in NE Ohio).

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6378998.html

"Fred Dressler may be retiring Jan. 1, but he will strap on his negotiating helmet at least one more time.

NFL Network is hoping to convince the lame duck executive to complete a distribution deal with the company he works for, Time Warner Cable, before the network's package of live Thursday and Saturday night National Football League games launches on Thanksgiving night.

Time Warner Cable executives confirmed talks with the football network, which currently counts 33 million subscribers, about a carriage deal that would include the network's eight live regular-season game telecasts.

NFL Network officials have insisted that the service be offered on an analog basic tier, while Time Warner wants to put the service on its $5-per-month sports tier.

“We would like to reach an agreement with Fred before he leaves,” said NFL Network spokesman Seth Palansky. “We think that's a nice feather in his cap after 30 years of [negotiating] and we think that it'll be a nice baton toss to Ms. Witmer and begin a nice, long relationship with Time Warner.”

Dressler seems to have caught the pass. “I told the NFL Network that I was here until the end of the year,” he said. “If they wanted to get a deal done that was enough time.”

The network hopes to put pressure on the operators through a new multimedia ad campaign with DirecTv Inc., which has a long-term carriage deal with the network. The campaign encourages consumers to switch from cable to DirecTV to get the games.

In addition, the network last week launched a Web site (www.iwantmynflnetwork.com) which allows consumers to e-mail their cable networks to demand NFL Network.

Time Warner Cable has its own Web site, www.NFLgetreal.com, which allows consumers to register their vote to place the NFL Network in a sports package.
"

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6378998.html

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8602263&&#post8602263

Its FSN-Ohio(HD). For some reason, FSN-Ohio is doing a horrible job of promoting its HD station. With FSN-Ohio HD you *should* also get other FSN-HD content, including NCAA Football on Saturdays and NCAA College basketball. Now only if TWC in the rest of Ohio would get on board and start carrying the station (FSN-Ohio did broadcast a few Cavs games in HD last year, but this was only available in NE Ohio).


I remember my old roommate being able to get some of the Cavs games in HD last season here in Columbus

i used to be with Adelphia here in L.A. and lost nfl network in the transition but did keep ESPN2. Will i lose that with the new channel lineup coming up?

I believe it is 20

Here is the list they sent me for what the guide will be on Oct 18:

KCBS HD (CBS) •402
KNBC HD (NBC) •404
KABC HD (ABC) •407
KTTV HD (FOX) •411
KCET HD (PBS) •412
HD Special Events (FSN HD) •413
TNT HD •415
Discovery HD Theater •416
Universal HD •419
HDNet •420
HDNet Movies •421
INHD •422
INHD2 •423
ESPN HD •424
HBO HD •427
Showtime HD •428
Starz HD •429
Cinemax HD •430
HD (Pay-per-view) •431
iN Demand Sports HD •733


What about KTLA, the CW on channel 5? That's HD now. Is that going away? No Smallville or Supernatual in HD?

What about KTLA, the CW on channel 5? That's HD now. Is that going away? No Smallville or Supernatual in HD?
Check here, http://www.timewarnercable.com/corporate/channellineups.html
CW carraige is somewhat up in the air right now.

edit: Looks like Bellflower is keeping CW. It will be on channel 405 for you

I will have to get CW OTA here in Garden Grove

i used to be with Adelphia here in L.A. and lost nfl network in the transition but did keep ESPN2. Will i lose that with the new channel lineup coming up?

You betcha. Welcome to TWC.

Yesterday, I e-mailed Fred Dressler and asked if ESPN2HD would be added before he retires (end of 2006). His response (for what it's worth) was, "ESPN2HD looks good for this year". Of course, we've heard this before-- remember, "ESPN2HD will be added for MLB opening day", "ESPN2HD should be added for the World Cup"? Yada yada yada.

Yesterday, I e-mailed Fred Dressler and asked if ESPN2HD would be added before he retires (end of 2006). His response (for what it's worth) was, "ESPN2HD looks good for this year". Of course, we've heard this before-- remember, "ESPN2HD will be added for MLB opening day", "ESPN2HD should be added for the World Cup"? Yada yada yada.


I'm sure Dressler literally just shakes a Magic 8 Ball, before replying to emails.

I'm sure Dressler literally just shakes a Magic 8 Ball, before replying to emails.

You mean Fred sits in his office and shakes Ken H??? :eek:

Yesterday, I e-mailed Fred Dressler and asked if ESPN2HD would be added before he retires (end of 2006). His response (for what it's worth) was, "ESPN2HD looks good for this year". Of course, we've heard this before-- remember, "ESPN2HD will be added for MLB opening day", "ESPN2HD should be added for the World Cup"? Yada yada yada.
Well, I really hope it's true this time.

I'm sure Dressler literally just shakes a Magic 8 Ball, before replying to emails.
Now, now. I think it's unusual and really nice that he does reply.

Yada yada yada.


