http://www.tvpredictions.com/texasbowl122806.htm

Time Warner: No Texas Bowl In HDTV
The cable operator will only air the game in standard definition.
By Phillip Swann

Washington, D.C. (December 28, 2006) -- Time Warner Cable said yesterday that it will not air tonight's Texas Bowl in High-Definition TV.

The game, which will feature Rutgers vs Kansas State, will be broadcast tonight at 8 p.m. ET by the NFL Network.

Time Warner will broadcast the game in standard definition as part of a free preview week offered by the NFL Network. The league-owned channel extended the free preview to Time Warner and Cablevision because the cable operators have refused to carry it full-time, saying the NFL is asking for too much money.

As of last week, Time Warner said it wasn't sure if it would include the HD broadcast of the Texas Bowl as part of the free preview. However, a company spokeswoman told TVPredictions.com yesterday that it will not offer the game in high-def.

Cablevision is expected to air the game only in standard definition as well.

However, Comcast, the nation's largest cable operator, is expected to broadcast the game in high-def. In addition, EchoStar, which carries the NFL Network HD full-time, will offer the high-def broadcast.

DIRECTV is also expected to air the game in high-def on channel 95. A DIRECTV spokesman could not be reached late yesterday to confirm that, but the HD broadcast is listed on the satcaster's on-screen programming guide.

Big fan of Knight Rider and The Equalizer?

Nope. BSG and Firefly. That's why I'm stoked for this! I know Firefly was 14 and out, but BSG has another couple of seasons, at least. Anything else is a bonus, quite frankly. And certainly more than I ever got out of, ummm, what was it?, INHD2.

TWC now has Universal HD up and running on the San Diego system (channel 724), replacing InHD2. I think the other TWC southern California systems also have it now.

SARA works fine on my system. No problems whatsoever.

Navigator is 1 step above the paper channel guide.
Then SARA is 1 step BELOW a paper channel guide! :D

My buddy is in Charlotte, they have PASSPORT. I guarantee he'll switch to D* or E* the moment he sees Navigator. Guaranteed. I'll make sure he tells TWC why he's switching.

I just sent my buddy an email to tell him to watch anything good he has saved in case he gets wiped and to prepare to be disappointed.

SARA works fine on my system. No problems whatsoever.
Kevin, we know you and DoubleDAZ like SARA, but anyone who's seen better can't stand it. There's no way in the world that a PASSPORT user will be satisfied with SARA. I'm sorry, but your satisfaction with SARA is hard to comprehend for anyone who's seen better. Or have you not ever seen better?

There's no way in the world that a PASSPORT user will be satisfied with SARA. I'm sorry, but your satisfaction with SARA is hard to comprehend for anyone who's seen better.
I agree. Tivo software blows SARA away.

SARA is ugly, lazy, and annoying. She sucks (and they've disabled the "swallow" feature).

I just noticed we have MTV HD replacing INHD 2.

TWC now has Universal HD up and running on the San Diego system (channel 724), replacing InHD2. I think the other TWC southern California systems also have it now.You are correct, at least concerning TW Desert Cities.

Game's a pass for many Giants fans
NFL Network telecast won't be available on local cable as deal fails

By BRYAN CHU, Albany Times Union Staff writer
First published: Friday, December 29, 2006

Sorry, Giants fans. There won't be any buzzer-beating deal to allow the Giants-Redskins game to be shown on local cable.

The NFL Network and Time Warner haven't had meaningful talks since the start of the season, network spokesman Seth Palansky said. That means most Capital Region NFL fans must scrounge for a place to watch Saturday's game.

"We certainly understand the frustration of our customers," said Peter Taubkin, Vice President of Time Warner's Albany Division.

"But, here we've had an offer since day one and unfortunately the programmer has not been agreeable. We have had a great number of customers that have called us telling us they understand our position and understand we've been trying to put programming on in a manner to be fair to all."

Last week, Frank Lautenberg, a senator from New Jersey, urged both sides to find a way to show the Texas Bowl between Rutgers versus Kansas State on Thursday. The NFL Network reached an agreement with Cablevision and Time Warner Cable to provide a free preview for only New York City and New Jersey Time Warner and Cablevision subscribers between Dec. 24-30.

The Capital Region was not offered the free week of the NFL Network.

"We look at this free-view service as an opportunity for those that don't have our channel to see it as a benefit," Palansky said. "We want them to know what they're missing.

"Hopefully this can lead to a long-term partnership between parties."

This stalemate could get even worse for NFL fans: The NFL Network has the rights to eight NFL games in each of the next five seasons.

The first time the issue was in the spotlight was on Thanksgiving, when Time Warner subscribers could view only two of three NFL football games that day -- the third was on the NFL Network.

Time Warner wants to offer the NFL Network on its sports tier. NFL Network is pushing for its services to be aired on the basic cable package.

The previous seven games on the NFL Network have earned the highest ratings of all cable shows that day.

Bryan Chu can be reached at 454-5414 or by e-mail at bchu@timesunion.com.

Here in Albany NY we just got ESPN2HD,MTVHD and A&EHD and as everyone else
lost IND2HD. When this happened we evidently lost NBAHD games and VSHD hockey as the last 2 games have not been on INDHD. Also it seems that we are not getting YESHD as the Nets last 3 games(AT HOME) have been in unwatchable SD)
Anyone else got this problem?
Bill D.

Bummer about carriage in the TriCities for the final Giants game. Of course, it could VERY well turn out that you won't mind missing it if they quit after 3 minutes like they did last week. The game will be run on WNBC in NYC, but from the guide info, it looks like it's going to be SD, even though it's running on NBC local's HD channel.

I just noticed we have MTV HD replacing INHD 2.

You don't tell us where or on what system, so this is a totally useless post.

Bummer about carriage in the TriCities for the final Giants game. Of course, it could VERY well turn out that you won't mind missing it if they quit after 3 minutes like they did last week. The game will be run on WNBC in NYC, but from the guide info, it looks like it's going to be SD, even though it's running on NBC local's HD channel.


It will be HD as well. 100% sure of this.

It will be HD as well. 100% sure of this. Yes, local NBC has been running HD promos.

Yes, local NBC has been running HD promos.

Sorry - I meant to include this:

http://www.qgazette.com/news/2006/1213/PDF/page_49.pdf

:)

Just got a letter in the mail saying TWC in San Antonio, TX will launch A&E HD and the mtv hd Jan 1.

I have been watching some of the the NFL Network shows during the past few days and I can honestly say that I have not been impressed with any of their programs. The Texas Bowl game was a treat but that was the only watchable thing I've seen during the entire week. We are in a very exciting period of the football season where many wildcard scenarios will get played out and all they can do is keep repeating the same old shows over and over again. Perhaps they should change the name of NFL Replay to NFL Repeat and if I see the Pats and Titans game again I will block the channel. The NFL Network lacks fresh program content and offers very little insight or NFL total access. I can only imagine with the regular football season coming down to a close that they won't have much more to offer until the NFL combines. Don't get me wrong I really like football but I don't think there's a snowball's chance in hell that we'll see the NFL Network anytime soon unless they come down on their demands with TWC.

Just got a letter in the mail saying TWC in San Antonio, TX will launch A&E HD and the mtv hd Jan 1.

I was glad to see this, now if we could just get ESPN2 & KABB FOX in HD I think most of us would be happy. The NFLN would be gravy but I just don't see it happening before next year and even then probably not in HD.

It will be HD as well. 100% sure of this.

Oh, you may be correct; if so, then this will be the first time I've seen a guide listing that does NOT show the HDTV badge actually being in HD!

I have been watching some of the the NFL Network shows during the past few days and I can honestly say that I have not been impressed with any of their programs. The Texas Bowl game was a treat but that was the only watchable thing I've seen during the entire week. We are in a very exciting period of the football season where many wildcard scenarios will get played out and all they can do is keep repeating the same old shows over and over again. Perhaps they should change the name of NFL Replay to NFL Repeat and if I see the Pats and Titans game again I will block the channel. The NFL Network lacks fresh program content and offers very little insight or NFL total access. I can only imagine with the regular football season coming down to a close that they won't have much more to offer until the NFL combines. Don't get me wrong I really like football but I don't think there's a snowball's chance in hell that we'll see the NFL Network anytime soon unless they come down on their demands with TWC.

I am with you 100%. The NFL channel has almost NOTHING to offer and it is a waste of valuable bandwidth. I like to watch the games like a lot of people, but 99% of the year of broadcasting is just "fill." People that demand this channel are not doing anyone a favor.

I am with you 100%. The NFL channel has almost NOTHING to offer and it is a waste of valuable bandwidth. I like to watch the games like a lot of people, but 99% of the year of broadcasting is just "fill." People that demand this channel are not doing anyone a favor.

I agree. Props to TWC for not carrying it now. I'm an NFL fan, but enough is enough.

Oh, you may be correct; if so, then this will be the first time I've seen a guide listing that does NOT show the HDTV badge actually being in HD!

Then you aren't looking closely enough.

Only national programing on the local broadcast stations are listed as being in "HDTV" in the prgram guide. the football game is technically a local program...
check the local news description... you'll see what I mean.

after seeing the freeview of the NFL Network I hope TWC doesn't cave in and distibute it to all subscribers. keep it on a digital tier.

Then you aren't looking closely enough.

Only national programing on the local broadcast stations are listed as being in "HDTV" in the prgram guide. the football game is technically a local program...
check the local news description... you'll see what I mean.

Tonight's local WNBC-TVs newscast IS carrying a HDTV badge. Besides, AFAIK, it was a national broadcast on the NFLNet. So it seems your "theory" may be as shaky as mine!

Seriously, this is the first time I've seen no badge for a HD broadcast. So that badge isn't as reliable as I thought it was.

Pretty sure that TWC populates the guide from data they receive from TV Guide (they put it's logo in the guide itself). So on a hunch, I check TV Guide's listings for last night. Guess what? NO MENTION of the game! So the information obviously came "last minute." It is POSSIBLE that the badge got lost in this translation.

Anyway, this is all BS, Tiki had a fabulous day and that does make me happy (although I'd sure prefer he came back next season).

after seeing the freeview of the NFL Network I hope TWC doesn't cave in and distibute it to all subscribers. keep it on a digital tier.

Hear, hear! The bits about a dozen shopping channels and no NFL were cute, but they forgot to say they wanted tons more money from TWC to carry their advertising supported channel.

Wasn't there some "requirement" that dictated NFLNet could NOT block out a local team's broadcast in that team's primary area? While I AM a football fan, I care far more for seeing my local teams play; out of market games I'm just not near as passionate about seeing. So if what I read about this "requirement" is 100% the case, NFLNet can stick it.

STILL, it does feel a tad odd sticking up for the TWC corporate line...

Tonight's local WNBC-TVs newscast IS carrying a HDTV badge. Besides, AFAIK, it was a national broadcast on the NFLNet. So it seems your "theory" may be as shaky as mine!

Seriously, this is the first time I've seen no badge for a HD broadcast. So that badge isn't as reliable as I thought it was.

Pretty sure that TWC populates the guide from data they receive from TV Guide (they put it's logo in the guide itself). So on a hunch, I check TV Guide's listings for last night. Guess what? NO MENTION of the game! So the information obviously came "last minute." It is POSSIBLE that the badge got lost in this translation.

Anyway, this is all BS, Tiki had a fabulous day and that does make me happy (although I'd sure prefer he came back next season).

You are way too reliant on a program guide provided by TWC. That's where your problem is.

I noticed that the news now does have the HDTV stamp in the description (it didn't at first when it went HD).

Side note: PLENTY of weekend sporting events on wnbc have been HD that havn'et had "HDTV" in the description....

Does anyone know if theres any new channels in hd coming to the new costumers in souther California ?

I share Riverside Guy's sentiments although I must say I do miss watching some of the Saturday games. that said what were the owners smoking when they thought they could leverage an eight game package into year-round must carry?

There are very few things that I think TW does right, and not falling into the pressure from the NFL Network is one of them. I personally think that the NFL is trying to strong arm TW into paying their price. No better way than to make the consumer think that they won't be able to watch their local team in a big game. Plus now they are trying to hold college games hostage. If only Chad Johnson and Owens wouldn't finance the league with their weekly fines :)

Looks like TWC Raleigh is giving us a slate that states "inHD2 has ceased operation" to replace inHD2. Thanks.

Looks like TWC Raleigh is giving us a slate that states "inHD2 has ceased operation" to replace inHD2. Thanks.
That's better than ours, we just get ????? in the channel guide when you try to enter it. :D

we do not have it listed in the guide

Well if TWC has a deal with MHD, A&E HD, and/or ESPN2HD, whats keeping them from popping one in this slot now? Its not a bandwidth issue obviously. Do they need to upgrade equipment just to receive these channels to redistribte? I cant believe that would be an issue.

We have had MHD and A&E HD(actually only CSI Miami is HD and is very grainy w/ DD 2.0 audio) added a couple of weeks ago. They are both not part of the HD tier, but you must have a stb. to get them, because they use switched digital to display them. That means no digital qam tuners or one way cable cards can tune these channels.

one way cable cards can tune these channels.

:(

one way cable cards are on life support

The absurd idiocy of TWC in my area sickens me. I had hoped that they would be ready for INHD2 going off the air, that they would replace it with something else right away or at the very least apply the bandwidth that it once used to the other HD channels. Instead it remains on the air with nothing but an INHD logo playing on it and we have nothing new. Christ, these guys are so clueless that I wonder if they even know it has been discontinued.

The absurd idiocy of TWC in my area sickens me.

What area is that? I felt like the same thing was going to happen here in San Antonio but then they replaced INHD2 with A&D HD and the MTV HD channel at the last minute.

TWC Columbus, Ohio is a total joke as well. Without any notice of ANY kind, INHD 2 was gone today with no replacement. I called them and they said it was news to them but when they checked it out they saw what I saw (or didn't see in this case) and said the supervisors are trying to figure out what's going on and will call me later. How can ANY division of TWC be so completely and utterly clueless?! It's sickening, and I'm extremely angry. If I wasn't getting such a good price on their service, I'd be going the satellite route.

Hear, hear! The bits about a dozen shopping channels and no NFL were cute, but they forgot to say they wanted tons more money from TWC to carry their advertising supported channel.

Wasn't there some "requirement" that dictated NFLNet could NOT block out a local team's broadcast in that team's primary area? While I AM a football fan, I care far more for seeing my local teams play; out of market games I'm just not near as passionate about seeing. So if what I read about this "requirement" is 100% the case, NFLNet can stick it.

STILL, it does feel a tad odd sticking up for the TWC corporate line...

TWC NYC dropped the freeview just as WNBC went to the Giants game.
And the NFL Net does provide for over-the-air broadcast in each team's primary coverage area (same deal as ESPN)... unless the home team doesn't sell out -- then there's a blackout .. just as in the over-the-air rules. Won't happen in the NY market - Jets and Giants have been "sold out" in the Swamp for years.

^But if youre in the general market and not the home city, youre out of luck...I live in Raleigh and Ive never seen a Panthers game broadcast by ESPN anywhere but ESPN....I can only assume it would be the same case with NFLN. And I think most people in this area would look at that as our local team not being available, even if we arent in the primary coverage area.

TWC Columbus, Ohio is a total joke as well. Without any notice of ANY kind, INHD 2 was gone today with no replacement. I called them and they said it was news to them but when they checked it out they saw what I saw (or didn't see in this case) and said the supervisors are trying to figure out what's going on and will call me later. How can ANY division of TWC be so completely and utterly clueless?! It's sickening, and I'm extremely angry. If I wasn't getting such a good price on their service, I'd be going the satellite route.I must agree. I'm appalled that some TW systems are so clueless.

I guess it makes me less disappointed that all we got in SoCal lieu of INHD2 was a lousy T-shirt, ... err, Universal HD.

I must agree. I'm appalled that some TW systems are so clueless.

I guess it makes me less disappointed that all we got in SoCal lieu of INHD2 was a lousy T-shirt, ... err, Universal HD.
Could be worse. We've had Universal HD in Albany, NY since the Olympics and at least they actually have HD content. We just got A & E HD. I haven't come across any programming in HD at all except for CSI:Miami. They actually showed the movie "A Few Good Men" tonight in 4x3!

