IPTV and Bandwidth Oct 20, 2009
This conversation typically veers into talk of variable bit rate encoding vs. adaptive streaming. More on that another time. (Multichannel News)
still, what do you want for anything except a wireless keyboard/mouse and TV... Oct 19, 2009
ZeeVee: Nifty Idea, But It s Not EZ. What was zee point, again. (Multichannel News)
Former Narad CEO Trades Ethernet-Over-Coax for Web Programming Oct 15, 2009
Remember , a.k.a. PhyFlex Networks. Former Narad/PhyFlex CEO Michael Collette ; two years after winding that company down and selling the company;s Ethernet-over-coax ; has resurfaced as chief executive of a Web-programming startup called. (Multichannel News)
Cisco Buys Into Mobile Broadband Oct 14, 2009
Cisco plans to acquire mobile-Internet infrastructure provider for , the networking giant announced Tuesday. The deal comes two weeks after Cisco said it would spend about $3 billion to buy videoconferencing-systems vendor Tandberg ; see. (Multichannel News)
Cable Improved J.D. Power TV Scores -- But the Competition Did, Too Oct 9, 2009
If you only glanced at the headline from the 2009 J.D. Power and Associates TV service satisfaction survey (see ) you may have missed a key point: Cable customers are happier than they were a year ago. In fact, cable operators made gains virtually across the board, in each of the four regions measured on J.D. Powers survey (see table, below). (Multichannel News)
Nobel Prize Awarded to Fiber-Optic Pioneer Oct 7, 2009
One of the recipients of this years was the researcher who figured out how to send wavelengths of light over long distances of fiber-optic cabling, thereby making high-speed cable and telco backbone networks possible (as well as fiber-to-the-home networks, like Verizons FiOS). In 1966, Charles K. Kao then director of engineering at Standard Telecommunication Laboratories, in the U.K. made a discovery that led to a breakthrough in fiber optics. (Multichannel News)
Republicans Love 'Deadliest Catch,' Dems Dig 'Saving Grace' Oct 6, 2009
Republicans Love 'Deadliest Catch,' Dems Dig 'Saving Grace. Apparently, Republicans are attracted to blood in the water. (Multichannel News)
Cablevision's Broadcast TV Encryption Request: 0 For, 7 Against Oct 4, 2009
So far there;s no love for Cablevision;s proposal to encrypt broadcast basic TV signals that are currently made available to subscribers ;in the clear,; although for now the opposition is being voiced by consumers unaffected by the proposal. The operator has asked the FCC for permission to scramble the full cable lineup in its New York City franchise areas (see ). (Multichannel News)
Why Haven't CableCards Taken Off? Oct 3, 2009
Why Haven't CableCards Taken Off. Why Haven't CableCards Taken Off. (Multichannel News)
Time Warner Cable NYC's QAM Song Sep 30, 2009
In the Big Apple, Time Warner Cable is gearing up to roll out a whole bunch more edge QAM devices, to deliver a whole lot more digital video and data. We;ll have one of the most advanced digital cable networks anywhere; when the upgrades are completed, James Manchester, president of network operations and engineering for TWC;s New York region, told me at the company;s launch last week. (Multichannel News)
Arris Sweeps Up Digeo -- For a Song Sep 25, 2009
Arris is putting its shoulder into developing IP video gateways for cable operators. As part of that strategy, this week it picked up Paul Allen;s DVR venture, , for $20 million in cash (see ). (Multichannel News)
Set-Top Data: Taming the Wild West Sep 19, 2009
On our Webinar yesterday, ;,; Alan Wurtzel, NBC Universal;s president of research and media development, questioned the value of set-top box data today to measure TV viewing today: ;Set-top box data is not, by any means, a panacea. One example he cited: NBCU compared reports from three different research providers based on the same set-top data from Charter;s Los Angeles system ; and found 6%-7% difference in the ratings. (Multichannel News)
Waiting for the Cable (or Telco) Guy Sep 18, 2009
Twiddling one;s thumbs while waiting for the cable guy has become a. But no joke ; it;s a pretty big hassle. (Multichannel News)
Updated: Photos On the TV? Yeah, Cable Can Do It Sep 17, 2009
Updated: Photos On the TV. Updated: Photos On the TV. (Multichannel News)