Should be the new TWC business motto

I believe it is 20

Here is the list they sent me for what the guide will be on Oct 18:

KCBS HD (CBS) •402
KNBC HD (NBC) •404
KABC HD (ABC) •407
KTTV HD (FOX) •411
KCET HD (PBS) •412
HD Special Events (FSN HD) •413
TNT HD •415
Discovery HD Theater •416
Universal HD •419
HDNet •420
HDNet Movies •421
INHD •422
INHD2 •423
ESPN HD •424
HBO HD •427
Showtime HD •428
Starz HD •429
Cinemax HD •430
HD (Pay-per-view) •431
iN Demand Sports HD •733

I will have TWC soon in SoCal. Are they infected by the dreaded 5C? I want to archive my movies to hard drive.

And are the HDNET channels 1920x1080i 17 mbps? Dish just went HD lite on these channels so I'm looking for an alternative.

TMC or TWC?

Ooops I meant TWC.

I spoke today with my "inside man" at TWC/LA, who is charged with making the entire DVR/infrastructure work rather than sales/marketing. But he is extremely knowledgeable, very nice, and worked with me at great length to understand what is really happening on the "changeover date" for my area in particular, but the entire LA area in general.

And what I learned explains what is really happening nationally, which is why I'm sharing my findings here (as well as in the local HDTV TWC/LA thread).

Much of the confusion comes from their "front door" web page that allows you to see your current and upcoming channel lineups after the soon-to-occur "channel lineup changeover" date, whatever that is. This page has two large buttons on it, one asking you to push it if you were a subscriber before September 18, and the other asking you to push it if you are a very recent subscriber (after September 18).

Well this is very very misleading, in terms of what we will actually have available to us after the upcoming channel lineup changeover date. The wording is really awful for the description of these two buttons.

Turns out the button to put you into the "BEFORE SEPT 18" channel lineups is really for the "those who do nothing" result. In other words, if you don't call TWC to make any change to your service, here's what you will automatically get as your default lineup, and it's based on what you currently have and what you currently pay to your current subscriber (i.e. before TWC took over from Adelphia and Comcast in your area). You'll basically get your existing channels at your existing pricing. For me, Comcast HD channels, Comcast "Digital Platinum" pricing.

And the objective is to remain within current TWC "footprint" and TWC/Comcast contractual arrangements with local networks and cable channel providers. So, for example, here in LA if you were in a Comcast area and you therefore received KTLA-DT (former WB, now CW, channel 5 SD) on channel 185, you will still get it after the new changeover date but now on channel 405. But if you were in Adelphia/TWC which never got KTLA-DT, you will not get it after the new changeover date. If you got HDNet before you will get HDNet after, but if you didn't then you won't.

Again... this is IF YOU DO NOTHING, and choose to remain with TWC but receiving just what you got with your old carrier and paying your old [package] price for hardware and software.


Now, in contrast, the "AFTER SEPT 18" button is really for truly brand new subscribers to TWC, OR... for anybody (in any of the TWC, Adelphia, or Comcast subscriber base areas) who would like to scrap their old "legacy" packages and go with new TWC tiers and pricings.

And, more importantly for us HD viewers, this path provides access to the newly available HD channel offerings... TO EVERYBODY, no matter where you lived. You just need to scrap your old pricing and packaging and choose a new "TWC tier oriented" channel arrangement with TWC. Then you can pretty much have anything you want after the upcoming channel lineup changeover date.

So if instead of clicking on the "BEFORE SEPT 18" button I instead click on the "AFTER SEPT 18" button, .. I, personally, would be shown that in the "Marina Del Rey (former Comcast)" area, as with all the other Comcast areas, I in fact WILL be able to CHANGE my service to get the HD Plus Tier channel lineup! In addition, I WILL still have KTLA-DT available as well, because Comcast had a contract with KTLA (and I'm former Comcast)! Unfortunately, the former Adelphia and TWC users will still NOT get KTLA-DT even if choosing the post-Sept 18 lineups, because TWC did not have a contract with KTLA and never offered KTLA-DT.

But this KTLA-DT (WB/CW) difference does appear to be the one and only true difference between the "offerings" in the "AFTER SEPT 18" listings for the three subscriber bases. At least that's the case here in the LA area, though a similar story might exist throughout the country for WB/CW or other similar local contractual stories.

However for the rest of the complete channel offering, the options presented by the new TWC tiers and pricings are essentially universal throughout all of LA and super-attractive (to me, anyway), and also allow me to get the new HD channels I've been looking forward to.

Also, it's more flexible than before in that if you don't want a particular "tier" (at $5/month) you can opt out of that channel group (mostly meaningful in the SD family of channels).

There is no longer an all-you-can-eat "Digital Platinum" package with TWC, so I'll have to give back Starz+HD, TMC+SD and Max+HD (no great losses, if you ask me) to save money. But I'll still be able to get HBO+HD and SHO+HD, the Variety, Choice, Sports, and Movie tiers, as well as the new HD Plus Tier (all optional and selectable, at $5/tier), along with my 6412 DVR (with HD locals and HD Basic), for almost exactly what I'm paying today for "Digital Platinum" plus 6412 DVR from Comcast.