TWC Columbus, Ohio is a total joke as well. Without any notice of ANY kind, INHD 2 was gone today with no replacement. I called them and they said it was news to them but when they checked it out they saw what I saw (or didn't see in this case) and said the supervisors are trying to figure out what's going on and will call me later. How can ANY division of TWC be so completely and utterly clueless?! It's sickening, and I'm extremely angry. If I wasn't getting such a good price on their service, I'd be going the satellite route.

That confirms it then, THEY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW! I'm in Ohio too, Minerva. I'm not sure but we may even have the same division. Everybody has known for months that INHD2 would be going off the air Jan. 1st but apparently the only ones who didn't know it was the damned cable company!!! That's just sad.

This really illustrates why HD cable in my area is such a joke. All the time I'm reading in this thread about HD channels that other TWC customers have and we do not. Hell, we don't even have the Fox and CBS networks in HD for God's sake! No typical TWC stations like Discovery HD either. The people running our division just don't care, it's as simple as that.

There were a few people who posted in the "ESPN2 HD on TWC" thread that we here in Albany, NY were able to get ESPN2 HD because we absorbed one of the former Adelphia franchises.

I wrote to both Albany TWC customer care and the Albany TWC Public Affairs VP. They both confirm that ESPN2 HD addition had nothing to do with the Adelphia merger.

I suggest you request your local TWC office to contact Albany TWC VP Pete Taubkin and ask him how he got the channel on Albany TWC.
____________________________________________________________ _____

From: Mark [mailto:******@albanyhdtv.com]
Sent: Saturday, December 30, 2006 9:49 AM
To: Taubkin, Pete
Subject: Thank you for ESPN2 HD

Mr. Taubkin:

Thank you for providing us with ESPN2 HD.

I contacted your customer care representative with the questions, “Why is it that Albany Time Warner Cable is the only TWC franchise in the United States that has ESPN2 HD? Is it because you acquired Adelphia and Adelphia had an agreement to carry ESPN2 HD?”

As you can see from the response I received from “Matt”, he states that the Adelphia merger was merely a coincidence. However I noticed he spelled “negotiations” and “acquiring” incorrectly, which leads me to question the accuracy of the answer he provided. Here is his response below:

-----Original Message-----
From: do_not_reply@twalbany.com
Sent: Friday, December 29, 2006 11:51 PM
To: ******@nycap.rr.com
Subject: Response to your inquiry # 10492

Mark,
We are constantly in negotiaions with other networks to provide new service to our customers. Our merger with Adelphia and aquiring the station was just coincidence.

Please let us know if we can be of any additional assistance.
Thank you for being a Time Warner Cable customer.
------
Matt
Customer Care Team
Time Warner Cable
Albany Division
1021 Highbridge Rd
Schenectady, NY 12303
1-866-321-2225


Could you provide any insight as to why Albany TWC is the only TWC franchise in the country to provide ESPN2 HD to their subscribers?

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Mark
____________________________________________________________

From: Taubkin, Pete [mailto:peter.taubkin@twcable.com]
Sent: Tuesday, January 02, 2007 9:33 AM
To: *****@albanyhdtv.com
Subject: RE: Thank you for ESPN2 HD

Mark:

Happy New Year.

First, you’re welcome. Enjoy.

Second, our customer service representative is correct. TWC’s programming agreement with ESPN had/has nothing to do with our acquisition of Adelphia systems.

Third, I do not believe your statement about Albany being the only system without ESPN2 HD is correct. In fact, to the best of my knowledge, TWC’s Albany and Syracuse divisions are among the first.

Thanks. Take care.

Peter M. Taubkin
Vice President
Government Relations & Public Affairs
Time Warner Cable -Albany
1021 High Bridge Road
Schenectady, NY 12303
(518) 242-8839 -phone
(518) 242-8948 -fax
peter.taubkin@twcable.com
www.twalbany.com

I just got off the phone with a manager at TWC Columbus and they STILL have no idea what's going on in regards to INHD 2. He said he's going to look into it because no one informed them that INHD 2 was going to be gone, and now that it is he doesn't understand. So they STILL have no clue what's going on when all of us here have known about it for more than a month.

Anyway, I'm guessing that even when they do find out what we've all known, they still won't replace it with something else. I hate TW and am seriously considering going with Dish Network and their stellar HD lineup.

I had been confident we would get a replacement for InHD2 (BTW, we PAY for that channel extra) when I made a complaint and got it in writing their intention was to provide another channel for that "pay extra" tier. While it still COULD happen, nothing happened on 01/01.

FWIW, the channel InHD2 ran on totally disappeared from the program guide.

A follow up email:

From: Taubkin, Pete
Sent: Tuesday, January 02, 2007 11:34 AM
To: mark
Subject: RE: Thank you for ESPN2 HD

I can’t speak for other systems. Each system has different considerations and timing of launches could certainly vary. When channels are launched, the launch entails efforts involving multiple departments including engineering, billing, marketing, etc. Ultimately, though, programming agreements are generally negotiated at the corporate level for the right to carry the programming.

Peter M. Taubkin
Vice President
Government Relations & Public Affairs
Time Warner Cable -Albany
1021 High Bridge Road
Schenectady, NY 12303
(518) 242-8839 -phone
(518) 242-8948 -fax
peter.taubkin@twcable.com
www.twalbany.com

one way cable cards are on life support

One-way cablecard works very nicely and will continue to function after two way cards arrive. Skip the box if your set has cablecard capability.

WOW! Raleigh/Durham/Fayetteville NC TWC is brilliant. InHd2 ch.292 now says "Requires Subscription" and has UHD ch.295's programming is being duplicated on HDNet's ch.293. :D

WOW! Raleigh/Durham/Fayetteville NC TWC is brilliant. InHd2 ch.292 now says "Requires Subscription" and has UHD ch.295's programming is being duplicated on HDNet's ch.293. :D
Now InHD2 ch.292 changed to MHD ch.292 in the guide but the channels blank.

Now InHD2 ch.292 changed to MHD ch.292 in the guide but the channels blank.

At 6:00 PM, it's up and running. :D

In TWC's defense... IN Demand didn't exactly make it common knowledge that INHD2 was going away...

It took us long enough to find out... and it required some serious internet digging...

Even the INHD website made it seem like inhd2 still existed (until today).

Yup, I am watching MHD on Ch 292 TWC Raleigh NC as I type this. Personally I think that trading INHD2 for MHD is a great deal. Cold Play in HD is outstanding right now. However, it is not Dolby Digital. What is up with that?

Yup, I am watching MHD on Ch 292 TWC Raleigh NC as I type this. Personally I think that trading INHD2 for MHD is a great deal. Cold Play in HD is outstanding right now. However, it is not Dolby Digital. What is up with that?


Congrats, I'm happy for you folks! TWC Columbus finally has acknowledged that INHD 2 is gone :rolleyes: No word on what, or if there will be a replacement. I'm guessing no replacement for awhile as they are still negotiating with Sinclair to keep ABC and Fox from disappearing :rolleyes: TWC Columbus is a total utter joke.

Could be worse. We've had Universal HD in Albany, NY since the Olympics and at least they actually have HD content. We just got A & E HD. I haven't come across any programming in HD at all except for CSI:Miami. They actually showed the movie "A Few Good Men" tonight in 4x3!OK. I'll count my blessings.

Congrats, I'm happy for you folks! TWC Columbus finally has acknowledged that INHD 2 is gone :rolleyes: No word on what, or if there will be a replacement. I'm guessing no replacement for awhile as they are still negotiating with Sinclair to keep ABC and Fox from disappearing :rolleyes: TWC Columbus is a total utter joke.

In Minerva we've got ABC and NBC but no CBS and Fox, which means the only pro football I've been able to watch in HD all year have been the night games. I'm not sure exactly where our feed comes from...but it sucks.

Third, I do not believe your statement about Albany being the only system without ESPN2 HD is correct. In fact, to the best of my knowledge, TWC’s Albany and Syracuse divisions are among the first.

Thanks. Take care.

Peter M. Taubkin
Vice President
Government Relations & Public Affairs
Time Warner Cable -Albany


Interesting...I'm supposedly served by the Syracuse division (TW Central NY), but I don't see ESPN2HD anywhere...MHD is on in place of INHD2, but that's all.

At 6:00 PM, it's up and running. :D
Still blank here and I'm still seeing UHD's ch.295 programming duplicated on HDNet ch.293. I guess the Fayetteville hub people can't get it set up right. I'm on their hub. :(

Interesting...I'm supposedly served by the Syracuse division (TW Central NY), but I don't see ESPN2HD anywhere...MHD is on in place of INHD2, but that's all.

It is possible that TW, Syracuse is just working to get it stable.

During the first week on TW, Albany it kept appearing and disappearing from my Guide as well as occasionally showing no signal even when it was listed in the Guide.

Still blank here and I'm still seeing UHD's ch.295 programming duplicated on HDNet ch.293. I guess the Fayetteville hub people can't get it set up right. I'm on their hub. :(
Called the local office tech department about 3 hours ago. They contacted the Fayettville hub and apparently got MHD ch.292 and HDNet ch.293 straighened out. :)

One-way cablecard works very nicely and will continue to function after two way cards arrive. Skip the box if your set has cablecard capability.


Hopefully those stations said by prior poster are available through CC in other areas, like HERE. :) I don't have a STB or CC yet, but was looking towards a CC as it'd probably be easier to record with as well as I'm assuming the processing in the TV is better than in the STB.

wow, I just called TWC and explained that I should have some sort of credit on my next bill because I'm paying full price for 4 out of 5 HD channels.
they transfered me to a couple different people and said they can't do anything for me. they don't have the ability do give a credit for that.
Even if they did, they sure didn't want to.

nothing...

wow, I just called TWC and explained that I should have some sort of credit on my next bill because I'm paying full price for 4 out of 5 HD channels.
they transfered me to a couple different people and said they can't do anything for me. they don't have the ability do give a credit for that.
Even if they did, they sure didn't want to.

nothing...

Dish Network is looking more and more attractive.

wow, I just called TWC and explained that I should have some sort of credit on my next bill because I'm paying full price for 4 out of 5 HD channels.
they transfered me to a couple different people and said they can't do anything for me. they don't have the ability do give a credit for that.
Even if they did, they sure didn't want to.

nothing...

well to be fair, they don't need to. If you pay a "package price" that's what you pay for regardless of content. Based on your argument they could add more channels and then expect you to pay more. In the same way that when the HD package in Raleigh started ESPN and UHD were not included from what I remember. However it still remained the same price when those channels were added to that package.

Well, until the inevitable cable increase the following year.

well to be fair, they don't need to. If you pay a "package price" that's what you pay for regardless of content. Based on your argument they could add more channels and then expect you to pay more. In the same way that when the HD package in Raleigh started ESPN and UHD were not included from what I remember. However it still remained the same price when those channels were added to that package.

Well, until the inevitable cable increase the following year.


yea I almost wanted to call up and gripe about how I should only have to pay 4/5th of what i was due to the channel being erased, but then I was like christ, id have to have to pay even more everytime they add another channel... will be interesting to see how they handle the fees whenever they get around to having more than 5 channels in that pack.

Any updates? With the loss of INHD2 in Southwest Ohio we are -1 HD stations for three plus years now. Nothing has replaced INHD2. Still no ESPN2HD.

DirecTV has announced 70+ new HD stations by the end of the year. One would have thought TWC would make an announcement on its HD plans for the future.

Any updates? With the loss of INHD2 in Southwest Ohio we are -1 HD stations for three plus years now. Nothing has replaced INHD2. Still no ESPN2HD.

DirecTV has announced 70+ new HD stations by the end of the year. One would have thought TWC would make an announcement on its HD plans for the future.

Yea you would think so... if they dont soon i hate to say I wont be a twc customer... I mean i hear 70 plus for d*... twc better have something huge up their sleeves...

Come the end of this year if Directv has 70+ HD channels and TWC has 4, my local sales office front counter clerk will have an 8300 shoved up his a$$ with a no thankyou note attached.

Come the end of this year if Directv has 70+ HD channels and TWC has 4, my local sales office front counter clerk will have an 8300 shoved up his a$$ with a no thankyou note attached.

Maybe that's why these boxes have so many glitches! Who knows where my box has been before it got to me.

Yea you would think so... if they dont soon i hate to say I wont be a twc customer... I mean i hear 70 plus for d*... twc better have something huge up their sleeves...
I don't see how those 70+ can be national HD channels -- I think they must be talking about local channels. Then the fair comparison will be to the number of local HD channels TWC adds. TWC here in Honolulu added two HD locals last year and might well add two more this year. D* currently offers no local HD here and to my knowledge has not announced plans to offer any this year. What the comparison is over the nation I don't know, but D*'s 70+ announcement doesn't do a thing for me.

DirecTV currently has EIGHT National HD, TWO Premium HD, some part-time HD Sports Networks (like TWC)
and usually four LIL-HD channels.....let's call it TEN NATIONAL HD plus part-timers...

DirecTV press release lists a handful of Regional Sports Networks (most of which are already available in HD???),
an unspecified number of Premium channels and an additional SIXTEEN new NATIONAL HD (simulcast) channels:

A&E, National Geographic, Bravo, NFL Network,
Cartoon Network, SciFi Channel, CNN, Speed,
Food Network, TBS, FX, History Channel, HGTV,
The Weather Channel, MTV, USA Network.
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=127160&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=948332&highlight=

[Isn't NFL Network already available on D* in HD??? And some are already on Dish....]

FINALLY!!!!! SCIFI-HD and SPEED-HD!!!!!

Hmm, seems 70-100 (total) HD channels may be time-shifted duplicates across three (or four) timezones....

Note that DirecTV has jumped the gun by pre-announcing HD simulcast plans by the underlying suppliers:
Turner Networks, NBC-Universal, Fox and unspecified Premiums.
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=11336

Obviously, these are not exclusive to DirecTV and will pop up on Echostar and Cable networks whenever they sort
out their capacity "issues"....
[Easiest path is to simply drop 7-10 analog channels...which are going away anyway...]

Any updates? With the loss of INHD2 in Southwest Ohio we are -1 HD stations for three plus years now. Nothing has replaced INHD2. Still no ESPN2HD.

DirecTV has announced 70+ new HD stations by the end of the year. One would have thought TWC would make an announcement on its HD plans for the future.

I'm in Ohio as well and it is the same for me. There is no Espn2 here and when INHD2 went off the air they didn't replace it with anything. Hell, it doesn't look to me like they even allocated the bandwidth it had used to the other channels. We don't have Discovery HD either despite virtually all other TWC customers having it. We don't have the Fox and CBS networks in HD either. And despite having virtually no channels the scant few there is are rate-shaped to death. I can't imagine any HD service being worse than this other than having none at all. I sometimes hope that if I bitch about it enough on here that maybe someone who works at TWC will see how ridiculously bad the service is in some parts of Ohio ( I'm in Minerva. ) and put a call through to the lazy morons running things here and tell them to freaking do something about it...NOW! I've attempted to contact TWC a few times to get some answers but have gotten nowhere with it. When I email them all I get is a generic pre-written reply that has nothing to do with what I was asking and gives me no information whatsoever. When I call the feedback I get is as good as it would be if I turned to one of my walls and asked it. The people in customer service know absolutely nothing about the service they are pimping. All I get is, "I don't know" to every question I ask. Hell, I'm not asking for much. All I want is for my service to be the same as other TWC customers. If they just added the two locals we're missing along with maybe two other channels like Discovery and whatever else I'd be satisfied. I'd still want more, of course, but it would stop my bitching at least.:)

I'm in Ohio as well and it is the same for me. There is no Espn2 here and when INHD2 went off the air they didn't replace it with anything. Hell, it doesn't look to me like they even allocated the bandwidth it had used to the other channels. We don't have Discovery HD either despite virtually all other TWC customers having it. We don't have the Fox and CBS networks in HD either. And despite having virtually no channels the scant few there is are rate-shaped to death. I can't imagine any HD service being worse than this other than having none at all. I sometimes hope that if I bitch about it enough on here that maybe someone who works at TWC will see how ridiculously bad the service is in some parts of Ohio ( I'm in Minerva. ) and put a call through to the lazy morons running things here and tell them to freaking do something about it...NOW! I've attempted to contact TWC a few times to get some answers but have gotten nowhere with it. When I email them all I get is a generic pre-written reply that has nothing to do with what I was asking and gives me no information whatsoever. When I call the feedback I get is as good as it would be if I turned to one of my walls and asked it. The people in customer service know absolutely nothing about the service they are pimping. All I get is, "I don't know" to every question I ask. Hell, I'm not asking for much. All I want is for my service to be the same as other TWC customers. If they just added the two locals we're missing along with maybe two other channels like Discovery and whatever else I'd be satisfied. I'd still want more, of course, but it would stop my bitching at least.:)


Thanx for saving me the breath! ;) couldnt have said it better myself, but bitching is fun isnt it!

andy hdtv,
I dropped the $9 charge for the four channels, wasnt worth it . Today i had my modem replaced on my computer. The repair man told me that in 2009 we will get all the cable channels in HDTV no extra charge.
George

FINALLY!!!!! SCIFI-HD and SPEED-HD!!!!!