Workshops & Tutorials Drive 127th AES Convention Sep 15, 2009
1 K/16 bit to low bit rate MP3. Today people "hear" music, while actually listening is almost unheard of (pun intended). (Yahoo! Wire -- Entertainment News)
AT&T's TV Everywhere Placeholder Sep 11, 2009
AT Everywhere Placeholder. AT&T officially of its video-entertainment site Thursday, after quietly pushing it live sometime in the last few weeks (see ). (Multichannel News)
Time Warner Cable Nabs Joost's CTO Sep 5, 2009
After Time Warner Cable apparently to buy struggling Internet TV player Joost, it has instead hired the startup;s CTO, Jason Gaedtke, reports. It;s the fourth gig for Gaedtke in less than three years. (Multichannel News)
YouTube's Identity Crisis Sep 4, 2009
Google is still trying to spin YouTube;s straw into gold. The newest idea: YouTube, until now a free-for-all site, wants to rent you movies. (Multichannel News)
Verizon Joins TV Interface Group Sep 3, 2009
Verizon has joined the , formed by DirecTV, Cisco, Samsung, Broadcom, whose goal is to create a standard for rendering ;pixel accurate; user interfaces on compatible consumer-electronics devices (see ). So far, no cable operators have jumped into RVU (say it ;r-view;). (Multichannel News)
Newsday Nixes FiOS Promos Sep 1, 2009
Now that Cablevision owns Newsday, the Long Island newspaper is not interested in taking the advertising dollars dangled by Verizon for FiOS, the reports today. The episode ;raises troubling ethical and practical questions; for Newsday, the Times suggests. (Multichannel News)
DirecTV, AT&T Waiting in the 'TV Everywhere' Wings Aug 28, 2009
DirecTV, ATing in the 'TV Everywhere' Wings. DirecTV has already reached an agreement with Time Warner Inc. to offer TNT and TBS programming as part of the satellite operator;s spin on ;TV Everywhere,; an executive familiar with the deal told me. (Multichannel News)
Why Didn't TiVo Sue Motorola? Aug 27, 2009
Why Didn't TiVo Sue Motorola. ADVERTISEMENT You will be redirected to your destination in 15 seconds. (Multichannel News)
YouTube Looks to Monetize One-Hit Wonders Aug 26, 2009
Is there gold to be mined from those user-generated hills yet. YouTube;s latest idea for making the cash register ring is to give owners of suddenly popular videos ; think of that ; the chance to sell ads against their clips. (Multichannel News)
Cablevision Rolls New Guide Feature; Web DVR Scheduling Next? Aug 16, 2009
Cablevision Rolls New Guide Feature; Web DVR Scheduling Next. Cablevision Rolls New Guide Feature; Web DVR Scheduling Next. (Multichannel News)
CableLabs Innovation Showcase: The Other Demos Aug 13, 2009
This week, CableLabs announced that attendees of its summer conference in Colorado had picked ;s IR-based 3-D gesture-sensing TV control technology as the ;best new idea; out of a group of 11 vendors (see ). Here;s a summary of the runner-ups ; the other 10 presenting companies and their demos. (Multichannel News)
Comcast Faces Monster Lawsuit Aug 12, 2009
The Tokyo-based company that owns the rights to Godzilla is suing Comcast and its ad agency for allegedly misappropriating the fire-breathing lizard in one of its ads earlier this year (see ). The suit, filed Aug. 6 in Los Angeles by , charges that neither Comcast or Goodby, Silverstein & Partners ; the agency that created the ;; campaign ; sought permission to use or feature Godzilla in the ad. (Multichannel News)
First Look at EpixHD.com: Could Be Fun, If You Can Get It Aug 10, 2009
Each asset, according to Rensing, is encoded six times with bit rates ranging from 500 Kbps up to 720p HD at 3 Mbps. Every 10 second, the video player automatically detects the bandwidth available and adjusts the rate accordingly for smoother playback. (Multichannel News)
53% of Americans Have an HDTV: Survey Aug 8, 2009
Tipping point: At least half of U.S. consumers now have an HDTV.. As of June, about 53% of American households now have a high-def TV, compared with 35% in 2008 and 23% in 2007, according to a analysis of consumer survey data from research firm. (Multichannel News)
Is Comcast 'Hijacking' the Web From Bad Typists? Aug 7, 2009
Is Comcast 'Hijacking' the Web From Bad Typists. Is Comcast 'Hijacking' the Web From Bad Typists. (Multichannel News)