Only apparent loss... no ESPN2HD yet (in any HD Plus Tier for a former Comcast area), because Comcast never had a contract for ESPN2HD and that is yet to be worked out by TWC (although the Adelphia areas where there was an ESPN2HD contract WILL see ESPN2HD present in their version of the HD Plus Tier in their now-TWC area). But all HD Plus Tier groups appear to have HDNet, HDNet Plus, INHD1/2, and UHD. On the other hand, the aforementioned KTLA-DT contract gives Comcast subscribers KTLA-DT going forward, whereas TWC/Adelphia former subscribers lose out on KTLA-DT going forward. So there is some "justice". Hopefully, eventually, they will sort out contracts with both of these networks and we'll all have access to both... as well as others, like MHD, NGCHD, FSNHD, etc.


So... bottom line: push the AFTER SEPT 18 button and then the "post lineup" link for your area, and you will really now see what you will actually be able to get from TWC if you just call them on the phone and reconfigure your monthly service.

You can choose to do nothing, and pretty much retain your current channels and current pricing. Or you can choose to scrap that package/pricing and go with a new TWC service configuration, with fully optional tiers that are priced and selectable a la carte, and an HD Plus Tier that may or may not include ESPN2HD, but does seem to always include HDNet, HDNet Movies, UHD, and INHD1/2.

Of course the HD Plus Tier is a "tier", so it will cost $5/month. So added to your DVR cost (which includes "basic" HD and local network HD in its cost) you will therefore be paying $15/month instead of $10/month for DVR+HD content (at least that will be my price). But I'm willing to do that, and give up my current "Digital Platinum" (thus losing Starz+HD and Max+HD, but who cares), instead choosing all tiers... and ending up at almost exactly the same monthly price I'm paying today, but with more HD channels (less three Premium movie channels, only two of which were in HD, that I never watched anyway).

Going forward, DVR's in former TWC areas (here in LA at least) will continue to be SA8300 because of the now-existing SA head-end infrastructure in those areas. DVR's in former Adelphia/Comcast areas will be Moto 6416 boxes going forward (phasing out Adelphia Moto MOXI boxes) and supporting existing Moto 62xx/64xx boxes from Comcast, all of which are based on the now-existing Motorola head-end infrastructure in those areas. Pre-OCAP, choosing an infrastructure commits you to an end-user hardware/software type.

This is the DVR/STB story for at least another year or more, until the new OCAP-based [infrastructure-independent I believe] equipment appears. I would think this also to be the national policy as well, since the SA and Moto head-end infrastructures are incompatible, hence whatever your area has currently is the type of DVR you're confined to in the near future anyway, until OCAP comes along.

DVR's will remain priced as is ($10/month for me), and will come with "free" local HD channels, as well as the "basic" HD channels of DiscHD, TNT HD (yechh!), and HD Special Events. The optional HD Plus Tier adds $5/month for the additional HD channels.

Hope this clarifies things.

Now, now. I think it's unusual and really nice that he does reply.

that's because he has lots of time on his hands not making deals for new channels!

And it would mean more if his emails actually did mean something.

Check here, http://www.timewarnercable.com/corporate/channellineups.html
CW carraige is somewhat up in the air right now.

edit: Looks like Bellflower is keeping CW. It will be on channel 405 for you

I will have to get CW OTA here in Garden Grove


As will I here in GG. Means I still have to have one more box in my rack!

I will have TWC soon in SoCal. Are they infected by the dreaded 5C? I want to archive my movies to hard drive.

And are the HDNET channels 1920x1080i 17 mbps? Dish just went HD lite on these channels so I'm looking for an alternative.
These area specific posts probably should go into the local threads (the rest of the country shouldn't have to be subjected):

Los Angeles, CA - TWC (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=306411)

Orange County, CA - TWC (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=392577)

I believe that all cable providers, including TWC utilize 5C. I can confirm that you can archive to DVHS (which is 5C compliant), so they are at least allowing copy once on all programming here in SoCal on TWC.

HDNet channels are 1920x1080i but currently rate shaped. It is expecting that with the changes to the channel guides coincide with the transition to SDV and the return to full bitrate (no more rate shaping).

I have Time Warner Cable and my HD service SUCKS! All I have is 2 networks in HD, TNTHD, HDNET, HDMovies, INHD, INHD2, and ESPNHD. What bugs the hell out of me about cable companies is that they don't offer the same channels everywhere. Some people with TWC have a decent selection of HD channels, but not here. They don't seem to give a rat's ass about my area. So when I put some more money together I'm swithing to Dish Network. At least they offer the same content everywhere as opposed to favoring some areas and screwing others. TWC cable makes sure they charge me the same amount of money for their service as what they charge the areas that have a good selection of channels though. Only when taking my money do they consider me to be equal.:(

Then switch carriers.

That's what I'm going to do. I'm going to switch to Dish Network. Where I live the only choices are TWC or satellite. There is no FiOS or anything like that here.

That's what I'm going to do. I'm going to switch to Dish Network. Where I live the only choices are TWC or satellite. There is no FiOS or anything like that here.