Uhhh... not sure about Sci-Fi, but that's a negative on Speed-HD.

They should, and maybe even could, but my understanding is they're several years away.

Uhhh... not sure about Sci-Fi, but that's a negative on Speed-HD.

They should, and maybe even could, but my understanding is they're several years away.
Here's the DirecTV press release:
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=127160&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=948332&highlight=

Here's the DirecTV press release:
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=127160&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=948332&highlight=

I saw it, it's still not correct...

And the over under on when TWC will add these HD channels --

http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=11336

It is a nice list but will we see it in our lifetime?

Come the end of this year if Directv has 70+ HD channels and TWC has 4, my local sales office front counter clerk will have an 8300 shoved up his a$$ with a no thankyou note attached.

Amen to that, though I've been running the numbers to figure out what it's going to cost to run D* or E* HD DVR service to three HD destinations. I've got it narrowed down to two DVR boxes and a splitter, I think, but I still think it's gonna wind up costing me close to a thousand bucks to get set up with the leased equipment alone.

Once that's done, I'll still have some outlay to Time Warner for RoadRunner, as my options for DSL are horrible (I'm 15,000 cable-feet from my central office and can only get 768kb).

I figure my monthly charge will be somewhere around $20 more than I'm paying now, and that's mostly because I have to sign up for the "sports" package to get Fox Sports Net so I can watch the Blue Jackets get slaughtered by the referees throughout the NHL season. If I got FSN as part of the base package, the cost would be almost identical (with the exception of the start-up). But if the 70 additional HD channels come at little or no additional cost, then it is a no-brainer.

Is Time Warner ever going to come out with a HD DVR STB successor to the SA8300?

And the over under on when TWC will add these HD channels --

http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=11336

It is a nice list but will we see it in our lifetime?


Nice. I'll say +2 on everything but cnnHD (which I've been pinning over for years).

When Ted Turners stomps his feet and throws a tantrum as to why his stations aren't being carried over the big pipes, someone will listen. I think alot of people have wanted hd news for a long time. World report on HD.net is one of the rockin'est shows out there

I wonder of there's a Lawyer out there who'd be nice enough to start up a class action against TWC for... um... Well, I'm sure there's something we could do
\
I read yesteday that some Comcast customers are suing comcast for not offering enough HD. Frivolous? I think as TWC customers we should watch that closly. Could be good for us

Come the end of this year if Directv has 70+ HD channels and TWC has 4, my local sales office front counter clerk will have an 8300 shoved up his a$$ with a no thankyou note attached.

This is what we and all the national channels have been waiting for for Directv to finally have the capabilities to carry upwards of a 100 to 150 HD channels. We all know that the networks won't invest millions of dollars into HD content and equipment if no one can carry them. This will add some needed pressure to force cable monopolies like TWC to become better motivated in getting rid of analog channels sooner and push more technologies like SDV to increase their bandwith. There's nothing better for the consumer then when there's fierce competition amongst the corporations.

Is Time Warner ever going to come out with a HD DVR STB successor to the SA8300?

I hope so, because the 8300HD in regards to hmdi is a complete joke on my sara system.

Is Time Warner ever going to come out with a HD DVR STB successor to the SA8300?

I hope so, because the 8300HD in regards to hmdi is a complete joke on my sara system.
On July 1, cable systems are required by law to support "non-integrated" STB/DVRs.
This generally means an STB/DVR with the two-way, dual tuner compatible M-CARD (successor to CableCARD),
running a common OCAP "middleware" that supports ANY of several new Integrated Program Guides (IPGs).

TWC is developing the MystroTV Navigator Guide....and Aptiv has OCAP version of Passport-Echo,
whereas COMCAST and COX have agreements to offer TiVo's IPG (for additional cost)....
and Microsoft and TVGuide have something....
It's likely we'll have several IPG's to chose from....on the same cable system...so I hear:
http://hdtv.forsandiego.com/messages/3/5368.html#POST27232

Congress's intent was to make it easy to buy and connect your own, fully capable STB/DVR for cable....
or an HTPC running VISTA...or even an HDTV with DVR, IPTV and Web Browser features....
while overcoming the shortcomings of the one-way only CableCARDs.
[No Navigator Guide and no Switched Digital Video channels, e.g. VOD/PPV....perhaps including Premium channels.]

I saw several OCAP capable HDTVs and STB/DVRs being demo'ed at CES2007.

So by this summer, we should be able to lease a new STB/DVR from the cable company, or buy our own from (ANY???)
of the cable STB/DVR manufacturers....they are supposed to be readily movable between different cable systems.

If an HD-STB only costs $100-150, how many people would continue to lease them???
And if an HD-DVR only costs $300.....and can run TiVo IPG....

=========================================
PS: I talked to TiVo reps last week at CES2007.
They are still saying that the $800 TiVo Series 3 will NOT be upgradeable for two-way M-CARD.....bummer.....

Since developers are still working on M-CARD and OCAP software....and networking for Multiple Room (HD?)
service, new STB/DVRs are only in test markets....we might see them closer to the 1 July deadline....

And DCAS (Downloadable Conditional Access System) is only a few months behind and would make
MCARDs unnecessary--and obsolete....and would significantly reduce the cost of new STB/DVRs....

I think I might lease until a DCAS DVR is available from a "reputable" manufacturer....
one who would actually take responsibility to get it debugged....

I hope so, because the 8300HD in regards to hmdi is a complete joke on my sara system.

works fine on mine.

For fun, I decided to email customer non-support here in Columbus to ask them about any replacement for INHD2. Now, due to their disclaimer in the reply email that specifically denies me the ability to post the email in part or in whole to any public forum, I guess I'll have to paraphrase.

They basically said that they had no control over the INHD2 going away, and that they don't know anything about a replacement for INHD2 at this time.

I specifically asked them about the MHD, A&E-HD and ESPN2HD that are available in other markets, but nada from our friends at Time Warner mid-ohio.

:(

For fun, I decided to email customer non-support here in Columbus to ask them about any replacement for INHD2. Now, due to their disclaimer in the reply email that specifically denies me the ability to post the email in part or in whole to any public forum, I guess I'll have to paraphrase.

They basically said that they had no control over the INHD2 going away, and that they don't know anything about a replacement for INHD2 at this time.

I specifically asked them about the MHD, A&E-HD and ESPN2HD that are available in other markets, but nada from our friends at Time Warner mid-ohio.

:(

Did you ask them about Discovery HD? Christ, nearly every TWC customer gets that...except us, of course.:(

I noticed this weekend we are now getting ESPN2HD and A&EHD....while flipping through at various times I never caught any HD content on them though...but they're there.

3 months before InHD2 got "consolidated" we all knew it was going to happen.TWC probably knew before that. So they had WAY MORE than enough time to get a replacement together.

My understanding is that in many areas it was part of the basic package. In some areas (mine being one) it was 1/5 of a specific tier that cost extra. So, one channel out of five means a 20% reduction in service that we originally contracted for. They "say" they intend to replace that channel in that pay extra tier, but again, it sure appears some major foot dragging is going on. The problem is that we are faced with a cut off the nose scenario; I would rather not lose ESPN HD and the HDNets by cancelling the whole tier.

I noticed this weekend we are now getting ESPN2HD and A&EHD....while flipping through at various times I never caught any HD content on them though...but they're there.


well screw you because I dont have it yet ;) jk hope it arrives soon for ya.

Do we have Food Network in HD?? Nooooooooo. Instead we have A&EHD, which is really just upconverted SD reruns of Dog the Bounty Hunter.

A travesty!!!!!

MUST HAVE FOOD IN HD!!!!!!!!

Oh sweet Giada, take me away.....

Did you ask them about Discovery HD? Christ, nearly every TWC customer gets that...except us, of course.:(

Wickerman . . . I'm a little confused. I'm here in Columbus, OH. We have Discovery HD here. Channel 750 on your FM dial. Though it is listed as Discover HD Theater-- is there another Discovery HD that I'm not aware of?

-R

Do we have Food Network in HD?? Nooooooooo. Instead we have A&EHD, which is really just upconverted SD reruns of Dog the Bounty Hunter.

A travesty!!!!!

MUST HAVE FOOD IN HD!!!!!!!!

Oh sweet Giada, take me away.....


Yea Giada is smokin hot, my wife hates when I watch it and drool over her ;)

Wickerman . . . I'm a little confused. I'm here in Columbus, OH. We have Discovery HD here. Channel 750 on your FM dial. Though it is listed as Discover HD Theater-- is there another Discovery HD that I'm not aware of?

-R

Well, I'm in Minerva rather than Cleveland. I'm not exactly sure where our feed comes from. Wherever it is it can probably be confirmed as the worse TWC feed in America.:( But we don't get Discovery HD here. All we get is ABC, NBC, WUAB ( I think this is channel 43 and it might be affiliated with WB or something like that. Whatever it is there is really never any HD content on it. ), INHD, HDNET, HDNETMovies, ESPN, TNT, Showtime, HBO, and Starz.

Do we have Food Network in HD?? Nooooooooo. Instead we have A&EHD, which is really just upconverted SD reruns of Dog the Bounty Hunter.

A travesty!!!!!

MUST HAVE FOOD IN HD!!!!!!!!

Oh sweet Giada, take me away.....

At least you get A&EHD. Most TWC MSO's have not added it. Is "The Sopranos" (Wed at 9pm, I think) shown in HD on A&EHD?

At least you get A&EHD. Most TWC MSO's have not added it. Is "The Sopranos" (Wed at 9pm, I think) shown in HD on A&EHD?

I've tuned into A&E HD several times since we got it on 1/1 and have yet to see anything in HD. Just tons of up converted SD movies and Dog the Bounty Hunter :(

http://entimg.msn.com/i/125/tv/Giada-10A_125x150.jpg


aaahhhhh.....

Please, oh please, Time Warner. Give us Giada in HD!!!!!

http://entimg.msn.com/i/125/tv/Giada-10A_125x150.jpg


aaahhhhh.....

Please, oh please, Time Warner. Give us Giada in HD!!!!!

LOL very nice, u you just like her big..... mouth ;)

http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070116006421&newsLang=en

Samsung, Time Warner Cable and Advance/Newhouse Join Together to Launch OCAP on Interactive HDTV Sets and HD Set-top Boxes
Time Warner Cable Launches High-Definition Interactive Digital Cable Services on World’s First Interactive Digital Cable Ready (iDCR) OCAP-Based TV and Set-top Box from Samsung

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Samsung, Time Warner Cable and Advance/Newhouse Communications announced that interactive digital cable services are now live on the Samsung HL-S5686C Open Cable Application Platform (OCAPTM) compliant DLP HDTV and SMT-H3050 High Definition Set-top Boxes (HDSTB) in Time Warner Cable’s New York City systems, and will soon be expanding to other Time Warner Cable cities, including Milwaukee, WI, and cities covered by Advance/Newhouse’s Bright House Networks cable systems.

The announcement was made today concurrent with the opening night of Time Warner Cable’s Home to the Future exhibit. Home to the Future (www.hometothefuture.com) is a four-story, interactive installation built inside the Time Warner Center at New York City’s Columbus Circle that opens to the public January 17 and lasts for three weeks.

Time Warner Cable’s new interactive cable service includes its OCAP Digital Navigator and its in-house developed Interactive Program Guide. In 2007, Time Warner Cable and Advance/Newhouse Communications will continue to rollout OCAP on Samsung OpenCable products in other divisions of Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks.

“Samsung is excited to see the commercial launch of OCAP on our HDTVs and High Definition STBs,” said DJ Oh, President and CEO of Samsung Electronics America, Inc. “Time Warner Cable and Advance/Newhouse Communications through its Bright House Networks cable systems have been instrumental in leading the North American cable industry to accelerate the deployment of OpenCable technology.”

"This underlines our commitment to fully deploy OCAP on all of our systems and confirms our growing relationship with Samsung, a leader in consumer electronics,” said Glenn Britt, President and CEO of Time Warner Cable. “OCAP will foster the national launch of interactive applications and these Samsung products will enable consumers to enjoy the full range of interactive services with or without a set-top box.”

“We are pleased by the progress made through our partnership with Samsung and Time Warner Cable towards making OCAP a deployable reality,” said Robert Miron, Chairman and CEO of Advance/Newhouse Communications. “This exemplifies our core commitment to continuously providing more choice and value to our Bright House Network customers.”

At least you get A&EHD. Most TWC MSO's have not added it. Is "The Sopranos" (Wed at 9pm, I think) shown in HD on A&EHD?
The 1st season wasn't filmed in HD, so it'll be upconverted until, I believe, season 3. It still looks pretty descent, but it is edited for PG-13...kinda takes the punch out of a lot of the story.

TTx

The 1st season wasn't filmed in HD, so it'll be upconverted until, I believe, season 3. It still looks pretty descent, but it is edited for PG-13...kinda takes the punch out of a lot of the story.

TTxWhat, no T&A shots @ the Bada Bing. :D I love forking over the dough to Time Warner to watch repeat episodes of programs I've seen years ago... in HDlite! :rolleyes:

"All the best..." is saving us money each & every day! (not) :p

Hey Time Warner... how about a new DVR someday. :rolleyes:

What, no T&A shots @ the Bada Bing. :D I love forking over the dough to Time Warner to watch repeat episodes of programs I've seen years ago... in HDlite! :rolleyes:

"All the best..." is saving us money each & every day! (not) :p

Hey Time Warner... how about a new DVR someday. :rolleyes:

Why do you say HD Lite? If you want to compare to D*, then you'll truly see what HD Lite is all about. :)

http://entimg.msn.com/i/125/tv/Giada-10A_125x150.jpg


aaahhhhh.....

Please, oh please, Time Warner. Give us Giada in HD!!!!!

Other then her breasts, not attractive at all. Her forehead is huge. I don't find her even good looking from the neck up.

The 1st season wasn't filmed in HD, so it'll be upconverted until, I believe, season 3. It still looks pretty descent, but it is edited for PG-13...kinda takes the punch out of a lot of the story.

TTx

The first season was shot in 16:9 and 5.1 sound which we are not getting.

The first season was shot in 16:9 and 5.1 sound which we are not getting.

I was about to say, I thought I remembered it being "letterboxed" on my 4x3 set that I watched during season 1. Does A&E HD have ANY content that is actually in HD?

I see a lot of TWC bashing regarding things like how much HD a channel carries; as if it's TWC's responsibility. It's the channel, not the cable company!

While I've only been doing HD for 8 months, I am very much aware that it takes time for any channel to bring more HD to the table. They ALL start out modestly. Hell, even the channels we pay extra for (HBO, SHO, etc.). still show a lot of SD.

That being said, Starz was the first premium where I saw a "widescreen SD" movie. Lemme tell you, not bad at all! So I dare say widescreen SD Sopranos on the A&E HD channel is way, way better than 4:3 on their SD channel. Still, not so much the occasional boob, it's the language that really ruins the show. Real gangsters talk a lot rougher than even the "uncensored" version, so removing it totally, totally ruins it.

So, they are showing it in 4:3 on the HD channel (I'm A&E HD-less)? That sucks because it just is not necessary; I doubt it costs anyone any more to use the 16:9 than the 4:3; then again maybe HBO wants to charge a lot more for the 16:9 version...

Why do you say HD Lite? If you want to compare to D*, then you'll truly see what HD Lite is all about. :)I have empathy for D* subscribers... but when more than half of what TW shows on their HD tier is no more than 480i up converted to 720p/1080i... who's kidding who?

I have empathy for D* subscribers... but when more than half of what TW shows on their HD tier is no more than 480i up converted to 720p/1080i... who's kidding who?

Upconverted isn't equivalent to HD Lite.

