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Comcast has issues with Verizon's FiOS VOD claims

by Ben Drawbaugh posted Oct 23rd 2009 at 3:07PM

Comcast's crazy claims
The only thing we love more than analysts and surveys is content providers bickering over each other's ridiculous PR claims and none are as fun as when Comcast is involved. Avid readers are all too familiar with Comcast's strategy to give up on the linear channel race and instead focus on VOD "options" no matter how silly it makes them look to those in the know. What really makes this particular situation interesting is that Comcast doesn't appreciate it when another provider, like Verizon FiOS, gets in on the action when it recently claimed it offered 3 times as many VOD offerings a month as the nation's largest provider. Comcast claims this is just not true and there are actually at least 17,000 VOD titles available in most markets. If that is news to you, then you aren't the only one as Verizon blasts back with "I'm surprised that Comcast wouldn't talk about these numbers in their PR and advertising. We make sure to let our customers know when we're adding more to their service." Too true, Verizon, too true. Honestly we couldn't care less about VOD because we're in the small group of CableCARD users, but there's no way we could turn away from a train wreck like this.

Piazza At Schmidt's bringing huge Daktronics HD LED screen to Philadelphia

by Darren Murph posted Feb 1st 2009 at 3:34PM


What's up with Philadelphia and all these HD displays? Not only is the City of Brotherly Love home to a gigantic 27- x 87- display at the Comcast Center, but it's about to be home to a swank 16- x 26-foot Daktronics HD LED video projection screen. Said display will be arriving at the Piazza At Schmidt's, a multi-use venue in the Northern Liberties neighborhood. The grand opening is scheduled for May 15th - 16th, 2009, and it will supposedly host up musical artists, street fairs and all manners of other performances. So here's the heads-up you needed to block out that weekend and check it out, cool?

[Thanks, RSR]

Comcast brings a fresh trio to Philadelphia, PA

by Darren Murph posted Jan 16th 2009 at 4:12PM

While citizens in the Philly suburbs of Willow Grove / Montgomery and Bucks Counties received these three last month, Comcast decided to wait awhile before bestowing them upon the residents of Philadelphia proper. As of now, USA HD, Discovery HD and SciFi HD have all been added, and if you're parked in the City of Brotherly Love, you can find 'em on slots 222, 224 and 226, respectively. The full release is after the break.

Continue reading Comcast brings a fresh trio to Philadelphia, PA

Sony calls it quits on US TV production

by Steven Kim posted Dec 15th 2008 at 5:28PM

Sony Westmoreland, PA plant
Honestly, it's surprising to us that Sony still had any TV manufacturing was still in the U.S., but sadly, the company will be turning the lights out on its last U.S.-based plant early next year. The Westmoreland, PA plant is set to cease TV production in February 2009 and finally close in March 2010 when TV and Blu-ray disc repair are relocated as well. Reliability be damned, the plant just couldn't avoid the axe this time around -- it had already shifted from RPTVs to LCD TVs since opening in 1990 -- but this last round of "5 or 6" worldwide plant closings for Sony will spell curtains for the Pittsburgh Technology Center. Our hearts go out to the 560 folks who will lose their jobs.

[Image courtesy Westmoreland County, PA]

Comcast has no shame, successfully delays FiOS vote for Philadelphia

by Darren Murph posted Dec 12th 2008 at 12:56PM


Ha, wow. This stuff is too rich to make up. We already knew that Comcast was blowing smoke by claiming that it had more HD material (than Verizon) that mere mortals actually cared about, but this is just incredible. A new report straight from Philadelphia makes clear that a practically imminent vote to give Verizon a 15-year lease to wire the city up for FiOS TV has been abruptly halted, and Comcast is largely to thank. Purportedly, lobbyists for the carrier swarmed the council chambers yesterday and managed to convince them to take another month or so to reconsider. Among the issues brought up were that another carrier wouldn't necessarily lead to lower prices and that Verizon would likely wire up higher income neighborhoods first / only. Thanks Comcast -- we bet even Adam Smith would agree that no competition is better than competition you find unfavorable.

