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Level 3 delivering end to end uncompressed video from Broncos home games

by Richard Lawler posted Oct 13th 2009 at 11:31AM

Possible more notable than the Broncos 5-0 start (okay, not really, did anyone see this coming after that seemingly terrible offseason?) is the announcement from Level 3 Communications that its home games at Invesco Field are the first to have their video sent back to the broadcaster completely uncompressed. Thanks to its fiber connection laid in preparation for the 2008 Democratic National Convention, the company sends a 1.5 Gbps stream directly to the broadcaster's home studio, as an alternative to the usual (and still in place while this new delivery is evaluated) method of compressing at the site on a production truck. VP Mark Taylor claims this allows them to get the absolute highest quality signal possible, but we'll wait until it's installed at more than one professional stadium to proclaim end to end uncompressed video delivery as the way of the future.

Verizon FiOS TV contractions: May 13, 2009

by Richard Lawler posted May 13th 2009 at 8:52PM


This is uh....odd. We've gotten so used to FiOS TV creeping into new areas that we've had to create a weekly roundup just to keep track, but today the company announced it is pulling out of rural areas in 14 states, turning over operations to Frontier Communications. The transition should take place over the next year, and includes around 69,000 FiOS TV subscribers in Arizona, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin, plus some in California (Note: FiOS wasn't yet available in all the areas affected by the switch, so this only applies where it was.) Fiber to the premises and video will still be provided after the merger, and the 11,000 Verizon employees in these areas will transfer over as well. The real questions is if affected subs can expect the same packages and level of service they've come to expect, but really it seems we'll just have to wait and see.

Verizon's FiOS TV expansions: April 11, 2009

by Richard Lawler posted Apr 11th 2009 at 8:23AM


This week Verizon's taken some time off from its expansionist FiOS TV policies, instead highlighting the upcoming UEFA Champions League playoffs subscribers can catch on ESPN 360, and a new multiyear deal making it the first distributor to offer Yankees games on-demand from the YES Network. Otherwise, we've got the obligatory response to the FCC's national broadband plans, we'll be back next week to see if there's any new rollouts to speak of.

Read - Verizon and ESPN360.com Bring High-Powered European Soccer League Playoffs to American Online Audience
Read - Verizon Statement on FCC Broadband Plan
Read - YES Network and Verizon Reach Multiyear Video-on-Demand Agreement

Verizon's FiOS TV expansions: March 28, 2009

by Darren Murph posted Mar 28th 2009 at 1:11AM


Not much to report on the FiOS TV front this week, but we couldn't resist passing along two nuggets that are definitely pertinent for folks looking for more local content or residing in Marblehead, Massachusetts. As for the former, a spokesman has reportedly revealed that Verizon wants to "offer local television services in markets beyond the Washington DC metropolitan area," and we're hearing that the New York market may be one of the first to take part outside of the DC area. As for the latter, the Marblehead Board of Selectmen have granted a cable franchise to the carrier, paving the way for FiOS TV to become available soon. Here's hoping for a bit more action over the next seven days!

Read - Local TV expansion
Read - Marblehead, MA expansion

Verizon's FiOS TV expansions: March 21, 2009

by Darren Murph posted Mar 21st 2009 at 4:01AM


We'll be honest -- Verizon didn't give us much to yap about this week in the world of FiOS TV. That said, we're sure the residents of Clay, New York are elated to hear that FiOS TV will soon be on its way, while unemployed individuals in Roanoke and Richmond, Virginia can try their hand as a Verizon CSR if they so choose. Here's hoping for more on this front next week, but till then, you can dig in to the most recent happenings below.

Read - FiOS TV to Clay, New York
Read - FiOS internet to Windfall, Indiana
Read - Jobs in Roanoke, VA
Read - Jobs in Richmond, VA

Verizon's FiOS TV expansions: March 14, 2009

by Darren Murph posted Mar 14th 2009 at 4:47AM


Good to see some life in ya, Verizon -- for a minute there, we were getting a touch worried. This week, the fiber carrier has has announced that small businesses can order up FiOS TV For Business for as low as $12.99 per month, not to mention that another Maryland town is granting the company a cable franchise. Also of note, MLB Network HD and MLB Extra Innings have arrived in time for baseball season, while more Sony and Turner Networks VOD programming should be hitting each and every FiOS TV neighborhood. Not a bad week! 'Til this time seven days from now, stay classy.

Read - FiOS TV For Business
Read - FiOS TV coming to Aberdeen, Maryland
Read - MLB Network HD / MLB Extra Innings
Read - FiOS TV gets Sony / Turner Networks VOD

Neothings LightSpider takes HDMI signals 300 feet over fiber

by Darren Murph posted Mar 10th 2009 at 2:18AM


Gefen has already taken the wind out of Neothings' sails somewhat with its HDMI v1.3 Fiber Extender, but if you're not quite ready to drop the coin required to take HDMI signals 1,000 feet over fiber optics, this here device may be the perfect solution. Dubbed LightSpider, this bridge can take HDMI, RS-232 and analog audio around 300 feet on a single fiber cable utilizing OWLink's Digital Light Interface technology. The company is quick to point out that the unit's integrated support for HDCP is a big win for those passing along protected material, though it won't go so far as to provide a price. Reportedly, the company will be on hand at EHX Spring to showcase it to HD junkies and home theater installers, after which we fully expect to hear more details on how to actually procure this thing.