Other then her breasts, not attractive at all. Her forehead is huge. I don't find her even good looking from the neck up.

Wow... you are "Super Special" aren't you??!!

Wow... you are "Super Special" aren't you??!!

Yeah, pretty much. Thanks for noticing.

just got back from the time warner center, they had 1 demo tv & STB with the new OCAP application.

coming fall 2007, may or may not be for all TWC divisions:
-Startover
-caller ID on tv
-program your DVR from the web & your sprint cell phone
-watch various channels on your sprint cell, live & prerecorded from DVR.

couldn't find anybody who new what SDV was.

I see a lot of TWC bashing regarding things like how much HD a channel carries; as if it's TWC's responsibility. It's the channel, not the cable company!


I think the bashing is more about the choice that TW made as far as channels to add to their HD lineup. With the choices available, they chose to select a channel that elects to broadcast nothing but upconverted SD shows, when they could've selected (maybe?) another channel that has better programming.

Personally, if the lineup on FOOD-HD has more HD content, I would definitely prefer that over A&E HD (even if the A&E HD was showing more HD natural stuff). Personally, I find myself watching SD Food-TV more than A&E today, and would naturally watch more FOOD on HD.

Call me an HD junkie, but since I started watching things on HD, what I like more than the PQ is the 16:9 aspect ratio. Don't get me wrong, I *like* the PQ, but having the expanded screen real estate is what gets my jones working. Even shows like Jeopardy in HD rock my world, and I hate it when I have to watch that in 4:3. I feel like half the show is missing.

Hell, I feel like the evening news would even benefit from 16:9. Put Katie Couric over in the left hand side, and dedicate the whole right two thirds to video or graphics about the story.

Yeah, give me good color reproduction and crisp picture, but don't (letter) box me in.

just got back from the time warner center, they had 1 demo tv & STB with the new OCAP application.

coming fall 2007, may or may not be for all TWC divisions:
-Startover
-caller ID on tv
-program your DVR from the web & your sprint cell phone
-watch various channels on your sprint cell, live & prerecorded from DVR.

couldn't find anybody who new what SDV was.

Ok, the "program your DVR from the web" feature might be worth sticking around for. I had that with my (R.I.P.) MythTV setup, and that is the one feature that I really, sorely miss. However, knowing how well that TW/AOL handle security and privacy, that might just turn out to be "have a hacker program your DVR to record PBS instead of Heroes for you from the web."

-R

Upconverted isn't equivalent to HD Lite.No shi. sherlock ;) the point is I'm paying $75 per month for something that looks really bad and TW is trying to pass off as HDTV. :p

No shi. sherlock ;) the point is I'm paying $75 per month for something that looks really bad and TW is trying to pass off as HDTV. :p

No, the point is you are calling upconverted source HD Lite.

I guess I'll go home and watch movies on my CD player. :D

Plus what TWC HD package costs $75 per month?

Plus what TWC HD package costs $75 per month?

My "Digital Platinum Package" costs $85/month + another $6.50 for the "HDTV Tier", topping my programming costs out at a whopping $91.50 monthly. Plus, they're going to institute yet another price increase for "Digital Service" in the next month or so. Add in the costs for my two 8300's and Road Runner broadband, and I write a check to TWC just shy of $160 each and every month. Probably more than I spend on food. :eek:

I have TWC HD without the digital tier. He said $75 for HD programming. Again what TWC HD programming package costs $75 per month?

Political comments require the AVS Political Tier, which is currently unavailable to subscribers in your area.

(in other words, political comments removed)

How about some actual news for a nice change of pace:
WGME, a Sinclair owned CBS station, is now allowing the local Time Warner affilate to broadcast their Digital feed (HD) on their network in Cumberland County, Maine.

http://www.timewarnercable.com/newengland/programming/notices/sinclair.html

How about some actual news for a nice change of pace:
WGME, a Sinclair owned CBS station, is now allowing the local Time Warner affilate to broadcast their Digital feed (HD) on their network in Cumberland County, Maine.

http://www.timewarnercable.com/newengland/programming/notices/sinclair.html

TW also came to an agreement to carry the SD Sinclair channels on the former Adelphia channels here in Ohio. I wonder if there will be any associated HD announcements for the Columbus, OH area. I can be hopeful, but I won't hold my breath.

-Rob

Plus what TWC HD package costs $75 per month?Mine does:

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzequg9f/last-tw-hdtv-bill.JPG

ok, so I neglected to add the 89 cents

Wow, Cool numbers you got there Op.
I feel like I just took a trip in the “way back” machine.
What does that HD pay tier include?

No shi. sherlock ;) the point is I'm paying $75 per month for something that looks really bad and TW is trying to pass off as HDTV. :p
So it does not exactly look like you would save $75 per month if you cut out what TW is trying to pass off as HDTV. Clearly $75 includes SDTV and equipment.

This is Albany Time Warner's current HD channel lineup:

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzequg9f/twalbany-HD-channels.JPG

I'm subscribed to all channels in this tier except the not-so-premium HBO & Showtime. I believe the "HD Premium Tier Service" portion of my bill covers channels: 1837 - 1870.

Of course the $75.89 monthly fee does not reflect the additional cost incurred from Verizon for land-line phone, DSL & cellular phone services.

Verizon keeps calling me to offer their FiOS Internet service and I keep telling them... sure as soon as you make FiOS TV available in my area too. ;)

So it does not exactly look like you would save $75 per month if you cut out what TW is trying to pass off as HDTV. Clearly $75 includes SDTV and equipment.You are correct... this is why I am subscribed to this service. ;)

ok folks, it 2007 now and we have a new SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT & CHIEF PROGRAMMING OFFICER

Melinda.Witmer@twcable.com

I have emailed her with no response.
now it's your turn.

ok folks, it 2007 now and we have a new SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT & CHIEF PROGRAMMING OFFICER

Melinda.Witmer@twcable.com

I have emailed her with no response.
now it's your turn.

I'm sure Melinda appreciates your efforts to get her a new email address. Cold post dude, lmao.

I for one welcome our new female overlord

I sent her an email this afternoon and she replied pretty quickly. She said that TWC signed a carriage agreement with Sinclair on 1/19 so folks that live in Sinclair areas with major network affiliates should be getting them in HD soon! She also said that negotiations to get ESPN2 HD on board were still underway...

^Im guessing by the phrase "major network affiliates" that CW affiliates arent included?

^Im guessing by the phrase "major network affiliates" that CW affiliates arent included?

No, I asked specifically about CW and she said that was included. It should cover all Sinclair owned stations in TWC franchise areas.

Uh-huh, TW has also had carriage agreements with Starz and Cinemax and to this day we (Columbus, Ohio) STILL do not have Starz HD or Cinemax HD. I've heard this rhetoric before so excuse me if I don't believe her.

Uh-huh, TW has also had carriage agreements with Starz and Cinemax and to this day we (Columbus, Ohio) STILL do not have Starz HD or Cinemax HD. I've heard this rhetoric before so excuse me if I don't believe her.

Don't get them in Raleigh/Durham either..

Sinclair is now letting TWC in Greensboro carry ABC in HD

Uh-huh, TW has also had carriage agreements with Starz and Cinemax and to this day we (Columbus, Ohio) STILL do not have Starz HD or Cinemax HD. I've heard this rhetoric before so excuse me if I don't believe her.

Uh, those are movie channels and I believe the local franchise determines which ones they want to carry on a capacity basis. Local OTA affiliates are no-brainers and the only reason they weren't already in your lineup is due to the lack of a digital arrangement between Sinclair & TWC.

Press release posted at Sinclair Broadcast Group (http://sbgi.net/press/release_2007122_201.shtml):

News Release

Contact: Barry Faber, VP & General Counsel
(410) 568-1500

Sinclair Announces Analog and Digital Carraige Agreement with Time Warner Cable

BALTIMORE (January 22, 2007) - Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:
SBGI) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a retransmission
consent agreement with Time Warner Cable, the largest cable system
servicing Sinclair's markets. The agreement, which expires December 31,
2009, allows Time Warner to carry the analog and digital signals of 35
television stations owned and/or operated by Sinclair in 22 markets to
approximately six million of Time Warner's subscribers, many of whom
receive two stations owned and/or operated by Sinclair.

"Sinclair is very pleased to have reached this agreement with Time
Warner, which carries our stations to more subscribers than any other cable
company," commented David Smith, CEO and President of Sinclair. "We are
excited that this agreement not only ensures retransmission of our signals
by Time Warner for the next three years, but also provides for the carriage
of our digital signals for the first time to most of Time Warner's
subscribers. This agreement, which represents a mutually acceptable
economic agreement between the parties, is further indication of the value
of our television stations to cable companies and provides a strong
illustration of the successful operation of the free market for negotiation
of retransmission consent agreements. "

Today's agreement includes the following stations and markets:

Birmingham, AL: WABM/WTTO
Buffalo, NY: WNYO/ WUTV
Cape Girardeau, MO/Paducah, KY: WDKA/KBSI
Charleston, SC: WMMP/WTAT
Charleston, WV: WCHS/WVAH
Cincinnati, OH: WSTR
Columbus, OH: WSYX/WTTE
Dayton, OH: WKEF/WRGT
Greensboro/High Point/Winston Salem, NC: WMYV/WXLV
Lexington, KY: WDKY
Norfolk, VA: WTVZ
Milwaukee, WI: WCGV/WVTV
Pensacola, FL/Mobile, AL: WEAR
Pittsburgh. PA: WPGH/WPMY
Portland, ME: WGME
Raleigh, NC: WLFL/WRDC
Rochester, NY: WUHF
San Antonio, TX: KABB/KMYS
Springfield. MA: WGGB
Syracuse, NY: WNYS/WSYT
Tallahassee, FL: WTWC
Tampa, FL: WTTA

The agreement also provides for the carriage of Sinclair's MyNetwork
TV affiliates in Columbus, Ohio and Dayton, Ohio, both of which are
transmitted as digital multicast stations.

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., one of the largest and most diversified
television broadcasting companies, currently owns and operates, programs or
provides sales services to 58 television stations in 36 markets.
Sinclair's television group reaches approximately 22% of the U.S.
television households and is affiliated with all the major networks.

Put Katie Couric over in the left hand side, and dedicate the whole right two thirds to video or graphics about the story.

Actually, the plan is for her to lay down sideways on top of that desk with her propping up her head on one end and her feet on the other. Calls have gone for new wardrobe with longer skirts so they don't hike up over her knees and incur possible FCC fines for indecency.

Or so the moles at Black Rock say.

Oh, and can I interest you in this classic iron bridge?

EXCELLENT! Finally, FOX in HD....woohoo....but I'll believe it when I see it

Press release posted at Sinclair Broadcast Group (http://sbgi.net/press/release_2007122_201.shtml):

News Release

Contact: Barry Faber, VP & General Counsel
(410) 568-1500

Sinclair Announces Analog and Digital Carraige Agreement with Time Warner Cable

BALTIMORE (January 22, 2007) - Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:
SBGI) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a retransmission
consent agreement with Time Warner Cable, the largest cable system
servicing Sinclair's markets. The agreement, which expires December 31,
2009, allows Time Warner to carry the analog and digital signals of 35
television stations owned and/or operated by Sinclair in 22 markets to
approximately six million of Time Warner's subscribers, many of whom
receive two stations owned and/or operated by Sinclair.

"Sinclair is very pleased to have reached this agreement with Time
Warner, which carries our stations to more subscribers than any other cable
company," commented David Smith, CEO and President of Sinclair. "We are
excited that this agreement not only ensures retransmission of our signals
by Time Warner for the next three years, but also provides for the carriage
of our digital signals for the first time to most of Time Warner's
subscribers. This agreement, which represents a mutually acceptable
economic agreement between the parties, is further indication of the value
of our television stations to cable companies and provides a strong
illustration of the successful operation of the free market for negotiation
of retransmission consent agreements. "

Today's agreement includes the following stations and markets:

Birmingham, AL: WABM/WTTO
Buffalo, NY: WNYO/ WUTV
Cape Girardeau, MO/Paducah, KY: WDKA/KBSI
Charleston, SC: WMMP/WTAT
Charleston, WV: WCHS/WVAH
Cincinnati, OH: WSTR
Columbus, OH: WSYX/WTTE
Dayton, OH: WKEF/WRGT
Greensboro/High Point/Winston Salem, NC: WMYV/WXLV
Lexington, KY: WDKY
Norfolk, VA: WTVZ
Milwaukee, WI: WCGV/WVTV
Pensacola, FL/Mobile, AL: WEAR
Pittsburgh. PA: WPGH/WPMY
Portland, ME: WGME
Raleigh, NC: WLFL/WRDC
Rochester, NY: WUHF
San Antonio, TX: KABB/KMYS
Springfield. MA: WGGB
Syracuse, NY: WNYS/WSYT
Tallahassee, FL: WTWC
Tampa, FL: WTTA

The agreement also provides for the carriage of Sinclair's MyNetwork
TV affiliates in Columbus, Ohio and Dayton, Ohio, both of which are
transmitted as digital multicast stations.

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., one of the largest and most diversified
television broadcasting companies, currently owns and operates, programs or
provides sales services to 58 television stations in 36 markets.
Sinclair's television group reaches approximately 22% of the U.S.
television households and is affiliated with all the major networks.


Might this deal include MyNetwork HD? I know there's no demand for it and rightfully so because it only has two hours of soap operas that it shows everynight in HD but its still one channel more that's out there that we don't have yet.

News Release

Contact: Barry Faber, VP & General Counsel
(410) 568-1500

Sinclair Announces Analog and Digital Carraige Agreement with Time Warner Cable
---

Now, if only a major broadcaster like Sinclair could spell "CARRIAGE" correctly in a press release that should have been proofread several times...

It's going to take a long time for the local TWC branches to implement this. I just got off the phone with TWC in Columbus, Ohio and they told me this agreement was for the old Adelphia customers. I told her, no, this is a new deal for regular Time Warner customers and even gave her the website. With a condescending attitude she told me it's a press release for the Adelphia deal. I told her I knew which deal she was talking about, that it happened on the 19th, THIS one is the one for the rest of us. She finally looked at the site I gave her and said that it only says analog and digital, not HD, so it's not for HD. MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! These people are the most clueless individuals I've ever met. This is the same company that swore up and down that INHD2 was going nowhere and were condescending to me about it just days before it happened. They were all shocked and awed and no idea what was going on when it did happen. Believe me, it's going to take a long time for these clueless fools to get this implemented.

It's going to take a long time for the local TWC branches to implement this. I just got off the phone with TWC in Columbus, Ohio and they told me this agreement was for the old Adelphia customers. I told her, no, this is a new deal for regular Time Warner customers and even gave her the website. With a condescending attitude she told me it's a press release for the Adelphia deal. I told her I knew which deal she was talking about, that it happened on the 19th, THIS one is the one for the rest of us. She finally looked at the site I gave her and said that it only says analog and digital, not HD, so it's not for HD. MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! These people are the most clueless individuals I've ever met. This is the same company that swore up and down that INHD2 was going nowhere and were condescending to me about it just days before it happened. They were all shocked and awed and no idea what was going on when it did happen. Believe me, it's going to take a long time for these clueless fools to get this implemented.

Call the Business Editor for your local newspaper and the Engineers at the Sinclair station and alert them to the agreement. If the newspaper starts making an inquiry, they will not be speaking to the clueless CSR on the phone. Also, you could start emailing the local executives at your TWC office. Check their website and send the emails to firstname.lastname@twcable.com.

Chances are that the executives in your TWC office do indeed know about this arrangement and that it hasn't filtered down.

I call TW Cols as well and the guy I spoke to didn't know either. He thought I was talking about the Adelphia deal too. But I read a little of the announcement to him and he said he was gonna find out what was going on and give everyone else there a heads up too. One thing, though, is that sales doesn't necessarily need to know about it for it to be implemented. Only engineering needs to know. Hopefully they've been ready to pull the trigger on this for a while pending a deal. Guess time will tell. At least the hard part is over.

I call TW Cols as well and the guy I spoke to didn't know either. He thought I was talking about the Adelphia deal too. But I read a little of the announcement to him and he said he was gonna find out what was going on and give everyone else there a heads up too. One thing, though, is that sales doesn't necessarily need to know about it for it to be implemented. Only engineering needs to know. Hopefully they've been ready to pull the trigger on this for a while pending a deal. Guess time will tell. At least the hard part is over.