I hope you enjoy HDLite, and paying for a leased box. :rolleyes:

HD-Lite is all that is available here in any form.:( Actually, according to my cable guy DN will likely look better than the few HD channels I get from TWC do. Why, what do you have? As far as I know pretty much everything is HD-Lite right now and will be for quite a while. And a leased DVR is the same thing that TWC does with me so I don't get what your point is. I can't get what my area doesn't have.

"* The HD-DVR receiver requires a one time $199.99 lease upgrade fee paid at sign up."

I think that's his point. You pay activation and "equipment upgrade" fees (unless you go for an 18-month commitment). And even though you pay $199.99 for the box... it's not yours!

And _then_ you still pay a monthly fee for DVR service.

The DirecTV HD DVR also costs $199.99.

I suppose with Dish Network you could buy your own DVB-S equipment, but I don't know how well this works.

With Time Warner (at least Time Warner NEO), there's no commitment, no activation fees, no installation charges. You can add boxes whenever you like. And thanks to CableCARD, you don't even need the boxes.

Small point, you list 6 HD channels, amounting to 4 "networks." You may be thinking of tiers... in my location, the 2 HDNets, the 2 InHDs and ESPN HD are bundled together as a tier. TNTHD is part of basic DTV coverage.

Indeed, a good part of a lot of frustration revolves at least partially around what "they" can provide. It is a reasonable assumption that as the bitrate goes down, the quality goes down. From what I read, it seems the satellite guys have made a business decision to offer more channels, but at lesser quality (if there WAS consumer choice, I'd bet it would split 50-50 or damn close to that). The cable guys are all over the map, I'm also fairly convinced that there's an issue with rate shaping, BUT that there also is different levels of that. So some areas get better PQ than others (I've read many, many bitter complaints about motion blur in sports, but I just can't see much of it, seemingly as where I live supposedly has more bandwidth than other areas).

Be thankful that there IS a viable option to drop TWC. Where I live, some do have the option, but many, many do not (there are areas that can get good satellite paths, but big urban area with many tall buildings means it's a non-option for most).

MY TV has no cable card slot. You get the $200 back because the first 10 months of your service are discounted by $20 a month. Yeah, I'll be committed to them for 18 months but I know my cable company and no significant improvements will be made in that time. If they improve anything I'm sure those improvements will probably be outshined by any improvements DN is making. Like I said before, I can only get what is available here. It's not like I have a kzillion choices. I'd prefer to not have to go dish because I don't like how it goes out when the weather is bad. But 30 HD channels vs 6 for the same price is a no-brainer to me.

In a perfect world I'd have Verizon FiOS. That's what I'd get if I could. Not just because of HDTV but because of their internet service. But I'll die of old age before tech. like that makes it here. I live in a small town with a brick road going through the center.:) Our population is only a couple thousand. I really doubt that Verizon has us in their FiOS plans, heh heh. And TWC has already proven that they don't care about a few thousand hicks. What irritates me most about my cable company is that they charge us the same thing as what people in big cities pay who have wayyyyyy more content than we do. If they are only going to offer us half as much than we should only have to pay half as much.

That's discounted if you have one box. And if the promotion is still going on.

I can't see any hint of that $20 off for 10 months promotion on Dish's website now.

http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/programming/dishhd/offer/index.shtml

http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/programming/dishhd/offer/index.shtml

Are your HD locals provided from E*?

Are your HD locals provided from E*?

Yes, for $5 Xtra. I already checked and they have them for my area. However, they don't appear to be in HD. That is something I'm going to be asking them about. Hopefully if I can't get the locals in HD than at least I can get all the networks from somewhere in HD. But again, I ain't getting it with my cable company either. All I have in locals in HD from TWC is NBC and ABC. What I care about the most is Fox but that is MIA here.

Our population is only a couple thousand. I really doubt that Verizon has us in their FiOS plans, heh heh.
This site (http://www.dslreports.com/gmaps/fios) will let you plug in your Minerva, OH 44657, location (from your 1st post) in (see furture Verizon-locations sublinks) to check Verizon's planning. (Registration might be required.) Verizon's fibering outlying NYC areas now, and I'm also hoping they'll begin wiring Manhattan ASAP. I'd instantly switch from TWC here--unless TWC's evolving switched-video technology 'catches up' with Verizon's HD menu and matches its reported PQ as well. -- John

Nah, I can't check it because I'm not a reg. user and that costs $10. Are you a reg. user? If so could you check for me? My zip is 44657. However, I really doubt that FiOS will ever come here.

and E* will not have any of your locals in HD at this time.

Yeah, I already said that. But I don't care so long as they can get me the network channels from somewhere in HD. Actually, I'd really like Fox to be from California in HD if I could because I'm a 49ers fan ( Yeah, I know they suck now. ). If I could get my locals in SD and the same networks in HD from another area I'd be happy with that.

Thats not how it works.

Yeah, I'll be committed to them for 18 months... You have the option of paying a $50 activation fee and not being in an 18-mo contract.
I'd prefer to not have to go dish because I don't like how it goes out when the weather is bad. You've never had satellite so why do you say it goes out when it rains ?? Oh, I know, you've heard that.... Did the person who told you this have satellite or is that what they heard too ?? Does satellite go out when it rains ?? Hardly ever.... Does it happen ?? Yes, it can. With a properly installed/aligned dish, when it goes out, that's an exception, not normal.

