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Cox posts

Cable companies miss tru2way deadline, insist it's no big deal

by Richard Lawler, posted Jul 2nd 2009 at 4:13AM


Remember that tru2way-related Memorandum of Understanding that was all the rage about this time last year? It appears the 6 cable companies haven't lived up to at least one part of their agreement, collectively missing the deadline of July 1 to have 100% of their digital cable headends compatible. No word on how close they got, but Comcast, Cox, Time Warner, Charter, Cablevision and Bright House still insist it's "not that far off" though we don't see how missing important milestones is helping move the technology forwards.

HD channel expansion roundup

by Richard Lawler, posted Apr 26th 2009 at 2:22AM


Once upon a time, a smattering of new HD channels in one major metropolitan area was a huge deal. Nowadays, it's almost expected that one area or another will experience some HD expansion each week. In order to keep things nice and tidy around here, we deliver high-def expansions, market expansions and anything else dealing with HD channel growth right here. If we missed an area that you're familiar with, drop us a line in comments so everyone can catch up. The more the merrier, we say!

Read - MTVN Launches Six HD Channels With SES
Read - TiVo takes on Nielsen
Read - Comcast Adds 27 HD Networks in Houston
Read - World Fishing Network: Fully Hooked On HD
Read - Smithsonian Networks(TM) and Time Warner Cable Sign Programming Distribution Deal
Read - Telemundo Leads HDTV Charge
Read - BET HD Now Available on Cox
Read - U-verse TV Starts 2009 With Record Quarter
Read - Comcast adds 27 new HD channels in Portland
Cablevision to add Live Well HD (Thanks LI PC Tech)
Read - Cablevision: High Definition Encore and Starz On Demand added
Read - Ringgold Telephone Company (RTC) is proud to announce the availability of eight additional high-definition television channels
Read - TMJ4 is Now HD (Thanks Paul)
Read - FOX 17: Broadcasting in High Definition (Thanks Alex)

Canoe's targeted ads set sail for households with income to spend

by Steven Kim, posted Apr 21st 2009 at 11:26PM

Canoe Ventures logoThe six cable companies involved with Canoe Ventures -- Comcast, Time Warner, Cox, Charter, Cablevision and Bright House -- will be turning loose the targeted ad technology that has been in the works for a while now. Especially in the midst of the economic crunch, you just know that tax brackets are going to drive the tailoring of the bespoke ads, which go by the friendly name of CAM (community addressable messaging). Fully interactive ads will have to wait for tru2way, so for now CAM 1.0 will swap in one of two versions of a spot, depending on whether the destination is in a zone designated as "over $100,000." We foresee some interesting water cooler discussions ahead as coworkers report seeing different ads at halftime and thus give away some personal info.

Cisco STA1520 SDV tuning adapter impressions

by Steven Kim, posted Apr 8th 2009 at 3:23PM Featured Story

Cisco STA1520 SDV tuning adapter
Cox grabbed some early SDV headlines by promising to supply its Phoenix-area TiVo customers with free tuning adapters, but it only recently made good on the deal in our central Phoenix location. Since the initial announcement, other cable markets -- both Cox and other providers -- have already delivered tuning adapters to users. Based on our poll, it seems the Tuning Adapter rollout is still in the early stages even though we feel like we've been waiting for a long time. Better late than never, though -- last week we got a letter indicating that our Tuning Adapter was ready for pickup at the local Cox office, thankfully still gratis. For our troubles, we got a Cisco (Scientific Atlanta) STA1520 that the Cox representative made abundantly clear was free only as long as we stayed a customer. Follow us past the fold to see how the rest of our Tuning Adapter experience shaped up.

