As switched digital video (SDV) rollouts continue, we're apt to hear more and more about how cable companies plan on handling the distribution of Tuning Adapters. We've already heard that Cox will be giving needy customers in Phoenix a TA for free, and Time Warner Cable New York recently sent out letters to CableCARD users informing them that their TAs may be handed out gratis. Now, we're seeing a pre-order page over at TWC's San Antonio site that clearly informs subscribers that the Tuning Adapter they request will be provided at no charge "later this year." If you're in or around this area and own a TiVo Series 3, TiVo HD or TiVo HD XL, now would probably be an excellent time to get your name on the list. For everyone else, have a look at your local carrier's page and let us know if it's doing something similar. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]

[Thanks, Lawrence]

Read - TWC San Antonio main site
Read - TWC San Antonio pre-order page

San Antonio's never short on HD channels from Time Warner Cable, but just in case locals in the area were getting fed up with the oodles they already have, here's another to keep you (or your kids, most likely) quiet. As of this week, Cartoon Network HD is being placed on slot 145, bringing the total HD channels in the region to 71 -- and that's not counting the 124 HD movie-on-demand channels and 337 HD free-on-demand titles. Can you detect a hint of bitterness? Sorry, we tried mightily to conceal it. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]

San Antonio may have been one of the first locales to get U-verse TV service, but it's not quite the first to snag AT&T's Total Home DVR software. As the carrier continues to gift U-verse users with the ability to watch recorded programs on any connected TV in the house, this Texas town has become the latest to get loved. Where will AT&T head next with THDVR? Your guess is as good as ours.

While we singled out TWC's spat with Dayton's own WDTN, the issue spreads much, much further. As of now, 15 LIN TV-owned stations are at risk of falling off of Time Warner Cable if the two can't reach an agreement before October 2nd. Since July of this year, LIN TV has attempted to extract a presumably large amount of cash from the carrier in order to seal the deal on a long-term agreement for both analog and high-def signals. As of now, local stations in Austin, Buffalo, Columbus, Dayton, Ft. Wayne, Green Bay, Indianapolis, Mobile, Springfield (MA), Terre Haute and Toledo are at risk, but we have a pretty good feeling that the two will eventually work it out. 'Course, TWC won't enjoy paying through the nose in order to do so, but hey, that's life. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Maybe we're off here, but does Time Warner Cable love its San Antonio market, or what? For the third time in as many months, subscribers in the region are being gifted with a few new channels, and this time, it's Disney HD (142) and ABC Family HD (141). Reportedly, the carrier now offers a whopping 63 high-definition channels in the Alamo City, while many of its markets suffer with just a handful. No, that's not bitterness you're detecting -- not at all. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]

Time Warner Cable customers in San Antonio, TX will be treated to one more HD offering today when Planet Green HD comes into the homestead via the copper pipe. If your HDTV is going to gobble up electricity and also do battle with your air conditioner as it spills heat into your abode, the least you can do is take in some eco-lifestyle content. Consider it a kind of "awareness offset" to your carbon footprint, okay? That is, unless you've voted with your pocketbook and picked up a green TV; in which case you might want to truly minimize your footprint by turning it off altogether. Look for it on channel 140, and drink lightly from the 250 hours of content. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]

With summer quickly approaching, Time Warner Cable's giving subscribers in San Antonio one more reason to enjoy the great outdoors from the comfort of their own couch. As of this week, the carrier has added both Travel HD (158) and Outdoor Channel HD (170) to the lineup, bringing the total of high-def channels in the area to 57. Considering the paltry lineup many other TWC customers are getting stuck with from other locales across the country, let us pass along their envy to South-Central Texas. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]

There's no denying that fiber providers (we're looking at you, AT&T and Verizon) are on the offensive in an attempt to get new condos, college dorms and other dwellings wired with service from day one. A fortnight after AT&T announced plans to install U-verse into a forthcoming residence hall at the University of Houston, the outfit has now made public its plans to give the same luxury to residents of Vidorra Condominiums. The 20-story high-rise development in downtown San Antonio is currently being constructed, and when it's complete, it'll offer U-verse TV / internet to every single resident. 'Course, guests to the facility may be more intrigued by the private outdoor swimming pool and the top floor "sky room," but we're sure they'll only be able to stand so much outdoor amusement before those high-def images have them running back in.

For the second time in the span of a week, Time Warner Cable is upping the HD ante down in South Central Texas. Shortly after subscribers in the area received Weather Channel HD and FOX Business HD, along comes word that TLC HD, The Science Channel HD and Animal Planet HD have now surfaced on the EPG. If our abacus is operating correctly, we're counting 45 high-definition channels for you folks now. Got any to you wouldn't mind loaning out? [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]

[Thanks, Cephalexin]

Nary four months after Time Warner Cable dished out four new HD offerings to subscribers in San Antonio, Texas, the cable operator has decided to loose a couple more for these very folks to enjoy. Effective immediately, customers in the area can tune into The Weather Channel HD and FOX Business HD on channels 136 and 154, respectively. With these two additions, Time Warner now has 42 high-definition channels in the region alongside eight HD movie on-demand channels and 112 HD on-demand titles -- not too shabby, eh? [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]

It's that time again -- you know, the moment when San Antonians that rely on Time Warner Cable (partly owned by Time Warner, parent company of AOL, which owns Engadget) can look forward to even more HD channels when they flip on the set. TWC has been doing its part to add a (small) number of high-definition stations of late, including a few here in the Raleigh market this month, and those dwelling in south-central Texas should now be able to view the Lifetime Movie Network (LMN), Food Network HD, HGTV HD and The History Channel HD. We know, it's not the most enthralling list of additions, but hey, we'll take what we can get.

For the first time, an NBA game will utilize two "SkyCams" during the April 11th meeting between the Seattle Supersonics and the San Antonio Spurs (lot of Ss there). Instead of using two center court cameras like most NBA games, they will use the suspended high definition skycams to give the impression of sitting about 10 rows up from the floor.

Two robotic high definition cameras above each backboard plus one at center court on the scorers table will give a unique "you are there" perspective for this game. For the audio, it will be in 5.1 surround, with the focus given to on court and arena sounds, much like the recent "silent game" in Orlando. Rick Kamla will host the game, checking in from various spots around the arena as well.

This is great, I really feel like the NBA "gets" high definition and are looking to build around it for better quality broadcasts. The only real complaint I've had so far is that the camera angles don't seem to take advantage of HD's aspect ratio and detail enough, and I hope that these changes will enhance the experience. All we need now is for ESPN, ABC and TNT to take the hint, shut up blabbering on-air personalities and give us just basketball, raw and uncut.