Verizon Home wares show up on mobile portal

by Darren Murph posted Feb 22nd 2009 at 8:11AM


We knew Verizon was planning remote scheduling for its Home Media DVR, and its Hub is evidence of its willingness to dabble in whole-home devices, but this... this, is interesting. A tipster over at ZatzNotFunny has pointed out that Verizon already has a mobile portal up for its Home products, and given that it's accessible via mobile web, it's completely platform agnostic. We're also told (and shown, after the break) that the portal works despite its "beta" label, as the user was able to schedule a recording on his FiOS TV set-top-box from his handset. We're not sure when Verizon plans on making this more public than it has already become, but why not fire it up on your cellphone and see how it goes?

[Via ZatzNotFunny]

Continue reading Verizon Home wares show up on mobile portal

Verizon's FiOS TV expansions: February 21, 2009

by Darren Murph posted Feb 21st 2009 at 4:06AM


This week, Verizon has landed agreements to spread its FiOS TV services to more of Maryland and Virginia, while beefing up the channel lineups in other areas. It also managed to lay plans to open a new customer service and support center in New Jersey, which -- given the current economy -- deserves its own attention. We'll see you right back here next week -- here's hoping some good news hits your neighborhood within the next seven days.

Read - Maryland expansion
Read - Virginia expansion
Read - 14 new channels in New Jersey
Read - Golf Channel HD comes to Tampa Bay
Read - New service center in New Jersey
Read - 18 new channels in California

Verizon's FiOS TV expansions: February 7, 2009

by Darren Murph posted Feb 7th 2009 at 4:31AM


In a continuation of last week, Verizon spent most of its time this week adding high-def channels to existing FiOS TV markets. We're sure those who already have FiOS are stoked to hear that, while the rest of us are grumbling with a hint of envy in our voices. Have a look below at what all went down in the land of Verizon this week, and count your lucky stars if you want your city to show up in next week's roundup.

Read - New HD channels in Rhode Island
Read - New HD channels in Massachusetts
Read - Philadelphia city council approved FiOS TV franchise
Read - New HD channels in Tampa Bay
Read - New HD channels in North Texas
Read - FiOS TV franchise approved in Poughkeepsie, New York
Read - New HD channels in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Read - New HD channels in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

AT&T adds record number of U-verse TV subscribers in Q4

by Darren Murph posted Jan 28th 2009 at 8:11AM


AT&T's overall Q4 earnings may have dipped 23.6 percent, but its U-verse unit has a few things going for it. Aside from passing the coveted one million mark in customers during the course of last quarter, the company also added a best-ever 264,000 U-verse TV customers. Moreover, the build currently reaches some 17 million living units, but we are told a bit of unfortunate news in terms of future expansion. Remember those plans to "more than double U-verse TV availability by 2010?" Yeah, that has already slipped into 2011, barely a month after the 2010 date was frantically shot out. Alright Verizon, time to get your deployment teams out of Massachusetts and make AT&T regret this, wouldn't you say?

Verizon's FiOS TV expansions: January 24, 2009

by Darren Murph posted Jan 24th 2009 at 4:28AM


It's a lazy week in FiOS TV land, with just two relatively small snippets to discuss. Well, unless you live in Amherst, New York or Hanover, Massachusetts. The former city managed to land its very own FiOS store where prospective buyers can meander in, test drive the fiber-based TV service and get setup in one fell swoop. As for the latter, you've probably already guessed (correctly, might we add) that The Bay State has claimed yet another FiOS TV town, with thousands of residents in Hanover now able to order up the service. Seriously, the Verizon-Massachusetts love fest has to stop. It just has to.

Read - Amherst store
Read - Hanover expansion

Verizon's FiOS TV expansions: January 17, 2009

by Darren Murph posted Jan 17th 2009 at 2:56AM


Verizon hasn't been too terribly busy on the FiOS TV expansion front since the new year began, but there have still been a few rollout plans announced for a handful of key communities. Since we last spoke prior to the onset of CES, the carrier has stretched its fiber-based programming service to residents and businesses in Justin, Northlake and unincorporated parts of Denton County (all in North Texas). Furthermore, new sections of Manhattan and Queens now have access, along with three more Massachusetts communities (Dover, Leominster and Norwell). We get the feeling the post-Christmas hangover will be fully extinguished by the end of next week, so hopefully we'll have an even larger list to run through seven days from now.

Read - North Texas expansion
Read - New York expansion
Read - Massachusetts expansion

Washington, D.C. mayor signs bill approving FiOS TV implementation

by Darren Murph posted Jan 13th 2009 at 5:35PM


Go 'head, Adrian -- brush your shoulders off. In a day where politicians are allowed to make and break promises with no real repercussions, the Washington, D.C. mayor deserves a hearty round of applause. After suggesting last May that FiOS would be landing in the District by early 2009, we're now informed that he has signed a bill authorizing the carrier to implement its fiber-based services in the region. Adrian M. Fenty has signed legislation into law that will give Verizon the ability to make FiOS TV available throughout DC over the next nine years, with the first residents able to order service within the next dozen months. Sure, there's a hoop or two more to jump through before this is all set in stone, but it's probably close enough to done to start celebrating.

AT&T delivers U-verse in Salinas and Monterey, CA

by Darren Murph posted Jan 13th 2009 at 11:40AM

During the chaos that was CES, AT&T saw fit to string its U-verse services to two new locales in the Golden State. Starting now, select homes in the Salinas and Monterey areas have access to U-verse high-speed internet, U-verse Voice and U-verse TV, though exact neighborhoods weren't mentioned. You know what that means -- get on the horn and see if your address is covered.




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