Continue reading Cisco STA1520 SDV tuning adapter impressions

Cox prepping a multi-room DVR for sometime this year

by Steven Kim, posted Apr 7th 2009 at 10:26AM

Cox logoCox Communications will be bringing its own multiroom option to its DVR lineup, but it's keeping quiet about some significant details -- namely, the debut market and timing. Aside from our inability to get excited about a feature that may not be coming to our service area for an undetermined price, Cox is at least hitting some key points for the new multiroom option, including support for HD, larger hard drive capacity and sharing content around your home using MoCA technology. Tru2way was not mentioned specifically for the "next generation guide" software also promised for the DVR, but we wouldn't be surprised to see that make the cut. So yeah, Cox is ticking off some checkboxes, and we'll keep hoping for a really good cable company DVR; but as most folks who have compared a TiVo with the cable co DVR will tell you, usability isn't necessarily spelled out in the feature list.

Cox planning to roll out tru2way STBs this summer

by Steven Kim, posted Mar 27th 2009 at 7:58AM

Cox tru2way
Although it flew beneath the radar at this year's CES, tru2way looks to be spooling up the PR machine in advance of The Cable Show in April. Leading the charge, Cox Communications has announced its agreement to use NDS tru2way software starting this summer; and since the field of tru2way-equipped TVs is slim pickings, you know the delivery mechanism -- set top boxes. Grousing aside, technology has to move forward, so Cox is going to start introducing Cisco (Scientific-Atlanta) and Motorola manufactured boxes with NDS software, with plans to do a market-by-market rollout later this year and continuing in 2010. We're all for more media-rich experiences on the TV, but not nearly as enthusiastic as we were about getting rid of STBs altogether. Absent TV manufacturers hopping onboard the tru2way en masse, this situation is taking on some CableCard overtones.

Cox follows Comcast down the data discrimination road

by Darren Murph, posted Jan 29th 2009 at 9:14AM


It's a sad day for Cox internet subscribers, 'cause if the FCC or some other almighty agency doesn't step in soon, your traffic could be slowed. The carrier has just announced a rather significant update to its data management policies, as it lays out plans to test a system next month that will "give priority to Internet traffic it judges to be time-sensitive, like web pages, streaming video and online games." We're also told that "file downloads, software updates and other non-time sensitive data may be slowed if there is congestion on the local network." Thankfully, "streaming video" was listed in the category that'll supposedly get first dibs on available bandwidth, but one always has to wonder what kind of juju is going on behind closed doors when a plan such as this is announced. If all goes well in the Kansas / Arkansas test markets, the system could be rolled out to all Cox internet customers (business users notwithstanding) by the year's end. Lovely.

[Via HotHardware]

FCC's Martin fines nine carriers on his way out the door

by Steven Kim, posted Jan 21st 2009 at 6:09PM

FCC badge Kevin MartinOn the eve of his resignation, now-former FCC chairman Kevin Martin got in one last shot against nine of the biggest cable companies -- including Comcast, Time Warner, Cox and Charter -- to the tune of $25,000 each. Citing the MSOs (Multiple System Operators) for failing to respond to the FCC's investigation of how they moved channels from analog to digital tiers, additional fines were then added on, bringing the total damages to all nine companies to a cool $510,000. Top honors go to Time Warner, which racked up a $137,000 bill. Wielding his poisoned pen, Martin wrote that the actions of the MSOs "... exhibits contempt for the FCC's authority," and by forcing customers to pay for digital set-top boxes, "... customers have been receiving less from the cable companies but paying the same price." Strong words, but would we wouldn't expect anything less from the FCC chairman who oversaw some of the biggest changes in telco this country's seen.
[Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]

Cable companies following DISH's place-shifting lead?

by Richard Lawler, posted Jan 20th 2009 at 10:32AM


Word from Multichannel News is that -- particularly in light of DISH's SlingLoaded DVR -- Comcast, Time Warner and Cox are all looking to include place-shifting rights in their latest carriage negotiations, promising subscriber access to their TV content even away from home. Unfortunately it appears their idea is to provide the TV feed over the Internet -- think Fancast and Starz Play -- instead of direct (and likely bandwidth consuming) DVR access. No word on which, if any, networks have agreed to such an arrangement but it does raise the question: would streaming access via PC or cellphone be enough to keep you from switching to satellite?