Yeah, I called back and asked to speak with a supervisor and I showed her the link. She was very nice and very happy that I showed it to her because she said she had no idea about it. She said she was going to pass it on to her boss and on to marketing. I asked her if I should tell engineering and she said that engineering does more in the way of wiring people up...I'm assuming she's a little misinformed here. Anyway, at the very least you and I should have gotten the ball rolling over there! :)

Believe me, it's going to take a long time for these clueless fools to get this implemented.
Like telemike said above, our local TWC in Greensboro, NC already switched on the HD from our Sinclair ABC affiliate.

"Sinclair is very pleased to have reached this agreement with Time
Warner, which carries our stations to more subscribers than any other cable
company," commented David Smith, CEO and President of Sinclair. "We are
excited that this agreement not only ensures retransmission of our signals
by Time Warner for the next three years, but also provides for the carriage
of our digital signals for the first time to most of Time Warner's
subscribers. This agreement, which represents a mutually acceptable
economic agreement between the parties, is further indication of the value
of our television stations to cable companies and provides a strong
illustration of the successful operation of the free market for negotiation
of retransmission consent agreements. "


so is this an improvement over the previous deal or just more of the same? Can we expect CWHD in Raleigh on TWC now or is it just going to be to continue showing the worst cable image quality on any tier.

If it's the latter I would have been happy if TWC had told Sinclair to screw it and good riddance to poor broadcasting. I can get my Supernatural and Gilmore Girls fix elsewhere.

Like telemike said above, our local TWC in Greensboro, NC already switched on the HD from our Sinclair ABC affiliate.

From a lot of past threads and posts I've read, TWC in NC and NY seem to be very good. Unfortunately that has never been the case with TWC Columbus, Ohio. That is who my comments were directed at.

What HD on Time Warner...I am in the OC and have been waiting for over a month with no HD....no HD boxes available and not sure when they will have any....this is very frustrating...

What HD on Time Warner...I am in the OC and have been waiting for over a month with no HD....no HD boxes available and not sure when they will have any....this is very frustrating...

You are not alone. This actually made the news in Raleigh. Apparently TWC-Raleigh were unprepared for the Christmas HD rush and ran out of boxes. Now they have a 2-3 week waiting list with 300 customers on it. All waiting to get HD service.

The updated press release on Multichannel News now incorporates TWC comments/statements:
Time Warner Cable’s new retransmission-consent deal with Sinclair Broadcast Group covers all of its subscribers in markets that carry Sinclair TV-station signals, not just those where Time Warner acquired systems from now-bankrupt Adelphia Communications.

Time Warner said Monday that it will carry the analog and digital signals of 35 TV stations owned or operated by the broadcaster in 22 markets for the next three years.

The cable operator and Sinclair finalized a new retransmission-consent pact Friday just hours before an extension of their old agreement was set to expire.

The new retransmission-consent deal expires Dec. 31, 2009, according to Sinclair and to Time Warner director of communications Maureen Huff.

The deal covers 6 million Time Warner subscribers in systems that carry local Sinclair-owned TV stations. Those systems will be able to carry not just existing Sinclair signals, but HD signals, as well, as they become available.

This means the agreement covers signals carried to almost 45% of Time Warner’s 13.5 million cable-television subscribers. Originally, Time Warner had said that it was negotiating with Sinclair regarding carriage of its signals to about 1 million former Adelphia customers it acquired last year.

The pact marks the first time that Time Warner agreed to carry Sinclair’s digital signals to most of its customers, according to the TV-station owner. The pact covers new HD signals as they become available, according to Huff.

Time Warner declined to comment on whether any cash payments would be made to Sinclair for carrying any of its TV stations’ signals. Huff said the company won’t comment on terms of the agreement.

---

It's clear it applies to all of us. Now the question is IF/WHEN we will these stations locally. My CSR and his supervisor still have no clue.

TW Columbus has turned on ABC/FOX HD channels already. WOO HOO!

From a lot of past threads and posts I've read, TWC in NC and NY seem to be very good. Unfortunately that has never been the case with TWC Columbus, Ohio. That is who my comments were directed at.

Sounds like they are not as bad as you think. They went from having CSR's not knowing about the deal this morning to in the guide by primetime. TWC San Antonio's VP of Operations said they were working on a plan to make it available. That could mean days, weeks or months.

What channel would it be on here in San Antonio?

What channel would it be on here in San Antonio?
From post #890 in this thread:
San Antonio, TX: KABB/KMYS

The Sinclair station in Maine was on TWC Friday night within an hour or two of the signing. No reason to wait.

A few years ago, we here in Albany had a similar situation with the local CBS affiliate (owned by Freedom Communications). They did not have an agreement in place to provide their digital signal to TWC.

I was in the CBS affiliate's studio to tape a segment on HDTV in the midst of the "standoff" with TWC and received a tour of the master control facility. I was shown a piece of equipment that had a red patch cable plugged into it. The person giving me the tour told me that if the red patch cable was removed, the station's digital signal would be sent to TWC.

My point in telling you this story is that the engineers at the Sinclair stations have probably been prepared to send their digital signals to TWC for a while and were just waiting for the "OK" from the Sinclair execs to "pull the cord". This may be why some of the Sinclair stations were able to send their signals almost immediately after the agreement was in place.

TW Columbus has turned on ABC/FOX HD channels already. WOO HOO!

Christ! So that means that my feed doesn't come from Cleveland or Columbus. Where in the hell does it come from? I'm in Minerva, anyone know where our feed comes from? The thing is my area is a former Adelphia area that was taken over by TWC so I don't know what applies to me.

Anyone know if the NHL skills competition is going to be shown on inhd tonight in nyc?

The listing I saw states that it will be a basketball game, Phoenix Suns at Washington Wizards

but I also found from Versus network homepage that they are providing an hd signal

Any thoughts?

Anyone know if the NHL skills competition is going to be shown on inhd tonight in nyc?

The listing I saw states that it will be a basketball game, Phoenix Suns at Washington Wizards

but I also found from Versus network homepage that they are providing an hd signal

Any thoughts?

Im pretty sure the basketball game will be aired tonight. will the nhl all star game(tomorrow) be seen in hd?

Anyone know if the NHL skills competition is going to be shown on inhd tonight in nyc?

The listing I saw states that it will be a basketball game, Phoenix Suns at Washington Wizards

but I also found from Versus network homepage that they are providing an hd signal

Any thoughts?

I saw a listing in the program guide last night that the NHL skills competition will be tape delayed and shown tonight at 11:00 p.m. right after the basketball game.

I saw a listing in the program guide last night that the NHL skills competition will be tape delayed and shown tonight at 11:00 p.m. right after the basketball game.


ahh just checked, I see it now. Thanks for your help.

Time Warner, in Richardson/Plano, Texas published a new channel line-up on January 3, 2007 which added all of the local HD stations clustered together in the mid-800 range. Hurray! They also left them at their previous numbers.

About two weeks later the 800-range local HD channels disappeared, although they are still listed online. The local customer support number says they've changed the line-up again and that the online information is wrong. They directed complaints to Customer Service. Customer Service directed me to the call center. And around and around we go.

Does anyone know, or can tell me how I find out, if Time Warner in Northeast Ohio is going to ever start showing the CW in HD? I watch a couple shows on there and the quality is horrible.

This is Comcast in Detroit and the HD channels they offer -- why is TW so far behind? I know the answer but this is a G rated site.

199 National Geographic HD
200 A&E HD
201 Fox Sports Net HD Detroit
202 ESPN HD
203 ESPN2 HD
204 TNT HD
205 Discovery HD
206 INHD (MLB, NBA HD, NFL Network)
207 CSHD Golf Channel HD / Versus HD (NHL)
208 Universal HD
209 MHD
215 HBO HD
219 Cinemax HD
223 Showtime HD
227 Starz HD
231 ABC WXYZ-DT
232 NBC WDIV-DT
233 CBS WWJ-DT
234 FOX WJBK-DT
235 My Network TV WMYD-DT
236 The CW WKBD-DT
240 PBS WTVS-DT (HD PBS Digital)

I guess it depends on your definition of "so far behind". I'd like to see a few more stations myself, but I'm not terribly disappointed w/20 channels. If you want to get technical, I guess you could drop 2 for the "west feeds", and A&E for not actually having any HD :)

500 HBO East High Definition
501 HBO West High Definition
505 HD On Demand
506 WCSH 6 HDTV NBC
507 WPFO FOX HDTV
508 WMTW 8 HDTV ABC
510 MPBN
513 WGME 13 HDTV CBS
520 Showtime High Definition East
521 Showtime High Definition West
527 New England Sports Network
530 INHD
532 HD Net
533 HDNET Movies
534 ESPN-HD
535 Universal HD
550 Discovery HD Theater
551 TNT HD
552 MHD
553 A & E HD

This is Comcast in Detroit and the HD channels they offer -- why is TW so far behind? I know the answer but this is a G rated site.

199 National Geographic HD
200 A&E HD
201 Fox Sports Net HD Detroit
202 ESPN HD
203 ESPN2 HD
204 TNT HD
205 Discovery HD
206 INHD (MLB, NBA HD, NFL Network)
207 CSHD Golf Channel HD / Versus HD (NHL)
208 Universal HD
209 MHD
215 HBO HD
219 Cinemax HD
223 Showtime HD
227 Starz HD
231 ABC WXYZ-DT
232 NBC WDIV-DT
233 CBS WWJ-DT
234 FOX WJBK-DT
235 My Network TV WMYD-DT
236 The CW WKBD-DT
240 PBS WTVS-DT (HD PBS Digital)


that's probably the most HD I've ever seen on cable.

I'm still looking forward to the day, I can turn on my 1000 inch holographic display and Starz and Cinemax HD will have been added to TWC Raleigh.

This is Comcast in Detroit and the HD channels they offer -- why is TW so far behind? I know the answer but this is a G rated site.

199 National Geographic HD
200 A&E HD
201 Fox Sports Net HD Detroit
202 ESPN HD
203 ESPN2 HD
204 TNT HD
205 Discovery HD
206 INHD (MLB, NBA HD, NFL Network)
207 CSHD Golf Channel HD / Versus HD (NHL)
208 Universal HD
209 MHD
215 HBO HD
219 Cinemax HD
223 Showtime HD
227 Starz HD
231 ABC WXYZ-DT
232 NBC WDIV-DT
233 CBS WWJ-DT
234 FOX WJBK-DT
235 My Network TV WMYD-DT
236 The CW WKBD-DT
240 PBS WTVS-DT (HD PBS Digital)

I have all of them except CW, my Network, MHD, Universal, Golf, Fox sports, A&E, and National Geographic. My Time Warner is WAY behind the times. I would get rid of them but I hate satellite and all the problems with it.

This is Comcast in Detroit and the HD channels they offer -- why is TW so far behind? I know the answer but this is a G rated site.

Good list, that seems to cover almost all HD channels I've ever heard of... but there seems to be one major missing one (of 2 channels), HDNet & HDNet-M.

Does anyone know, or can tell me how I find out, if Time Warner in Northeast Ohio is going to ever start showing the CW in HD? I watch a couple shows on there and the quality is horrible.

The CW affiliate in Cleveland (WBNX) finally got it's construction permit approved late last year. They are supposed to begin broadcasting OTA this spring. There was talk of them providing a ground based feed to the cable companies as early as November but I have not seen anything yet. If you have OTA capability, the CW is broadcast on a digital sub-channel on WFMJ(digital channel 20.2) in Youngstown. It is only 480i but it looks way better than the SD cable channel carried on TWC.

The CW affiliate in Cleveland (WBNX) finally got it's construction permit approved late last year. They are supposed to begin broadcasting OTA this spring. There was talk of them providing a ground based feed to the cable companies as early as November but I have not seen anything yet. If you have OTA capability, the CW is broadcast on a digital sub-channel on WFMJ(digital channel 20.2) in Youngstown. It is only 480i but it looks way better than the SD cable channel carried on TWC.

Awesome, thanks, I'll check it out.

Mine still doesn't work though. (I am in Columbus)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Time Warner Cable customers in Ohio and other states can now watch more sporting events and more of their favorite programs in HD.

The cable company has reached a deal settling a long-running dispute with Sinclair Broadcast Group, a major owner of television stations.

The three-year agreement allows Time Warner systems to carry the sharper high-definition signals of 35 Sinclair television stations in 22 markets, including the ABC and Fox stations in Columbus and Dayton.

Financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.

Mine still doesn't work though. (I am in Columbus)
If you really don't have them, then you need to give TW a call. Everybody should have them now. They turned on 706 (ABC) and 728 (FOX) the same evening as the initial agreement announcement came out. Everyone that I know had them that night.

TW Central NY sent me a letter over the weekend announcing the new HD channel lineup...and that they're moving ESPN-HD and ESPN2-HD off the special "HD tier" group onto the regular HD group...and since I'm a subscriber to the HD tier they're giving me Showtime HD (and all the other Showtime channels) free for a year to make up for the loss on the HD tier. Not too shabby since I signed up for the HD tier during a special promo and get it for $2.95 a month

Fhall1:
Can you post the letter? Or send it to me? Thanks.

TW Central NY sent me a letter over the weekend announcing the new HD channel lineup...and that they're moving ESPN-HD and ESPN2-HD off the special "HD tier" group onto the regular HD group...and since I'm a subscriber to the HD tier they're giving me Showtime HD (and all the other Showtime channels) free for a year to make up for the loss on the HD tier. Not too shabby since I signed up for the HD tier during a special promo and get it for $2.95 a month

That's a pretty nice gesture for a cable company, but I'm a Showtime subscriber (for the moment) and based on what they currently show that package should be free anyway. Unless you like boxing there's very little HD content of note.

That's a pretty nice gesture for a cable company, but I'm a Showtime subscriber (for the moment) and based on what they currently show that package should be free anyway. Unless you like boxing there's very little HD content of note.

Huh? Their original series like 'Dexter', 'Weeds', 'Brotherhood' and 'The L Word' are getting more love than comparable originals on HBO and are well worth the viewing. In addition, their true-HD movies are always presented in OAR, which means something to true movie buffs, and stands in stark contrast to the crop & zoom policies of HBO, Cinemax, and all the other premium movie channels (with the exception of HDNet Movies which also respects the work). Showtime is well worth the subscription.

Huh? Their original series like 'Dexter', 'Weeds', 'Brotherhood' and 'The L Word' are getting more love than comparable originals on HBO and are well worth the viewing. In addition, their true-HD movies are always presented in OAR, which means something to true movie buffs, and stands in stark contrast to the crop & zoom policies of HBO, Cinemax, and all the other premium movie channels (with the exception of HDNet Movies which also respects the work). Showtime is well worth the subscription.

And most of those series are off air and the movies they do present in HD are not worth the screen time even if the are OAR. The Longest Yard seems to be the only movie they could afford last year based on it's daily rotation. If I wanted to see 10 year old movies and b-movies I could just buy the DVD for $5. You wouldn't get ads during them either.

If I wanted to see 10 year old movies and b-movies I could just buy the DVD for $5. You wouldn't get ads during them either.

Nor would you see them in OAR HD. Even if I only watch a couple of HD movies a month on Showtime (and that's probably a pretty good average for me), those flicks plus the originals make it worth the paltry $10/month it costs. IMO, if you love HDTV, then Showtime is an essential part of your lineup.

Fhall1:
Can you post the letter? Or send it to me? Thanks.

PM me your email address...I'll scan it and send you a copy

TW Central NY sent me a letter over the weekend announcing the new HD channel lineup...and that they're moving ESPN-HD and ESPN2-HD off the special "HD tier" group onto the regular HD group...and since I'm a subscriber to the HD tier they're giving me Showtime HD (and all the other Showtime channels) free for a year to make up for the loss on the HD tier. Not too shabby since I signed up for the HD tier during a special promo and get it for $2.95 a month
Does that mean they are moving ESPN off the HD tier in all markets or is this just a NY thing? I'd love to ditch the $7.99 a month charge as ESPN HD is the only thing I regularly watch on it and the only reason I am paying for it. We don't even get ESPN2 HD here!