[Via DSLReports]

Philadelphia's NBC 10 brings the high-def love to its newscasts

by Darren Murph posted Dec 10th 2008 at 5:15PM

Philadelphia residents, NBC 10 loves you. We mean, it really digs you. So much, in fact, that it has taken to heart all those surely kind letters you've sent in over the past few months regarding high-def news. Starting tonight, The City of Brotherly Love has another place to turn for high-definition newscasts, and that place is NBC 10. Reportedly, the station has been constructing an HD studio for months, and it has just now taken the wraps off of everything. Enjoy, Philly, and let us know if you're pleased in comments below.

Verizon and Comcast exchange words on HD options in Philadelphia

by Darren Murph posted Dec 9th 2008 at 6:12PM


And by "exchange words," we mean "get seriously agitated and spout off at one another." As Verizon comes down the home stretch on a deal that would give it a 15-year agreement to offer programming services in the City of Brotherly Love, rival Comcast is quaking in its boots. After proclaiming that a huge chunk of Verizon's HD options were just "program fillers on blow-drying hair, kissing, grilling a hamburger, folding a pillowcase, chopping garlic, and other mundane topics," Verizon hit back by insinuating that Comcast was just "desperate." In a fit of stupidity, Comcast produced figures showing that it had a total of 1,304 HD choices in the area compared to Verizon's 1,057; what it failed to mention was the 37 versus 104 (respectively) number that describes the huge gap in linear HD channels between the two carriers. Oh Comcast, when will you ever stop making yourself look silly?

[Via BroadbandReports]

Comcast adds USA HD, Discovery HD and SciFi HD in Pennsylvania / Delaware

by Darren Murph posted Dec 8th 2008 at 4:44PM

While the residents of the Steel City just received a trio from Comcast, it looks like other markets in the state (as well as Delaware) are preparing to receive three others. Specifically, subscribers in the Philadelphia suburbs of Willow Grove / Montgomery and Bucks Counties, as well as New Castle, Delaware, will be seeing USA HD, SciFi HD and Discovery HD shortly, with potentially unfounded promises for lots more in the future. Don't worry about tomorrow, though -- just enjoy what you've been blessed with today. Full release is after the break.

[Thanks, Margo]

Continue reading Comcast adds USA HD, Discovery HD and SciFi HD in Pennsylvania / Delaware

Pittsburgh gets a few new HD channels from Comcast

by Darren Murph posted Dec 3rd 2008 at 2:07PM

Nearly half a year ago, Pittsburgh residents were cheering as Comcast ushered in a new slate of high-definition options. Now, it's time for yet another round of golf claps, as the carrier has just added in SPEED HD (219), Fox News HD (202) and FX HD (199) while replacing the now-defunct MOJO HD with Fox Sports Pittsburgh (226). And hey Comcast, tipster Steve says you should seriously consider adding ESPNU HD soon (and we're in agreement).

[Thanks, Steve]

Verizon gears up for FiOS rollout in 27,000 Aimco apartments

by Darren Murph posted Nov 25th 2008 at 6:24AM


It's incredibly obvious that one of Verizon's main opportunities for growth in FiOS TV is locking down contracts with housing facilities and apartment complexes, and while we've seen some small to medium-scale rollouts before, this one takes things to a whole 'nother level. Last year, the provider inked a deal with Aimco that would eventually bring fiber-based FiOS services to residents of some 27,000 apartments in 11 states across the nation. Now, 100 Aimco properties from coast to coast will be lit up with FiOS TV / internet / digital voice services prior to the onset of 2009, and that should make for quite a few happy tenants this holiday season.

[Image courtesy of Apts247]

Verizon's FiOS TV expansions: November 22, 2008

by Darren Murph posted Nov 22nd 2008 at 4:59AM


Verizon's not slacking off as the run-up to the holiday season continues -- probably because folks are apt to have all sorts of free TV watching time here in the next month or so -- so we'll get right down to the releases. Up first are the towns of Middleton, Massachusetts, and the corporately-stacked Wilmington, Delaware, which have just granted the company a video license. Next, we head to the Pacific Northwest to see that Camas, Washington and Gresham, Oregon have agreed to do the same. Finally, we're told that Philadelphia-area residents are being treated to 30 new channels (17 of which are in high-def). That's it for this week -- we'll see you back again in seven days for (hopefully) even more.