Cox Communications talks up new On Demand platform

by Darren Murph, posted Jan 6th 2009 at 2:29AM


We've yet to see this for ourselves, but tipster Adam has informed us that Cox Communications is talking up a new On Demand platform via commercials. In fact, the spots have also led us to believe that a new software update will soon be available for the carrier's set-top-boxes, presumably one based on the Aptiv platform. Pictured above is a quick snap of what the future VOD system will look like, though we're sadly unaware of whether this rollout will be hitting everyone or just a select few. Couldn't hurt to ping your local office and ask, though.

[Thanks, Adam]

Cox gifts Kansas subscribers with three more HD channels

by Darren Murph, posted Dec 31st 2008 at 4:26AM

Good news, Kansas -- not only has Cox gone live with the two high-def stations it promised it would, but it's apparently bringing along three others. According to a local, FOX News HD (605), AMC HD (639) and Cartoon Network HD (640) have all emerged on the EPG, and we reckon we speak for everyone in saying that there's hardly anything more awesome than new HD channels that you weren't expecting.

[Thanks, Kevin]

Cox dumps 14 new high-def stations on Pensacola, Florida

by Darren Murph, posted Dec 19th 2008 at 3:07PM


We know it's the season for giving and all, but this is pretty extreme. Cox Communications has sent out a flier to its Pensacola, Florida customers informing them that a staggering 14 new high-definition channels are on the way. Seems about right, though, especially given that the last major HD update in the area came back in early June. We won't bother listing all 14 in this space; instead, we'll direct you to the read link to soak it all in. [Warning: PDF read link]

[Thanks, Scott]

Cox rolls a dozen HD channels to Phoenix area

by Darren Murph, posted Dec 18th 2008 at 1:42AM

It's been half a year since Cox gave its Phoenix, Arizona-based customers any extra reasons to stick around, but it's making amends in a big way this week. The carrier has just announced a fresh dozen for the region, with Casa Grande and North Scottsdale getting 'em first. We're told that the rest of the Valley will see them come online during the next few months, but 'til then, here's what you can look forward to: AMC HD (743), Travel HD (748), Spike HD (767), Bravo HD (760), NFL HD (766), MTV HD (717), SciFi HD (750), HGTV HD (741), CNN HD (736), Planet Green HD (764), TLC HD (742) and Versus HD (769). For a look at the full release (and the list of new SD networks), head on past the break.

Continue reading Cox rolls a dozen HD channels to Phoenix area

Cox to bestow new HD channels upon Northern Virginia

by Darren Murph, posted Dec 15th 2008 at 1:32PM

Aw, c'mon NoVa -- you should know that Cox Communications wouldn't leave you hangin'. After blessing the Hampton Roads area with 13 new HD channels a week ago, the carrier is now slated to bring quite a helping to residents of Northern Virginia. Starting tomorrow, locals should receive Hallmark Movie Channel HD (743), Planet Green HD (749), Weather Channel HD (752), AMC HD (753), WGN HD (754), FOX News HD (756), SPEED HD (757) and FX HD (758). Better still, another wave should be coming between now and February, and on it will ride FOX Business HD (755), Cartoon Network HD (759), WE HD (760), IFC HD (761), Comedy HD (762) and BET HD (763). Our tipster Ryan says the information came straight from the channel guide on 742, so you know it's the real deal.

[Thanks, Ryan]

Cox bringing 5 new HD stations to San Diego, California

by Darren Murph, posted Dec 13th 2008 at 1:58AM


Cox may have upset some San Diego residents by acting all proud of those 19 new HD VOD slots, but it's backing things up with five linear stations that are sure to juice up that holiday spirit. Starting on December 29th (far off, we know), subscribers in the region will find FOX News HD (737), FX HD (743), SPEED HD (756), Cartoon Network HD (750) and E! HD (749) in the program guide. If, for whatever reason, you're simply unsatisfied with those additions, Cox is promising that "more HD channels will be added soon." Good luck deciphering its definition of "soon."

[Thanks, Gary]




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