I did have satellite before, it was Dish Network to be precise. I didn't say it goes out all the time when the weather is bad, but it does sometimes. And I never said anything about rain specifically.

Hmmm, I don't know what they've done with the networks now. When I had DN in the past I asked for Fox in California and got it for an additional $1.99 a month. But for all I know laws have been passed since then which prohibit doing that. Like I said, I plan on calling DN and asking them what my options are for networks.

This is the most likely the best local HD option from E*.

It worked great for me when I was waiting for TWC to add my local FOX HD station.

You could ought to get D* if your a 49ers fan and get Sunday Ticket.

Lol, are you a marketer for TWC? Even if I can't get my locals in HD it still would be better than what TWC is offering me. It's 30 HD channels vs freaking 6! So even if I can't get my locals in HD I'm still getting the dish.

Yeah, I already said that. But I don't care so long as they can get me the network channels from somewhere in HD. Currently, you will get NO HD locals from Dish, including "distant networks". You're in the Cleveland market, according to Dish Network. When the Cleveland HD locals come online, that's what you'd get. There's NO timeframe when ANY HD locals are coming though. Only when they're officially finalized does Dish pre-announce them and Cleveland isn't...

There's an off-chance you could get CBS-HD depending on Cleveland's CBS station and whether they're owned/operated by CBS "corporate". Search the Cleveland HD local thread here to find that out.

Otherwise, to get any "local" HD channels, you'll need a VERY LARGE antenna and even that might not work. How far from Cleveland, Akron, Canton are you ??

No, certainly not a TWC marketer, but some of the things you have stated are just plan wrong and misleading. Enjoy E*,but I was simply trying to inform you, but that isn't the best thing to do I guess?

What have I said that is wrong? Your advice seems to be that since there is no perfect option in my area that I shouldn't get anything at all.

Currently, you will get NO HD locals from Dish, including "distant networks". You're in the Cleveland market, according to Dish Network. When the Cleveland HD locals come online, that's what you'd get. There's NO timeframe when ANY HD locals are coming though. Only when they're officially finalized does Dish pre-announce them and Cleveland isn't...

There's an off-chance you could get CBS-HD depending on Cleveland's CBS station and whether they're owned/operated by CBS "corporate". Search the Cleveland HD local thread here to find that out.

Otherwise, to get any "local" HD channels, you'll need a VERY LARGE antenna and even that might not work. How far from Cleveland, Akron, Canton are you ??

Well, I don't really care. I rarely watch the networks anyway. The only thing I care about is football in HD but I don't get that with TWC cable either. The networks that have football games are not offered here from TWC. The only one I get is the Sunday night game on NBC.

That sucks though that you can't pick network channels from different areas like you use to be able to do with Dish. That was really cool because I got to watch every 49ers game. I'm guessing the Cable providers fought that tooth and nail and that's why you can't do it anymore. But it use to be that you payed $5 for your local package, and you could add specific network channels from different areas for $1.99 each. I don't know if that applied to HD though. When I did that was years before I had a HDTV.

That sucks though that you can't pick network channels from different areas like you use to be able to do with Dish. That was really cool because I got to watch every 49ers game. I'm guessing the Cable providers fought that tooth and nail and that's why you can't do it anymore. In fact, Dish Network got SUED for doing this. That is, providing distant networks to customers who didn't actually qualify for them. There are, and always have been, rules in place that dictate who qualifies for distant networks. People would simply "move" their service address to a location not served by any "locals". Dish and DirecTV, in the past, made it real easy to do so too.

I don't think it's the cable companies who put up the fuss about it either, but was the local network channels.

Well, I thought it was cool and I wish it was still available.

Nah, I can't check it because I'm not a reg. user and that costs $10. Are you a reg. user? If so could you check for me? My zip is 44657. However, I really doubt that FiOS will ever come here.
Hadn't checked for cost. I'll cross that off any future suggestions. -- John

I was going through a thread about Dish Network. I see what you're saying about it being HDLite and whatnot. I just didn't know all the details. But my point is that my cable company does the same thing, but also has less channels. I get artifacts all over the place with TWC and I'm guessing that comes from low bitrates. So they are just as guilty as DN is. Maybe in 10 years we'll have true HD programming.:(

I believe that "HD Lite" only applies to the former VOOM HD channels that Dish carries. They are not really mainstream channels either and to be honest, I've hardly EVER watched anything on them, nor do I see much of interest (to me). Discovery HD Theatre, HDNet, HD Movies, etc, etc are not HD Lite though.

Just switched from TWC to E* today.
My locals just got added last week so that was a big factor.
Also since I got the 622 HD DVR I can record my OTA HD Network channels.
My local Time Warner has never picked up the local CW and seems like they will never add it back to the lineup. Same thing with the NFL, ESPN2, HGTV, Nat Geo and many many others.
Good bye TWC. No love lost.