TW Central NY sent me a letter over the weekend announcing the new HD channel lineup...and that they're moving ESPN-HD and ESPN2-HD off the special "HD tier" group onto the regular HD group...and since I'm a subscriber to the HD tier they're giving me Showtime HD (and all the other Showtime channels) free for a year to make up for the loss on the HD tier. Not too shabby since I signed up for the HD tier during a special promo and get it for $2.95 a month

Wow! Downstate we have a "pay extra" HD tier and it's 5 channels became 4 1/1/07, they said they intended to replace the lost channel (to be fair, it was lost not by TWC but by the source consolidated 2 into one), but we still have zip. Although I would NOT like it, I thought they'd add ESPN2 HD to that tier as that tier carried ESPN HD. Given that, you really made out!

Huh? Their original series like 'Dexter', 'Weeds', 'Brotherhood' and 'The L Word' are getting more love than comparable originals on HBO and are well worth the viewing. In addition, their true-HD movies are always presented in OAR, which means something to true movie buffs, and stands in stark contrast to the crop & zoom policies of HBO, Cinemax, and all the other premium movie channels (with the exception of HDNet Movies which also respects the work). Showtime is well worth the subscription.

Ah, the OAR issue. Honestly, I'm, not so sure castigating HBO is actually warranted. I recall Stanley Kubrick fans freaking out when most of his work made it to DVD as 4:3; then we found out that this is exactly the way he wanted it to happen, not some evil plot by the studio that released them that way.

I can think of one movie, War of the Worlds. It was shown 16:9. Not OAR. But the DVD also was 16:9. So it sure seems someone other than HBO decided it was to be shown that way. No matter what a purist thinks, there's an actual possible reason (look how many freak when they see black bars, look at how many will distort an image to "fill the screen," look at TNT who decided to stretch/distort everything, I'm pretty sure they did that to avoid the "but I bought HD and you aren't filling the screen").

Don't get me wrong, I have a HUGE pissed off issue with HBO as to how they are showing the Star Wars movies, they are showing them off totally out of order and the ONLY reason is to try and squeeze us to subscribe to Cinemax where they were presented by and large in order.

TWC Los Angeles here. The big company just re-arranged my channels yesterday... now I have this thing called MHD, which is supposed to be a music video channel, right? I'm only getting movies, though the lower-third bug indicates the correct channel. What currently is playing on your MHD?

And I'm getting the wrong guide information for StarzHD. Wrong info, etc., but correct channel. Any thoughts? Thanks.

TW Central NY sent me a letter over the weekend announcing the new HD channel lineup...and that they're moving ESPN-HD and ESPN2-HD off the special "HD tier" group onto the regular HD group...
Here's the letter sent to TWC Central NY HD Tier subscribers:
http://home.nycap.rr.com/pyskadlo/TWC Letter3.jpg

Here's the letter sent to TWC Central NY HD Tier subscribers:
http://home.nycap.rr.com/pyskadlo/TWC Letter3.jpg


must be nice... ;) feel lucky

TWC Los Angeles here. The big company just re-arranged my channels yesterday... now I have this thing called MHD, which is supposed to be a music video channel, right? I'm only getting movies, though the lower-third bug indicates the correct channel. What currently is playing on your MHD?

And I'm getting the wrong guide information for StarzHD. Wrong info, etc., but correct channel. Any thoughts? Thanks.


TWC announced today it is starting, inconjuunction with KCAL, an HD channel. All 18 remaining Lakers game on KCAlL(starting Friday) will be in HD, as will all of this year's KCAL Dodgers games.

The channel will be available to OTA and TWC subscribers. No word yet on DBS availability.

In Dayton OH (never an adelphia system) TWC is currently testing A&E HD and Starz HD on QAM. No sign yet when or if they'll be permanent.

TWC announced today it is starting, inconjuunction with KCAL, an HD channel. All 18 remaining Lakers game on KCAlL(starting Friday) will be in HD, as will all of this year's KCAL Dodgers games.

The channel will be available to OTA and TWC subscribers. No word yet on DBS availability.


http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_031140025.html

Funny how that TWC press release (which takes pains to say the station is available to all TWC customers with an HD receiver) doesn't mention that it will also be available to all people with an antenna.

That information IS available at the KCBS/KCAL website, however:

"Beginning Friday, February 2, you can watch the Los Angeles Lakers in HD on KCAL 9 through Time Warner Cable or by tuning into the off air signal...."

http://cbs2.com/local/local_story_030173648.html

All customers are people but are all people customers?

Here's the letter sent to TWC Central NY HD Tier subscribers:



that's nice, hope that spreads to other systems and bhn soon

Showtime is starting the SMITHSONIAN HD channel, coupled with yet another VOD service...so cable/uverse/fios are the target buyers:
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6410617.html?display=Breaking+News

Cool, yet another HD channel we can gripe about not getting....

Thanks for the scan of the letter. Boy does it make me see red, we get out HD pay extra tier reduced from 5 to 4 and still no word on what, if anything they will do. YOU guys get a free year of SHO HD for them moving a channel from the pay extra to "free."

Still, what about folks who already pay for SHO and get their HD channel? Do they get one of the other premiums HD channels? And what about those to who get all the premiums and their HD channels as well?

my email:
Mr. Pyne, why is it taking so long for ESPN2-HD to make it to Time Warner Cable divisions?

thank you, Andy

response:
"Andy, thank you for your note and your continued interest in ESPN2-HD. We continue to work and negotiate with Time Warner Cable so that we can add ESPN2-HD to their line-up as we have with some many of our other distribution partners such as DirecTV, EchoStar, Comcast, Verizon and many more. We hope that we will be successful in the very near future. Thanks again for your interest and support, Ben"

not much here, sorry.

my email:
Mr. Pyne, why is it taking so long for ESPN2-HD to make it to Time Warner Cable divisions?

thank you, Andy

response:
"Andy, thank you for your note and your continued interest in ESPN2-HD. We continue to work and negotiate with Time Warner Cable so that we can add ESPN2-HD to their line-up as we have with some many of our other distribution partners such as DirecTV, EchoStar, Comcast, Verizon and many more. We hope that we will be successful in the very near future. Thanks again for your interest and support, Ben"

not much here, sorry.

How about asking him (or Melinda Witmer of TWC) WHY-- in the absence of a national distribution agreement-- some divisions (even ones that were not former Adelphia territories) have ESPN2HD while most do not?

I found a previously unannounced HDTV website from Albany TWC:
http://www.twchdtv.com/albany/

When you go to the same address without the albany/, the following message displays:
FORBIDDEN
The website declined to show this webpage
HTTP 403
Most likely causes:
This website requires you to log in

Works w/New England too. Not much there though. Based on the source, looks like they just duplicated something created for the Rochester (NY?) system

http://www.twchdtv.com/newengland/

In Dayton OH (never an adelphia system) TWC is currently testing A&E HD and Starz HD on QAM. No sign yet when or if they'll be permanent.


Great news. Hopefully they will finally add them too the lineup. If I could get Local HD on satelite and a different broadband provider I'd drop TWC and never look back. ****** company.

What happened to my MHD? I'm in L.A. Yesterday here, today gone...

What happened to my MHD? I'm in L.A. Yesterday here, today gone...

And this is a bad thing how?

Well, I was getting into it... but more importantly, I want to know why I have a channel one day and don't the next day, with no explanation from the cable company.

I guess it depends on your definition of "so far behind". I'd like to see a few more stations myself, but I'm not terribly disappointed w/20 channels. If you want to get technical, I guess you could drop 2 for the "west feeds", and A&E for not actually having any HD :)

500 HBO East High Definition
501 HBO West High Definition
505 HD On Demand
506 WCSH 6 HDTV NBC
507 WPFO FOX HDTV
508 WMTW 8 HDTV ABC
510 MPBN
513 WGME 13 HDTV CBS
520 Showtime High Definition East
521 Showtime High Definition West
527 New England Sports Network
530 INHD
532 HD Net
533 HDNET Movies
534 ESPN-HD
535 Universal HD
550 Discovery HD Theater
551 TNT HD
552 MHD
553 A & E HD
Just added Today:
502 Cinemax-HD
525 Startz-HD
They put ESPN2-HD up and I'll...I'll...I don't know! Be happy? Nah.... :)

^ We have ESPN2 in HD down here CA. Also, I noticed another addition to our lineup- KCAL 9 in HD and 431 HDPPV-- I have the DVR to record the UFC fight this Saturday in HD !!

I found a previously unannounced HDTV website from Albany TWC:
http://www.twchdtv.com/albany/

When you go to the same address without the albany/, the following message displays:
FORBIDDEN
The website declined to show this webpage
HTTP 403
Most likely causes:
This website requires you to log in
Quite a coincidence!
Just got an email from Albany TWC "announcing" their new HDTV website.Watch the big game on a big TV

Sunday's big game is almost here. If you have an HDTV already, make sure you have a Time Warner Cable HD set-top box to watch all the action in its high-definition glory. The game is on channel 1806, which is the HD version of WRGB's CBS6.

If you don't have an HDTV, check out our educational HDTV website (http://www.twchdtv.com/albany/), which includes a mini-video tutorial that will help you figure out which set is best for you to buy.

Update...not...on Sinclair HD stations in Raleigh

My e-mail to Time Warner:

Will TWC Raleigh carry WLFL in HD (the CW) now that the agreement with Sinclair has been signed? If so, WHEN? Many other TWC systems had it on within a day or two of the Sinclair agreement. Most systems at least posted an announcement on their web site to avoid thousands of e-mails to CSRs. TWC Raleigh's signal announcements (all zero of them) on the home page leave much to be desired. Even bad news is better than no news.

Please do not send me a stock/canned response about "thank you for your channel request yada yada yada..."
____________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________
Response from Time Warner:

Thank you for taking the time to contact us to request WLFL HD. We are reviewing your request in hopes that we will be able to add the channel to our lineup at some point in the future.

Your opinion is important to us. We are pleased to provide our customers with access to more than 280 channels of entertainment, information, sports, movies, music, community programming and special pay per view events. Customer feedback has helped us program the channel lineup we have today, and we will continue to rely on your input in the future.

Again, thank you for taking the time to email us.

Please let us know if we can be of any additional assistance.

Thank you for using Time Warner Cable.

I don't even read replies from TWC Raleigh any more. I just vent at them over service and then leave it.

Update...not...on Sinclair HD stations in Raleigh

My e-mail to Time Warner:

Will TWC Raleigh carry WLFL in HD (the CW) now that the agreement with Sinclair has been signed? If so, WHEN? Many other TWC systems had it on within a day or two of the Sinclair agreement. Most systems at least posted an announcement on their web site to avoid thousands of e-mails to CSRs. TWC Raleigh's signal announcements (all zero of them) on the home page leave much to be desired. Even bad news is better than no news.

Please do not send me a stock/canned response about "thank you for your channel request yada yada yada..."
____________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________
Response from Time Warner:

Thank you for taking the time to contact us to request WLFL HD. We are reviewing your request in hopes that we will be able to add the channel to our lineup at some point in the future.

Your opinion is important to us. We are pleased to provide our customers with access to more than 280 channels of entertainment, information, sports, movies, music, community programming and special pay per view events. Customer feedback has helped us program the channel lineup we have today, and we will continue to rely on your input in the future.

Again, thank you for taking the time to email us.

Please let us know if we can be of any additional assistance.

Thank you for using Time Warner Cable.

You specifically asked them not to send the form letter response, and what do they do? Send you a form letter response. Now that's customer service, eh?

I don't even read replies from TWC Raleigh any more. I just vent at them over service and then leave it.
You're right, VisionOn. How about this:

Dear Time Warner,

Thank you for taking the time to fail to respond to my simple request for what must be a readily available piece of information to everyone but your customers. I have reviewed your response in hopes that I misread it.

Your response is important to me. I am pleased that I have access to two competing providers with similar entertainment, information, sports, movies, music, etc. Your feedback has helped me locate programming that is superior to yours today, and I will continue to rely on your lack of input to plan for the future additional HD channels that you have failed to provide and seemingly have no intention of providing.

Again, thank you for taking time to evade my question.

Please let me know if I can be of any additional resistance to your slipshod operation.

You're right, VisionOn. How about this:

Dear Time Warner,

Thank you for taking the time to fail to respond to my simple request for what must be a readily available piece of information to everyone but your customers. I have reviewed your response in hopes that I misread it.

Your response is important to me. I am pleased that I have access to two competing providers with similar entertainment, information, sports, movies, music, etc. Your feedback has helped me locate programming that is superior to yours today, and I will continue to rely on your lack of input to plan for the future additional HD channels that you have failed to provide and seemingly have no intention of providing.

Again, thank you for taking time to evade my question.

Please let me know if I can be of any additional resistance to your slipshod operation.


sad... but very nice none the less ;)

You're right, VisionOn. How about this:

Dear Time Warner,

Thank you for taking the time to fail to respond to my simple request for what must be a readily available piece of information to everyone but your customers. I have reviewed your response in hopes that I misread it.

Your response is important to me. I am pleased that I have access to two competing providers with similar entertainment, information, sports, movies, music, etc. Your feedback has helped me locate programming that is superior to yours today, and I will continue to rely on your lack of input to plan for the future additional HD channels that you have failed to provide and seemingly have no intention of providing.

Again, thank you for taking time to evade my question.

Please let me know if I can be of any additional resistance to your slipshod operation.Awesome!

You're right, VisionOn. How about this:

Dear Time Warner,

Thank you for taking the time to fail to respond to my simple request for what must be a readily available piece of information to everyone but your customers. I have reviewed your response in hopes that I misread it.

Your response is important to me. I am pleased that I have access to two competing providers with similar entertainment, information, sports, movies, music, etc. Your feedback has helped me locate programming that is superior to yours today, and I will continue to rely on your lack of input to plan for the future additional HD channels that you have failed to provide and seemingly have no intention of providing.

Again, thank you for taking time to evade my question.

Please let me know if I can be of any additional resistance to your slipshod operation.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

You're right, VisionOn. How about this:

Dear Time Warner,

Thank you for taking the time to fail to respond to my simple request for what must be a readily available piece of information to everyone but your customers. I have reviewed your response in hopes that I misread it.

Your response is important to me. I am pleased that I have access to two competing providers with similar entertainment, information, sports, movies, music, etc. Your feedback has helped me locate programming that is superior to yours today, and I will continue to rely on your lack of input to plan for the future additional HD channels that you have failed to provide and seemingly have no intention of providing.

Again, thank you for taking time to evade my question.

Please let me know if I can be of any additional resistance to your slipshod operation.

You should send this to:

george.douglas@twcable.com

He's the VP of Mktg for TWC Raleigh. If he gets enough of these, maybe they will get off of their ass.

http://www.tvpredictions.com/twdtv020807.htm

News
Time Warner Targets More DIRECTV HD Ads
The cable op files for a preliminary injunction to block new high-def spots.
By Phillip Swann

Washington, D.C. (February 8, 2007) -- Time Warner Cable is seeking a preliminary injunction to stop DIRECTV from airing TV spots that claim it can offer more HD capacity than cable.

That's according to an article published by Multichannel News.

The publication reports that Time Warner Cable filed for the injunction Wednesday in a Manhattan federal court. The commercials, which star Back to the Future's Christopher Lloyd, promote DIRECTV's plans to offer 100 national HDTV channels by year's end and up to 150 channels after that.
___________________________________________

____________________________________________

But Time Warner says DIRECTV's is falsely claiming that it will have three times the number of HD capacity than cable. TW says it could increase its capacity to offer more than 200 high-def channels in the future.

According to Multichannel News, the Time Warner court filing said the cable operator could expand its capacity by improving signal compression, broadcasting MPEG4 video streams and using a new technology called "switched digital video."

Time Warner also challenged whether DIRECTV will be able to carry 150 national HD channels, noting that Sea Launch, scheduled to launch one of DIRECTV's new satellites this year, suffered a rocket explosion this month that could delay the satcaster's launch.

A DIRECTV spokesman said today that "this is just another example of Time Warner's frustration that they cannot compete in the marketplace with DIRECTV so they have resorted to the courts.”
Time Warner has previously sued DIRECTV over its spots saying its HD picture is better than cable. And a federal judge ruled earlier this month that DIRECTV must stop airing the commercials in Time Warner markets until the lawsuit is resolved. The commercials star Jessica Simpson and William Shatner.

DIRECTV said this week in an investors conference call that it's still on target for delivering 100 national HDTV channels by year's end -- and that it's unclear whether Sea Launch's launch of its second satellite will be delayed.


ha ha ha TWC is such a joke.
their to busy hating on other providers to take care of thier own bizness.

