Time Warner Cable brings 11 HD channels to North Texas
Earlier this year, Time Warner Cable decided to add 11 new high-def channels in Dallas, Texas, but many of the surrounding North Texas towns were inexplicably left out. A half year later, TWC is finally making things right by bringing the newcomers to Allen, Frisco, Stonebridge, The Colony, McKinney, Princeton, Wylie, Sachse, Parker, Murphy, St. Paul and Fairview. For those who have forgotten, we're talking CNN HD (740), TBS HD (744), History HD (745), Food Network HD (752), HGTV HD (753), A&E HD (754), Discovery HD (756), Animal Planet HD (757), National Geographic HD (771), Versus / Golf HD (786) and Fox Sports SW HD (787). Apparently, the carrier is also working to expand these even further, with Carrollton, Arlington and Addison (among other locales) to get 'em "in the immediate future." [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]
Filed under: Cable, New content
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Denny @ Sep 16th 2008 4:56PM
Good thing when we decided to upgrade from basic cable a month ago we left TWC and chose Verizon FiOS instead.. I live in carrollton and in 2 weeks we will have the same 100HD channels NYC got 2 months ago! This will catapult our lineup ahead of TWC and even U-Verse. Even our current lackluster HD lineup w/ FiOS has Food Network HD, A&E HD, and Fox Sports SW HD. Who knows when "in the immediate future." will actually be.
Boz @ Sep 16th 2008 5:49PM
Over here in Euless, we got those channels just before the Olympics got under way. TWC even teased us with USA in HD during the games, but promptly shut it off after the closing ceremonies.
I think that's the part that makes me truly angry. The fact that TWC was able to add USA HD as well as two additional HD channels just for the Olympics proves that their decision to withhold HD content from consumers in D/FW has nothing to do with their network or any other technical factors. After all, the channels were up and running just fine, right?
No, rather TWC chooses to repeatedly use their government sanctioned monopoly to cheap out on their customers. And for what? A few more cents per customer per month in gross profit?
This hits especially hard for those who live in apartment complexes or who have HOAs that prohibit satelite dishes, or that have found the loophole in the FCC's ruling against exclusive contracts. (My complex, for example, allows residents to use whatever provider they wish--so long as they continue to pay for Time Warner's service which is lumped in with rent.)
What's even worse than all of this? Verizon and AT&T have, thus far, failed to sufficiently penetrated TWC's market for them to be of any concern. Frankly, even if they had I doubt TWC would care. Much like Comcast and AT&T Broadband before them, they would probably just hold onto the network until it ceases to be profitable and then dump it on some other provider whose service is likely to be just as lackluster as TWC's.
So, what's a non-satelite capable apartment dweller to do? So far, I guess it's down to suffering through until the gods over at Time Warner deign to bring us up to speed with sprawling metropolises (metropoli?) like the urban center that is Waco, Texas.
Dave @ Sep 17th 2008 8:38AM
Fuck TWC. Why does every town around here have all the extra HD channels except Garland?? I am so glad I am moving in two weeks and will finally have Fios. (Which sadly, still has more HD channels than Garland TWC)
Joe Siegler @ Oct 2nd 2008 10:05AM
As of October 2nd, still nothing in Garland.
These channels are still not in Garland. In about two hours or so, I will have an HDTV of my own (w00t - FINALLY!), so the lack of these channels is particularly irritating.
I'd call and speak to the Customer Service Grunt on the other end of the line, but I know that never DOES anything, besides the superficial "We'll look into it", or "I'll pass along your comments". I work the other side of the phone, I know how it REALLY is.
Is there any known information as to when Garland will get these? Is there any way to find out?
I really wanted 754 before Jan 1st for the Rose Bowl Parade, and 787 for Dallas Stars (and come April Texas Rangers) games. I was also hoping to get 744 for the baseball playoffs - looks like that is not happening.