Just switched from TWC to E* today.
My locals just got added last week so that was a big factor.
Also since I got the 622 HD DVR I can not record my OTA HD Network channels.
My local Time Warner has never picked up the local CW and seems like they will never add it back to the lineup. Same thing with the NFL, ESPN2, HGTV, Nat Geo and many many others.
Good bye TWC. No love lost.

That's strange. This claims that you can record OTA with the DVR.

http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/programming/dishhd/receivers/vip622dvr/index.shtml

That's strange. This claims that you can record OTA with the DVR.

http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/programming/dishhd/receivers/vip622dvr/index.shtml


Sorry. It was a Typo. Fixed now.

The only thing I care about is football in HD
Then why are you not looking at Direct TV?

Does anyone get Center Ice, if so are you getting any games in HD on any of these channels?

HD Special Events (FSN HD) •413
HD (Pay-per-view) •431
iN Demand Sports HD •733

Does anyone in Los Angeles get any FSN HD games for any sport?

Try the local thread - Los Angeles, CA - TWC (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=306411)

I was going through a thread about Dish Network. I see what you're saying about it being HDLite and whatnot. I just didn't know all the details. But my point is that my cable company does the same thing, but also has less channels. I get artifacts all over the place with TWC and I'm guessing that comes from low bitrates. So they are just as guilty as DN is. Maybe in 10 years we'll have true HD programming.:(
Rate Shaping (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=618881)

Try the local thread - Los Angeles, CA - TWC (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=306411)

Thanks, I tried but it's mostly DVR talk over there. Besides I want to know if anyone, anywhere is getting Center Ice games in HD on TWC.

Then why are you not looking at Direct TV?

From what I've heard Dish Network is better.

From what I've heard Dish Network is better.
Not if "The only thing I care about is football in HD".

Oh man, I can't believe this. Well, guess I'm not switching to Dish Network afterall. I had no idea you had to pass a credit check to be able to subscribe to it. I have the worse credit in the world. The lady on the phone went on and on and on about this and that and right at the end she slips in this crap about a credit check. The moment she said it I knew I was stuck with 6 HD channels from TWC for $85 a month forever.:( There is no way I'm paying $600 to own their DVR.

Not if "The only thing I care about is football in HD".

You're taking that out of context. I said the only thing I cared about on the networks as far as HD goes was football. It doesn't matter anyway. I'm officially stuck with TWC.

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6381144.html?display=Search+Results&text=time+warner+cable

I especially like:

"MCN: Any words of wisdom you want to leave the cable industry?

FD: I just hope that we're able to capitalize on the superior technology that we have. I think that if we continue to improve customer service, we will squash the competition in the long run and be successful. I don't think we'll eliminate competition, but I don't think we'll have anything to worry about if we pay attention to the customers."

TWC, pay attention to their customers-- right.

Actually, they have paid attention to their biggest customer base and that's why we DON'T have more bandwidth for more HD available, as much as most of us on AVS would like it to be different.

Then how do you explain the scarcity of HD for us SDV customers?

Thanks, I tried but it's mostly DVR talk over there. Besides I want to know if anyone, anywhere is getting Center Ice games in HD on TWC.I don't subscribe to CI, but during the free preview, the CI HD games have been showing up on my HD PPV channel here in TW Desert Cities.

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6381144.html?display=Search+Results&text=time+warner+cable

I especially like:

"MCN: Any words of wisdom you want to leave the cable industry?

FD: I just hope that we're able to capitalize on the superior technology that we have. I think that if we continue to improve customer service, we will squash the competition in the long run and be successful. I don't think we'll eliminate competition, but I don't think we'll have anything to worry about if we pay attention to the customers."

TWC, pay attention to their customers-- right.I believe the operative phrases are:

improve customer service....if we pay attention to the customers
And I'm not holding my breath.

I thought this was worth reposting into this thread:

First of all - I haven't started the new job yet, so I don't have solid answers. Sorry most of my answers right now are "I don't know" or "I think so". I do hope to have a fast learning curve so that a couple of months from now I will be able to give good answers.

SDV and Rate Shaping. In the sense that some companies 'rate shape' in order to gain additional bandwidth on the lineup to add new channels - yes SDV will fix that. I want to give you the entire truth though because you will hear engineers say no to this question - I made them explain it to me and this is my very simplistic version of what goes on.
In order to do SDV you have to have a 'clamping license'
A clamping license requires that you know how the quantity of mps that will be required for the signal
So if an HD regularly passes a channel at 15 mbs rather than 19.8 mbs, we will put the clamping license on at that rate. If they increase the mbs and don't tell us, then we will be rate shaping, but only until that point in time in which we find out what happened and increase the rate on the clamping license. (This actually happened to us in SC just last week which was a valuable way for me to learn about it).

So, technically SDV doesn't eliminate rate shaping, but in the practical sense of limiting a current signal to a lesser rate than the programmer is intending the viewer see the program, yes it does.

make sense?

Then how do you explain the scarcity of HD for us SDV customers?


Real simple - you arent the majority. Less than 20% of their customers are HD and if they went all digital all the people WITHOUT STBs would loose their channels and every customer who has an analog TV would loose their Picture in Picture. Every HD person who has a MyHD 100 or MyHD 120 card could not use it to watch the analog cable pictures. All VHS/DVD Recorders would need a digital STB in front of it - and most would not record the proper channel when set.