"the cable operator could expand its capacity by improving signal compression"
no, signal already looks bad with current compression.

"broadcasting MPEG4 video streams"
no won't happen until they change every hd subscribers STB.

"using a new technology called "switched digital video.""
no list of cities that are getting it.

"the cable operator could expand its capacity by improving signal compression"
no, signal already looks bad with current compression.
Marketers long ago figured out that most Americans prefer quantity to quality. VHS beat Betamax because it had tapes that could record more hours. Today, megapixels rule the sales of digital cameras--few care about the quality of the lens. And with TV providers, more channels will easily outsell better pictures.

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6414919.html?display=Breaking+News

Time Warner: DirecTV’s ‘More HD’ Ads False

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By Todd Spangler 2/8/2007 11:30:00 PMDigg This | add to Del.icio.us |

Time Warner Cable filed a request in a Manhattan federal court Wednesday for a preliminary injunction to block DirecTV’s ads claiming that the direct-broadcast satellite operator can offer “more HD capacity than cable.”

The TV spots, which feature Back to the Future actor Christopher Lloyd, tout DirecTV’s plans to roll out 100 new HD channels “soon” and include the tag line, “For a future of 150 HD channels, get DirecTV.”

Time Warner, in filings with U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, challenged DirecTV’s claim that it will have three times more HD capacity than cable and the cable operator said it could increase its bandwidth capacity “in the near future” to provide more than 200 HD channels.

In an affidavit, Time Warner senior network engineer Ronald E. Boyer said the operator could offer more than 200 HD networks using a combination of technologies, including reclaiming analog bandwidth, improving signal compression, broadcasting MPEG-4 video streams and implementing node-splitting and switched digital video.

“Accordingly, DirecTV’s claims that it will have ‘three times more HD capacity than cable’ by carrying ‘150 HD channels’ in the future is false and misleading,” Boyer’s statement said.

The cabler also cast doubt on DirecTV’s own ability to carry 150 HD channels. Boyer pointed to last month’s explosion of a rocket carrying a Dutch satellite on Boeing’s Sea Launch floating platform in the Pacific Ocean. DirecTV had planned to use the same platform to launch the second of two satellites this year to provide additional HD carrying capacity.

Finally, Time Warner pointed out that there are currently “far fewer than 150 networks with HD programming available.”

In a statement, DirecTV senior vice president of advertising and public relations Jon Gieselman said: "We believe this is just another example of Time Warner's frustration that they cannot compete in the marketplace with DirecTV so they have resorted to the courts.”

He added that the DBS operator is “moving full-steam ahead” with the launch of its additional satellites to increase its HD capacity, as the Lloyd commercial “accurately represents.”

The Time Warner action is the latest development in its false-advertising suit against DirecTV. In December, the MSO sued DirecTV after the DBS operator ran the HD spots, as well as newspaper ads, claiming that cable subscribers wouldn’t be able to watch games carried by NFL Network -- available on DirecTV, but not Time Warner Cable -- that would have been available via local broadcast stations.

On Feb. 5, Judge Laura Taylor Swain granted Time Warner Cable’s request for a preliminary injunction preventing DirecTV from running ads in Time Warner markets claiming to provide superior HD quality. DirecTV said it plans to appeal the decision.

Those two TV spots -- one featuring actress/singer/reality TV star Jessica Simpson and another with ex-Star Trek front man William Shatner -- carried the tag line: “For an HD picture that can’t be beat, get DirecTV.”

In her ruling, Swain said both DirecTV and Time Warner Cable broadcast HD channels at 1080i, a specification defined by the Advanced Television Systems Committee.

“Providers such as TWC and DirecTV do not set the screen resolution for HDTV programming, but instead make available sufficient bandwidth to permit the relevant level of resolution to pass to customers,” she wrote. The DirecTV commercials’ assertion that “a viewer cannot ‘get the best picture’ without DirecTV is therefore likely to be proven literally false in that the undisputed factual record here establishes that DirecTV and TWC provide HD pictures of equal quality.”

Swain also ordered DirecTV to pull from its Web site a purported side-by-side comparison of its HD picture quality versus “basic cable,” in which the cable picture is depicted as highly pixelated, along with Web banner ads with the same claims.

However, the judge said DirecTV may still run comparative ads stating that its overall picture quality is better than Time Warner Cable’s because there wasn’t enough evidence to establish the falsity of DirecTV’s claim that its all-digital lineup is superior to “cable’s mix of digital and analog.”

In addition, she denied the cabler’s request that the DBS operator be required to run corrective ads. “The court does not believe that the extraordinary relief of corrective advertising is warranted in this case,” she wrote.

Gieselman said the Simpson and Shatner ads cycled out of rotation almost two months ago, anyway. “We will continue to aggressively market our better overall picture quality, which is permitted by the court’s opinion,” he said in a statement.

Time Warner, in filings with U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, challenged DirecTV’s claim that it will have three times more HD capacity than cable and the cable operator said it could increase its bandwidth capacity “in the near future” to provide more than 200 HD channels.What's with this "could" crap. Either they're going to do it (and soon, say, this year), or this assertion is nonsense.

And we all know that they're not going to do it.

Does anyone know where I can go to find out if Time Warner in my area is going to be releasing any new HD channels and their time frame? With my high speed cable modem, I am paying over $170 a month for my cable and broadband. I have like hardly no HD channels (just the main channels, Discovery, etc.) I'm tired of this and I see all the commercials about satellite about to offer hundreds of HD channels and I am thinking about switching if Time Warner does not step up.

Marketers long ago figured out that most Americans prefer quantity to quality. VHS beat Betamax because it had tapes that could record more hours. Today, megapixels rule the sales of digital cameras--few care about the quality of the lens. And with TV providers, more channels will easily outsell better pictures.

Boy is that ever true!

What's with this "could" crap. Either they're going to do it (and soon, say, this year), or this assertion is nonsense.

And we all know that they're not going to do it.

And you KNOW this how?

This is business 101. Put aside for a moment the outrageous claims D* is making... of course an issue is the ability to deliver "more." Delivering "more" means the potential to generate "more" revenue. Which is a fairly basic business goal.

So if cable is NOT going to do what it needs to do to deliver that "more" then it a good assumption they are giving up. I dunno, it's still a hugely profitable business, so it makes no sense they'd just give up.

And exactly how unfamiliar are we all to totally ******** marketing claims?

In point of fact, the comment about the current number of HD channels is very much evident. Even by the end of 07, I seriously doubt there are gong to be even 50 of them. STILL, I actually think D* ******** claims ARE actually good for us poor consumer slobs. Good in that it all part of that old American thing... competition! I could 100% guarantee you that at some level of the cable guys, someone is saying "hey, we better keep our eyes on the prize of getting out infrastructure into the SDV camp so at least we can deliver more than what we do now."

Like Maria Bartiromo says, "It's all about business."

And you KNOW this how?

This is business 101. Put aside for a moment the outrageous claims D* is making... of course an issue is the ability to deliver "more." Delivering "more" means the potential to generate "more" revenue. Which is a fairly basic business goal.

So if cable is NOT going to do what it needs to do to deliver that "more" then it a good assumption they are giving up. I dunno, it's still a hugely profitable business, so it makes no sense they'd just give up.

And exactly how unfamiliar are we all to totally ******** marketing claims?

In point of fact, the comment about the current number of HD channels is very much evident. Even by the end of 07, I seriously doubt there are gong to be even 50 of them. STILL, I actually think D* ******** claims ARE actually good for us poor consumer slobs. Good in that it all part of that old American thing... competition! I could 100% guarantee you that at some level of the cable guys, someone is saying "hey, we better keep our eyes on the prize of getting out infrastructure into the SDV camp so at least we can deliver more than what we do now."

Like Maria Bartiromo says, "It's all about business."And you really think that the cable guys "could" have, say, 150 HD channels by the end of the year?

If you do, you're dreaming.

"Doc" Lloyd sez "Get DirecTV HD, soon they'll have THREE times more HD capacity than cable".
Voiceover then sez "....for a future of 150 HD channels".

D* website also sez THREE times cable HD capacity and 150 HD channels in the future:
http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPage.jsp?assetId=900034
http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPage.jsp?assetId=3010009
Single star footnote: "Number of channels subject to available HD programming"....
So maybe they're only partially occupied.....
Double star footnote: "Based on Bank of America Equity Research report May 2006"....
Which I couldn't find....

Latest (7Feb2007) DirecTV Press Release sez:
"But perhaps the most important initiative will be the launch of up to 100 national HD channels
in the second half of this year following the successful launch of a new satellite."
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=127160&p=irol-news&nyo=0

So near term is presumably 100 channels (depending on upcoming SAT launch)
and 150 channels presumably when they launch SAT next year.

=======================================
So let's do the math....
In addition to local HD (incl Padres-HD), my "typical" TWC-San Diego system has 11 National HD,
one HD-OnDemand (14 HD pgms), one HD-PPV (occasional pgms), plus two National HD channels
that very rarely carry sports programs (NBA-HD FOXSP-HD).....
and we're still waiting for promised ESPN2-HD, A&E-HD, MHD....
Let's call it 15 (maybe 16)....
THREE TIMES that would be 45 National HD....plus our own "Regional Sports Network" HD channel.

Some TWC and COMCAST systems have several more National and RSN HD channels than we do:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=419472&page=1
THREE TIMES that would be 54 National HD....

Which pretty much confirms what I've been saying----
DirecTV's numbers are across all THREE Timezones----East, West & Hawaii/Alaska
or about 50 National HD channels per Timezone.

Maybe TWC can counter by claiming the total HD capacity across ALL of their regions....

========================================
So is this misleading advertising????
TWC thinks so and just recently filed a law suit:
http://multichannel.com/index.asp?layout=articlePrint&articleid=CA6414919
And submitted an affidavit claiming a future HD capacity of over 200 HD channels....
[Why stop there, with SDV, could be thousands.....]
Although they reportedly state that they don't expect anywhere near that many HD networks to become available....
[Better pay very close attention to D*'s first footnote....]

TWC's latest suit follows Dec2006 injunction for D* to stop claiming that they have better HD PQ than cable:
http://www.ibcnews.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=103122-0
Well actually, they leave unresolved whether SD is better on D* than cable.

And there was yet another suit re D* falsely claiming that cable customers couldn't get certain sporting events:
http://www.adweek.com/aw/national/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003494734
All they had to do was watch them on local HD channels....via cable or OTA...

Seems to be a pattern.....

======================================
Of course DISH is already up to 16 National HD, 15 VOOM HD, 1 HD-PPV plus HD-LIL channels (where available)....
And offers a "FREE" HD-DVR with Advantage Service contract....

======================================
Bottom line is that D* RIGHT NOW only carries 9 National HD channels, 3 HD Regional Sports Channels and 1 HD-PPV...
Which is a total of 13 HD channels....plus HD LIL (where available--there are many areas where it isn't).
And HD-LIL doesn't carry PBS-HD, CW-HD and MyNtwkTV-HD....with maybe exception for L.A....

If DirecTV only intends to MATCH the CURRENT cable HD channel totals of about 50 National HD per Timezone,
cable is going to blow them away by the end of this year.....

=========================================
Although specific plans have NOT been announced, later this year---and into next---
ALL of the SAT, Cable, FiOS and U-Verse systems can be expected to ramp up to carry more HD channels....

Many of which (e.g. Turner Group, SCIFI-HD?) won't be launched until late this year....

http://www.journalstar.com/news/local/doc45cd0b566dd31679004395.txt

From above link:


Cable customers frustrated with change
By JEFF KORBELIK / Lincoln Journal Star
Saturday, Feb 10, 2007 - 12:07:15 am CST

Donna Adams turned on her television at 2:54 p.m. Thursday afternoon.

Unable to bring up the recorded programs on her digital video recorder (DVR), she opted to watch live TV instead.

She pushed the button on her remote and her TV responded — eight minutes later.
She timed it.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, her DVR crashed after 10 viewing minutes.

Sound familiar?

It does to Tony Young, who continues to have problems with the search engines on his high-definition DVR and digital cable box.

Sometimes they work. Sometimes they don’t.

“You get used to it after a while,” said Young, who pays about $100 a month for his TV service. “But getting used to a mediocre product is a little bit … no, it’s incredibly frustrating.

“We don’t have another option for competition. This is forced on you.”

Adams and Young are two of many Time Warner Cable digital cable customers disgruntled with the company’s decision to change its channel guide last fall, dropping the contracted Passport in favor of company-created Navigator.

The change affected 46,000 digital cable subscribers. Time Warner has 110,000 total television subscribers in Southeast Nebraska. (***note inserted: Lincoln's population is approx. 225,000, unsure of home #'s***)

Complaints ranged from the guide itself — ugly graphics, incomplete information, etc. — to problems with cable boxes after the software was loaded into them, causing some subscribers to reboot one or more times a day.

“We know it needs to get better,” said Beth Scarborough, president of Time Warner’s Nebraska division. “Comments are not falling on deaf ears.”

Time Warner has a “war room” set up in its offices at 16th Street and Old Cheney Road, where engineers, technicians and customer support staff work on solving problems.

So how did Time Warner reach this point in the first place?

In a letter sent to subscribers last summer, Scarborough said the cable guide was changing to make it compatible with other software programs coming down the line, such as caller ID for those who have Time Warner’s phone and digital cable TV service.

What Scarborough failed to mention in her letter was Nebraska was the first Time Warner division to introduce Navigator.

Time Warner is the nation’s second-largest cable company with more than 18 million subscribers.

“My brother in Kansas City called to say they were getting Navigator and wanted to know how we liked it,” said subscriber Kevin Thierolf, who spends about $100 a month .

He didn’t have a favorable report. One of his biggest complaints was technical — his box was no longer compatible to the DVI cables he used for his HDTV.

“I know you can’t anticipate how everybody is going to use it,” Thierolf said. “It’s hard. But there were some obvious things.”

Such as listing whether a show is a repeat or not (now fixed) or having the fast-forward function revert back a second or two after it stopped, the way Passport did.

Scarborough said Time Warner would not have introduced the software if the company didn’t believe it was ready to go. It introduced the new guide to its employees before rolling it out to subscribers.

“Our experience at that point was that it was good to go,” she said. “It was good enough to go to market with.”

Instead, the system paled in comparison with its predecessor. It prompted Scarborough to write another letter last month thanking digital and DVR customers for their patience.

“… the conversion was a highly complex exercise and was not without some inconvenience, re-educations, recalibration of settings, and for some, even downright disappointment.”

Time Warner continues to tinker with the system and urges customers having problems with the software or their boxes to call customer service.

“We knew it was going to be a challenge to implement,” Scarborough said. “Maybe we didn’t position it in the right way. We’re sorry for that. It wasn’t our intention to deceive.”

Still, it may take a while for Time Warner to get back into the good graces of customers such as Adams, who spends $200 a month with Time Warner on TV, phone and Internet service.

“They’ve lost my loyalty,” Adams said. “We wouldn’t tolerate anything else in our house performing like this. We’re stuck, and that’s what’s frustrating.”

Reach Jeff Korbelik at 473-7213 or jkorbelik@journalstar.com.

Thoughts:

I get the feeling that TW knew it had a defective product but went to market anyway
Why do unsatisfied customers not consider switching content providers? Has TW brainwashed them with billing advertisements into thinking there are no other alternatives?
I am a E* vip622 user, two of them actually, and have relatively no problems watching TV.

This article could have been written when TW rolled out the SA 8000 in SC before it was ready. At least we have Sara in our 8300 HD so it will be a while before we get to have this piece of TW junk. Hopefully by then we will have moved and have a dish.

Thoughts:
Why do unsatisfied customers not consider switching content providers? Has TW brainwashed them with billing advertisements into thinking there are no other alternatives

there could be any number of factors. Perhaps they live in a top floor apt and have a woodland view that's made up of 100 foot trees and is literally ten feet away from the balcony. As it is for me. It's either TWC or an indoor antenna.

Why do unsatisfied customers not consider switching content providers? Has TW brainwashed them with billing advertisements into thinking there are no other alternatives?

Sometimes there are no plausible alternatives. I can't get any digital channels OTA. TWC carries 3 of my local network affiliates in HD; D* has none of them; E* has none. D* has no HD at all for me. E* does, but at a considerable equipment cost (two dishes and I pay), and with no Voom channels.