Read - Philadelphia channels
Read - Washington expansion
Read - Massachusetts expansion
Read - Oregon expansion
Read - Delaware expansion

Verizon's FiOS TV expansions: November 15, 2008

by Darren Murph posted Nov 15th 2008 at 3:49AM


It's been a slow week for FiOS TV expansions, but we suppose the hard-working individuals responsible for 233,000 new net customers in Q3 deserve a little rest and relaxation before getting back to the grind. Up first we have the Tampa Bay, Florida area getting gifted with a new wave of interactive features on their DVRs. Next, we see three more Trump (yes, that Trump) Properties receiving FiOS TV and high-speed internet services, and if you're curious as to which ones we're referring to, they are: Trump Parc, Trump Parc East and 610 Park Avenue. Lastly, we're notified that Verizon and the City of Brotherly Love (or Philadelphia, if you prefer) are working together to grant the carrier a cable franchise; if passed, Verizon would work to deploy its fiber-based network throughout the region over seven years. That's it for this week, so we'll see you back again in seven days for (hopefully) even more.

Read - Tampa Bay
Read - Trump Properties
Read - Philadelphia

Verizon's FiOS TV expansions: November 8, 2008

by Darren Murph posted Nov 8th 2008 at 4:05AM


Not only did Verizon pick up nearly a quarter-million new FiOS TV subscribers in Q3, but it's looking to make sure even more Americans have an opportunity to join in during Q4. This week, the carrier has received approval to light up its fiber-based TV service in several more New York communities -- Port Washington North in Nassau County, the Town of Fishkill / City of Poughkeepsie in Dutchess County, Schuylerville, Throgs Neck and Edgewater Park in the Bronx, and Sheepshead Bay and Gerritsen Beach in Brooklyn. Additionally, it added in 53 new HD channels in Richmond / Hampton Roads, VA, 10 more in Harrisburg, PA and 16 in Rhode Island. We'll see you next week -- here's to hoping your neck of the woods gets covered within the next seven days.

Read - New York expansion I
Read - New York expansion II
Read - Hampton Roads, VA additions
Read - Richmond, VA additions
Read - Harrisburg, PA additions
Read - Rhode Island additions

Burglars break into restaurant, steal HDTV, leave money / food behind

by Darren Murph posted Oct 29th 2008 at 4:02PM

Not that we'd have any expert knowledge in the wide world of theft, but this just doesn't seem like the best way to go about snagging a new HDTV. At any rate, an undisclosed amount of thieves reportedly drove a truck (or large SUV... it was dark outside, okay?) into the front door of Los Tres Amigos restaurant in a small Pennsylvania town, broke the glass, ganked a 47-inch Insignia HDTV and "fled the scene." For starters, you'd risk prison for an Insignia? Really? Second, with LCD prices tanking like never before, don't you think you could've waited until Black Friday to get yourself a steal? Sigh.

[Image courtesy of Hotel Interactive]

Comcast SportsNet delivers every Flyers, Sixers and Phillies game in HD

by Darren Murph posted Sep 16th 2008 at 8:20PM


Shortly after hearing that Comcast SportsNet would be broadcasting an awful lot of Washington Capitals in HD this upcoming season, along comes this. Philadelphia residents should be in high-def heaven for the foreseeable future, being that Comcast SportsNet has just vowed to deliver "all Flyers, Sixers and Phillies games -- home and away, regular season and playoff -- in high-definition for the first time." Fans will also be treated to high-def versions of pre- and post-game shows, and if you're interested in some exact figures, you'll see 64 Flyers and 69 Sixers games, all in high definition, beginning with the Saturday, October 11 Flyers vs. New York Rangers tilt and the Wednesday, October 29 Sixers vs. Toronto Raptors matchup.

[Via HDSportsGuide, thanks Todd]
[Image courtesy of TheLineupCard]




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