So again, they are looking out for the majority of their customers - much to the chagrin of the early adopters like you and me.

"MCN: Any words of wisdom you want to leave the cable industry?

FD: I just hope that we're able to capitalize on the superior technology that we have."

let me check something ... yep, that's a 20Mb Road Runner connection under my desk and a cable offering all the HD channels currently available ....

ah no, wait. That's FiOS. :rolleyes:


Maybe Dressler is talking about those 2 markets where TW actually deploys the "superior technology."

Does anyone get Center Ice, if so are you getting any games in HD on any of these channels?

HD Special Events (FSN HD) •413
HD (Pay-per-view) •431
iN Demand Sports HD •733

Does anyone in Los Angeles get any FSN HD games for any sport?


I subscribe to CI. I have TWC in the San Fernando Valley (west). I do get the HD CI games that are available. They show it on the channel that is labeled MLB HD. I dont remember the channel number though. If you want to know exactly what games are going to show up in HD with the CI package go to http://www.indemand.com/sports/nhl/schedule/nhlScheduleHD.pdf. As far as other sports go sometimes TWC puts up a local game (Kings, Lakers, Dodgers) in HD on 1105. This is the channel labeled HD Special Events. It does not happen often. They used to have a little schedule of games that would show up on that channel but lately there has been nothing but a color bar test pattern there.

This may be old hat to some, but I found this link useful in understanding SDV: http://www.cedmagazine.com/article/CA6375650.html

TTx

I subscribe to CI. I have TWC in the San Fernando Valley (west). I do get the HD CI games that are available. They show it on the channel that is labeled MLB HD. I dont remember the channel number though. If you want to know exactly what games are going to show up in HD with the CI package go to http://www.indemand.com/sports/nhl/schedule/nhlScheduleHD.pdf. As far as other sports go sometimes TWC puts up a local game (Kings, Lakers, Dodgers) in HD on 1105. This is the channel labeled HD Special Events. It does not happen often. They used to have a little schedule of games that would show up on that channel but lately there has been nothing but a color bar test pattern there.


Thanks for the info, as a former Adelphia customer in the South Bay (LA) I look forward to the new channel lineup.

"And Time Warner Cable, which has been at the vanguard of switched digital rollouts, appears as bullish on HD as any operator in the industry. “What we’ve seen is that HD is becoming a true force rather than a niche audience,” says Julie Simon, VP of video product management. Using switched digital, her company is planning on adding in excess of 20 new HD channels in 2007."

http://www.cable360.net/cableworld/technology/standards/20293.html

Using switched digital, her company is planning on adding in excess of 20 new HD channels in 2007."



SDV already in Raleigh. Number of new channels in HD this year = 0.

There's 365 days in a year so anticipate 20 new channels in Nov 2007, and given TWC track record, only in 2 or 3 markets.

SDV already in Raleigh. Number of new channels in HD this year = 0.

There's 365 days in a year so anticipate 20 new channels in Nov 2007, and given TWC track record, only in 2 or 3 markets.
When did Raleigh start using SDV?

SDV already in Raleigh. Number of new channels in HD this year = 0.

There's 365 days in a year so anticipate 20 new channels in Nov 2007, and given TWC track record, only in 2 or 3 markets.

SDV already in Raleigh ???? News to me.

Greensboro too, but I don't know which channels they've put on it. The only HD channel I lost was the west coast HBO feed.

When did Raleigh start using SDV?

check a few pages back. I posted a link to the news story where TWC were discussing it.

I went back all the way to page 1. I must have overlooked it. I saw the link to Dressler retiring but it didn't mention SDV as being currently in use in Raleigh. :(

I've read a couple articles of TWC rolling out SDV in areas soon (Raleigh being one) but not yet. And from what I understand our Passport (atleast the current version) can't manage SDV but that I'm probably wrong about. I believe Greensboro is a testing area and may be testing it though.

SDV already in Raleigh. Number of new channels in HD this year = 0.

There's 365 days in a year so anticipate 20 new channels in Nov 2007, and given TWC track record, only in 2 or 3 markets.

well they can add one HD channel in each market and make their quota! ;)

Is there a web site where we can find out if time warner in our area started using SDV twcnyc

I went back all the way to page 1. I must have overlooked it. I saw the link to Dressler retiring but it didn't mention SDV as being currently in use in Raleigh. :(.

Sorry my fault, I ripped the quote from the article but forgot to post the link.


http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8280026&&#post8280026

"We have two systems (Raleigh, N.C., and Austin, Texas) in full production with a varied number of channels and it's going quite well. But our findings have told us to pay attention to the plan and be careful about the spectrum. The results have produced 60 percent gains in efficiency, and as time passes, we'll gain even more efficiency," LaJoie said.