I read in the Chicago Tribune that major League Baseball struck a deak with Dish Networks that will pull the MLB Extra Innings package off of cable completly. Anyone else hear this and is there any truth to it?

It's BS if you ask me, as that's how I watched all my cubs games that weren't on WGN down here in Austin

I read in the Chicago Tribune that major League Baseball struck a deak with Dish Networks that will pull the MLB Extra Innings package off of cable completly. Anyone else hear this and is there any truth to it?

It's BS if you ask me, as that's how I watched all my cubs games that weren't on WGN down here in Austin

I heard it was an exclusive deal with DirecTV. not Dish

Correct.

The proposed deal would be with DirecTV. There have been bushels of posts about it.

I read in the Chicago Tribune that major League Baseball struck a deak with Dish Networks that will pull the MLB Extra Innings package off of cable completly. Anyone else hear this and is there any truth to it?

It's BS if you ask me, as that's how I watched all my cubs games that weren't on WGN down here in Austin


My biggest concern in this deal is what will become of MLB on Inhd. It use to be that we would get up to 3 out of market High Definition baseball games a week with our subscription to the HD tier. Not only this but I've also read somewhere on another post that TWC may no longer show the NHL in HD on Inhd anymore and we all know they don't have the NFL in HD on Inhd because of the NFL Network issues. That's leaves us only with the NBA on Inhd as the last of the 4 big major sports? Perhaps now with all the open programming slots available for TWC on Inhd they could show us more of what us real HD sporting fans really want to see. "More Competitive Eating" contest! Hey, it's said that USA has the most obese people in the world. Perhaps, TWC is only trying to make competive eating the 5th major sport in a country where eating is what we are known for around the world. Instead of GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLL! We could all chant GOOOOOOOO!!!!! Cheeseburger!

There has been no NHL on INHD for the past few weeks on TWC.

There has been no NHL on INHD for the past few weeks on TWC.

2 weeks ago (NY Rangers-Boston) was the final VS game on INHD for everyone.

Versus has its own HD channel Versus/Golf that is owned by Comcast and being offered free to all cable providers --So it won't be on TW since they really can't be called a cable provider. :mad: (sarcasm intended)

The link gives more info if you want it.

http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003408626

Versus has its own HD channel Versus/Golf that is owned by Comcast and being offered free to all cable providers --So it won't be on TW since they really can't be called a cable provider. :mad: (sarcasm intended)

The link gives more info if you want it.

http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003408626


I believe its actually "free" to any system that offers both VS and The Golf Channel on a basic tier...

the Golf Channel is on a premium sports tier on many systems - including most Time Warner systems....

So lets not all go praising Comcast just yet...

^Both are on extended basic here in Raleigh unless theyve moved recently, so no reason for us not to have it then, unless TWC wants to put it on the HD tier (which I could easily see being the case).

^Both are on extended basic here in Raleigh unless theyve moved recently, so no reason for us not to have it then, unless TWC wants to put it on the HD tier (which I could easily see being the case).


woops.... nevermind... i'm wrong.... golf channel isn't on the sports tier...

Copy of email sent 1/23/07 to Melinda Witmer:

From: Mark
Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 10:40 AM
To: Melinda.Witmer@twcable.com
Subject: Versus / Golf Channel HD

Dear Ms. Witmer:

Congratulations on your new position.

Marc Fein, senior VP of programming and production for the Versus Channel has stated that Comcast (the owner of both Versus and Golf Channel) will provide the HD channel VSGLF (Versus-Golf) free to cable and satellite operators that currently run Versus and Golf Channel. These statements were published on November 16, 2006 and can be read at: http://www.tvweek.com/page.cms?pageId=398

Since Time Warner currently shows both Versus and Golf Channel, the HD channel VSGLF is available for free to TWC.

Why hasn’t TWC made the VSGLF HD channel available to their subscribers?

This new channel is currently showing NHL hockey games in HD that were formerly on the Outdoor Life Network (OLN) and will be showing the 1st & 2nd rounds of PGA golf tournaments in HD, starting with this week’s Buick Invitational (January 25th & 26th).

I subscribe to the services provided by Albany TWC in Albany, NY.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,
Mark
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Since two weeks went by and I didn't get a reply, I sent this email:

From: Mark
Sent: Fri 2/9/2007 9:34 AM
To: Witmer, Melinda
Subject: FW: Versus / Golf Channel HD
Dear Ms. Witmer:

Did you have a chance to read & respond to the email I sent on 1/23/07 yet? I haven’t gotten a response.

Sincerely,
Mark
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ms. Witmer's reply (received today):

From: Witmer, Melinda [mailto:melinda.witmer@twcable.com]
Sent: Monday, February 12, 2007 1:37 PM
To: Mark
Cc: Cronin, Terry
Subject: RE: Versus / Golf Channel HD

Dear Mark,

My apologies. We normally have our customer care folks in the local division respond to customer requests as information may vary from one TW cable system to the next. We have been notified that the service will not launch and be made available for us to provide to our customers until 4/1/07. I will forward your message to our Albany rep to get back to you on whether or not Albany will be carrying when it launches or sometime later on.

We appreciate your business and I am sorry for our lack of response.

Best regards,

Melinda Witmer

Copy of email sent 1/23/07 to Melinda Witmer:

From: Mark
Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 10:40 AM
To: Melinda.Witmer@twcable.com
Subject: Versus / Golf Channel HD

Dear Ms. Witmer:

Congratulations on your new position.

Marc Fein, senior VP of programming and production for the Versus Channel has stated that Comcast (the owner of both Versus and Golf Channel) will provide the HD channel VSGLF (Versus-Golf) free to cable and satellite operators that currently run Versus and Golf Channel. These statements were published on November 16, 2006 and can be read at: http://www.tvweek.com/page.cms?pageId=398

Since Time Warner currently shows both Versus and Golf Channel, the HD channel VSGLF is available for free to TWC.

Why hasn’t TWC made the VSGLF HD channel available to their subscribers?

This new channel is currently showing NHL hockey games in HD that were formerly on the Outdoor Life Network (OLN) and will be showing the 1st & 2nd rounds of PGA golf tournaments in HD, starting with this week’s Buick Invitational (January 25th & 26th).

I subscribe to the services provided by Albany TWC in Albany, NY.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,
Mark
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Since two weeks went by and I didn't get a reply, I sent this email:

From: Mark
Sent: Fri 2/9/2007 9:34 AM
To: Witmer, Melinda
Subject: FW: Versus / Golf Channel HD
Dear Ms. Witmer:

Did you have a chance to read & respond to the email I sent on 1/23/07 yet? I haven’t gotten a response.

Sincerely,
Mark
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ms. Witmer's reply (received today):

From: Witmer, Melinda [mailto:melinda.witmer@twcable.com]
Sent: Monday, February 12, 2007 1:37 PM
To: Mark
Cc: Cronin, Terry
Subject: RE: Versus / Golf Channel HD

Dear Mark,

My apologies. We normally have our customer care folks in the local division respond to customer requests as information may vary from one TW cable system to the next. We have been notified that the service will not launch and be made available for us to provide to our customers until 4/1/07. I will forward your message to our Albany rep to get back to you on whether or not Albany will be carrying when it launches or sometime later on.

We appreciate your business and I am sorry for our lack of response.

Best regards,

Melinda Witmer

She's never replied to me as to why some TWC markets have ESPN2HD (apparently, some of which are not former Adelphia markets) with no national carriage agreement. At least Dressler replied when you emailed him.

She's never replied to me as to why some TWC markets have ESPN2HD (apparently, some of which are not former Adelphia markets) with no national carriage agreement. At least Dressler replied when you emailed him.

That's because Fred is a gentleman, and took the time to correspond to TWC customer's.

That's because Fred is a gentleman, and took the time to correspond to TWC customer's.

well, we all know Ms. Witmer can never be a "gentleman".
so their goes getting back a timely response from emails.

Copy of email sent 1/23/07 to Melinda Witmer:

From: Mark
Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 10:40 AM
To: Melinda.Witmer@twcable.com
Subject: Versus / Golf Channel HD

Dear Ms. Witmer:

Congratulations on your new position.

Marc Fein, senior VP of programming and production for the Versus Channel has stated that Comcast (the owner of both Versus and Golf Channel) will provide the HD channel VSGLF (Versus-Golf) free to cable and satellite operators that currently run Versus and Golf Channel. These statements were published on November 16, 2006 and can be read at: http://www.tvweek.com/page.cms?pageId=398

Since Time Warner currently shows both Versus and Golf Channel, the HD channel VSGLF is available for free to TWC.

Why hasn’t TWC made the VSGLF HD channel available to their subscribers?

This new channel is currently showing NHL hockey games in HD that were formerly on the Outdoor Life Network (OLN) and will be showing the 1st & 2nd rounds of PGA golf tournaments in HD, starting with this week’s Buick Invitational (January 25th & 26th).

I subscribe to the services provided by Albany TWC in Albany, NY.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,
Mark
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Since two weeks went by and I didn't get a reply, I sent this email:

From: Mark
Sent: Fri 2/9/2007 9:34 AM
To: Witmer, Melinda
Subject: FW: Versus / Golf Channel HD
Dear Ms. Witmer:

Did you have a chance to read & respond to the email I sent on 1/23/07 yet? I haven’t gotten a response.

Sincerely,
Mark
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ms. Witmer's reply (received today):

From: Witmer, Melinda [mailto:melinda.witmer@twcable.com]
Sent: Monday, February 12, 2007 1:37 PM
To: Mark
Cc: Cronin, Terry
Subject: RE: Versus / Golf Channel HD

Dear Mark,

My apologies. We normally have our customer care folks in the local division respond to customer requests as information may vary from one TW cable system to the next. We have been notified that the service will not launch and be made available for us to provide to our customers until 4/1/07. I will forward your message to our Albany rep to get back to you on whether or not Albany will be carrying when it launches or sometime later on.

We appreciate your business and I am sorry for our lack of response.

Best regards,

Melinda Witmer

I hope that none of her little helpers will be sent to the gallows for this transgression. What does she mean we normally have customer care folks respond to customer request. Oh, Oh... Now I see, this explains why she hasn't respond to my email either, the little damn hobbit responsible for answering customer emails was probably out drunk that week again. The email was addressed to her wasn't it (rhetorical question)? If this is a sign of things to come then lets find someone else who will take a little time to respond to customer concerns with some respect, insight and honesty.

well, we all know Ms. Witmer can never be a "gentleman".
so their goes getting back a timely response from emails.

"Gentleperson" then.

Question sent to "Ask Mike" at http://www.twchdtv.com/albany :

TWC in Central NY is removing ESPN HD from the HD Tier.
1. Why are they doing this?
2. Does Albany TWC have any plans to do this?

-----Original Message-----
From: Time Warner Cable [mailto:donotreply@twalbany.com]
Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 7:12 PM
To: *******@nycap.rr.com
Subject: Your "Ask Mike" Response

Hello Mark,

I cannot answer why the Central NY Division is removing ESPN HD, we have no plans to do so.

Thanks,
Bobby Marro
Ask Mike Support Team

Someone (I think from upsate NY) posted a letter he got from TWC. We all experienced that HD tier losing one of it's channels (InHD2); they then moved ESPN HD to their regular digital service (i.e. not for extra pay) so they GAVE a free full year of SHO (including it's HD channel) to compensate. PLUS they got ESPN2 HD, MHD, and A&E HD added.

My Email:
"Mr. Dressler, Can you tell me if their are any updates for these Hd channels?
Are you Still Negotiating, or finalizing agreements?
1.CINEMAX-HD
2.TMC-HD
3.Wealth TV-HD
4.Outdoor Channel 2-HD

Also It was said that Universal-HD will be removed after the Olympics in NYC. I know it's because we have no more available bandwidth. Why exactly is the ETA of Switched Digital Video for NYC such a secret. I know that Digital Simulcast has been completed but I can't get information on when SDV will be active in NYC?"

Response:
"cinemax is almost done, tmc is done, and neither wealth nor outdoor are in the works. i don't know the schedule for SDV. the local systems are making that call"


Future HD channel update

ESPN2-HD - God only knows
TMC-HD - is done, supposedly
Wealth TV-HD - are not in the works
Outdoor Channel 2-HD – are not in the works
National Geographic-HD - in negotiations
Food Network-HD - in negotiations
HGTV-HD - in negotiations
NFL Network-HD - the nfl net is not likely to be on soon.that's why I got rid of TWC in NYC after 15 years with them, they just did not have enough HD content for my HD sets in my house, so I went with Dishnetwork "should have done it allot sooner" and have never looked back, 30HD channels including the locals in HD, I am in HD heaven, I got the Platinum package which includes all the digital channels and all the HD channels, with 2 HD receivers it would run you $110 a month, after the promotional thing they had running , which got me $20 off for the next six months, so now I pay $90 a month. And for my Broadband I got FIOS from Verizon 20MB download speed and 5MB upload speed for $40 a month, and the bandwith is all mine not shared, and I get every drop of it on a consistent basis, TWC will never see the inside of my home again, besides treating their customers like crap, their content also blows, hope this helped you out.

The problem is the bigger your display the more you see the effects of HD=Lite on Dish. And for SD the compression eventually got to the unwatchable point for me.

that's why I got rid of TWC in NYC after 15 years with them, they just did not have enough HD content for my HD sets in my house, so I went with Dishnetwork "should have done it allot sooner" and have never looked back, 30HD channels including the locals in HD, I am in HD heaven, I got the Platinum package which includes all the digital channels and all the HD channels, with 2 HD receivers it would run you $110 a month, after the promotional thing they had running , which got me $20 off for the next six months, so now I pay $90 a month. And for my Broadband I got FIOS from Verizon 20MB download speed and 5MB upload speed for $40 a month, and the bandwith is all mine not shared, and I get every drop of it on a consistent basis, TWC will never see the inside of my home again, besides treating their customers like crap, their content also blows, hope this helped you out.

Hey, I'm happy for you and I hope that TWC soon notices how disappointed their growing population of HD customers are with their CSR and HD programming choices. But the truth of the matter is that most of us here don't have that better choice, for if we did then why would anyone bother to complain about it on this forum. Good luck with Dishnetwork and please don't do anymore gloating.

Does anyone know where I can go to find out if Time Warner in my area is going to be releasing any new HD channels and their time frame? With my high speed cable modem, I am paying over $170 a month for my cable and broadband. I have like hardly no HD channels (just the main channels, Discovery, etc.) I'm tired of this and I see all the commercials about satellite about to offer hundreds of HD channels and I am thinking about switching if Time Warner does not step up.

Location: Madison County, Kentucky (town of Berea, 40 miles south of Lexington)
TWC market: Central KY./Madison, IN
Limitations for other transmission sources: terrain and trees prevent OTA and sat.

Let me know if you have any luck finding an individual who will 1) communicate and 2) communicate accurate, usable information.

While much of the discussion here focuses on second tier HD programming, here we CANNOT EVEN GET ABC AND NBC in HD.

Got FOX HD three weeks ago
CBS available since before I subscribed (Oct., 2006)
PBS hypothetically available since before I subscribed (see note, below)
Other HDs include ESPN, HDNet, HDNet Movies, INHD, DSC, TNT, UHD (and HBO, MAX, SHOW in premium tier)

That's it!

I say hypothetical re: PBS b/c I would receive the channel UNTIL they switched from SD to HD during prime time. Then, the signal was lost. After calls to bewildered tech support reps who clearly thought I must technology impaired they sent a tech. to the house. His response: "Oh yeah, it does the same thing at my house. I think it's a problem with the PBS channel, but I'll check and get back to you." After eight weeks I still had not heard from him. I contacted the PBS station. They explained that it was a TWC problem and gave me their engineering contacts to pass on to TWC. I did so and finally got that up and running. Why did I have to do the legwork instead of TWC?

I have sent multiple "customer support" :rolleyes: e-mails and sent certified letter to regional office asking when I might expect to see ABC/NBC HD feeds. No response. I have e-mailed Witmer at corporate. No response. I contacted my local franchise authority, but they apparently are just a rubber-stamping operation as they could not even refer me to a human to whom I could write a complaint. I have just e-mailed FCC chairman Martin asking that he intervene in the current cable vs. network HD battles. We'll see if he responds.

Once again, if you or anyone else finds reliable TWC contacts -- especially in my region -- let me know.