Greensboro too, but I don't know which channels they've put on it. The only HD channel I lost was the west coast HBO feed.
We never even had that channel in the first place in Raleigh. or Showtime HD West either

Sorry my fault, I ripped the quote from the article but forgot to post the link.


http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8280026&&#post8280026

"We have two systems (Raleigh, N.C., and Austin, Texas) in full production with a varied number of channels and it's going quite well. But our findings have told us to pay attention to the plan and be careful about the spectrum. The results have produced 60 percent gains in efficiency, and as time passes, we'll gain even more efficiency," LaJoie said.

I think I may have actually copied and pasted that article. Either LaJoie meant to say Columbia, SC, or it is a beta test that is contained to a small part of the system.

Is there a web site where we can find out if time warner in our area started using SDV twcnyc

It was stated by a TWC exec in the consumer input thread that the new "Mystro" IPG had to be deployed before SDV would be available.

"And Time Warner Cable, which has been at the vanguard of switched digital rollouts, appears as bullish on HD as any operator in the industry. “What we’ve seen is that HD is becoming a true force rather than a niche audience,” says Julie Simon, VP of video product management. Using switched digital, her company is planning on adding in excess of 20 new HD channels in 2007."

http://www.cable360.net/cableworld/technology/standards/20293.html

Also note the fol. link to a "Know the MSO: TWC" interview in Jun2006 with TWC's CTO,
Mike LaJoie, indicating "probably" up to 75 HD channels in 3 to 5 years:
http://www.cable360.net/cableworld/technology/standards/18793.html
Apparently, they intend to continue support for analog channels....
But, I expect the total number of Basic/Extended channels may be significantly reduced....

"LaJoie: We are constantly trying to look out and imagine the product profile that
we're going to have to support in three to five years. And we've said we'll probably
have to support up to 75 hi-def channels, we'll have to support continuing increases
in speed for data, we'll have to continue to support the analog channels, because
they're not going away in five years, and we'll have to continue to support standard def.
And to get there, we determined that broadcast will have to diminish and switching
will have to grow."

From what I remember reading, Passport doesn't support SDV and why they plan to roll out Navigator EPG in Passport areas before SARA areas so I don't think Raleigh can have SDV yet.

MDN - Mystro Digital Navigator - new Interactive Program Guide that will be available to all TWC Digital Equipment (SA & Pioneer) by the end of 2007. The reason Gastonia and Nebraska are getting this first is because they are Passport systems (Pioneer), so they can't get any of the features we have in SC (Start Over, ITV, ETC, SDV) until they upgrade to MDN. This is the one instance when SARA Divisions go last - SC should go late 1Q or early 2Q next year. Otherwise, the three test areas for advanced video services are SC, Austin and Green Bay.

MDN has lots and lots of bells and whistles.

__________________
Diana Smith
Director of Marketing for Video Services
from http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8464784&&#post8464784 (This Post)

Like posg said, it was presumed LaJoie meant to say Columbia, SC instead of Raleigh. I think Greensboro is using SARA so they could be testing SDV

TWC intends to simulcast standard definition feeds of high-definition local channels after the 2009 deadline? Wouldn't cable boxes capable of down rezzing be a less expensive solution? Seems like a waste of bandwidth to simulcast 75 channels (including basic/expanded/pay). I understand the benefit of PIP but at what expense to the subscriber?

From what I remember reading, Passport doesn't support SDV and why they plan to roll out Navigator EPG in Passport areas before SARA areas so I don't think Raleigh can have SDV yet.


from http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8464784&&#post8464784 (This Post)

Like posg said, it was presumed LaJoie meant to say Columbia, SC instead of Raleigh. I think Greensboro is using SARA so they could be testing SDV
Although Austin, TX did a short SDV test a couple years ago and parts of So Carolina (on SARA) are still using SDV,
it appears that OCAP will be the vehicle for providing SDV across nearly ALL MSOs, replacing PASSPORT and SARA.
So it is of interest to monitor the several MSO's that are conducting or will soon initiate OCAP tests:
http://www.cedmagazine.com/article/CA6366125.html?industryid=43679

OCAP is intended to operate as a common operating system (like VxWorks or WinXP) on many different STB
hardware platforms and is designed to accept a wide variety of different user interface "applications", such as from Tivo, Mystro, etc.

In the consumer-input TWC thread (non-HD cable forum), the cable exec wrote that one of trial SDV installations has only been used to provide 62 simulcast channels (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8670425&&#post8670425). Assume that means digitally duplicated channels that at ~10 channels/6-MHz slot would normally require ~10 6-MHz-wide slots (256 QAM) for non-SDV access (all channels 24/7). Those in the trials have mentioned they haven't seen new HD channels as a benefit of SDV's bandwidth economies. -- John

I'm in the Greensboro market where we're supposedly using SDV. Not only do we not have any new HD channels, the amount of compression on the ones we do have (like ESPNHD) seems to be getting worse.

I'm in the Greensboro market where we're supposedly using SDV. Not only do we not have any new HD channels, the amount of compression on the ones we do have (like ESPNHD) seems to be getting worse.
Did you recently get a new version of Passport with a completely redesigned guide screen?

Because if you haven't, then you aren't using SDV.

According to information posted on another thread on this board, Passport does not support SDV until you get the new "Mystro" version of Passport that has a completely redesigned guide screen.