The Itinerant TV Interface Aug 6, 2009
DirecTV, Cisco, Samsung and Broadcom this week announced they have formed the , dedicated to creating a specification that will provide a ;pixel perfect; replication of a device;s user interface that would appear on any (compatible) screen in a connected home. What;s this all about. (Multichannel News)
Digeo's Multiroom DVR: $400 Per Room Aug 5, 2009
Paul Allen;s keeps doggedly flogging its high-end DVR, evidently hoping more than a few well-heeled home-theater buffs will cough up the coin for its products. The company this week is launching its multiroom-DVR ;Moxi Mate; (pictured below), a small non-DVR set-top that accesses recordings on a primary Moxi HD DVR over a home network. (Multichannel News)
Cable-Modem Makers: Patent Firm Violated Antitrust Laws Aug 4, 2009
An update on the patent-litigation firm that;s trying to wring millions of dollars from cable operators. Last week a federal judge ruled that Cisco, Motorola and other cable-modem manufacturers may amend their lawsuits against to allege that the firm violated federal antitrust laws and engaged in unfair competition by bringing to market cable modems with the sole purpose of trying to establish a legal case against the MSOs. (Multichannel News)
Netflix to Stream Videos to iPhone, Nintendo Wii: Source Aug 1, 2009
Netflix, ahead of pay-TV providers, continues extending its own ;TV Everywhere; strategy to more devices. Next up: The company will soon offer the video-streaming feature on Apple iPhones and iPod touch devices and the Nintendo Wii gaming console, according to an industry executive familiar with Netflix;s plans. (Multichannel News)
Never Mind the Web-Video-to-TV Geeks Jul 31, 2009
Some new survey data hints that ;cord cutting; by cable TV subscribers isn;t merely a. Of the 22% of Americans who claim they;ve cut back on pay TV services in the last 12 months, 32% have hooked up their computer to a TV set to watch Internet video on a bigger screen, according to the Pew Research Center;s Internet & American Life Project (see ). (Multichannel News)
New VeriCall Edge(R) Connected Multimedia Software Features YouTube Video Playback Jul 30, 2009
The MQM reduces the impact of video packet loss by intelligently monitoring the network and controlling the bit rate of the video stream. Media Player Framework -- an extensible media player framework that supports both streamed and local playback of multiple audio/video formats; and enables playback functionality to be added to any embedded device. (PR Newswire)
Nagravision Wants FCC Waiver For Its DTAs Jul 30, 2009
Add to the list of suppliers looking for an FCC waiver to let cable operators deploy low-cost digital transport adapters, or DTAs (see ). The agency last month granted Evolution Broadband a blanket waiver exempting its DTAs with content encryption enabled from the ;integrated set-top ban,; and the FCC said it would consider other vendors; requests (see ). (Multichannel News)
Who Has The Best HD Picture? Jul 29, 2009
The answer is that both providers use variable bit rate encoding (VBR). Now on a satellite transponder there are 6 or 7 HD channels, which are all encoded together onto that one transponder. (Multichannel News)
AT&T: Web Site Attacked Our Network Jul 28, 2009
AT Site Attacked Our Network. AT&T over the weekend blocked access to a Web site that;s a notorious haven for odd ; and often highly offensive ; material. (Multichannel News)
CBS Interactive's Smith: Extending TV's Ad Model to the Web Jul 25, 2009
Why is CBS throwing in with. After all, the broadcaster already offers a bunch of its primetime shows for free to consumers, on its CBS.com and TV.com sites as well as other outlets. (Multichannel News)
Hulu Could Charge Subscriptions, Says Disney's CEO Jul 24, 2009
Pay walls on the Internet are officially in vogue. According to Disney CEO Bob Iger, Hulu ; the online-video venture he ; might go the walled-garden route at some point. (Multichannel News)
Technology VC Sees Bright Future For Cable IPTV Jul 22, 2009
ADVERTISEMENT You will be redirected to your destination in 10 seconds. One of the next big areas in the cable-technology sector will be IPTV-related products for cable operators, according to , a former Motorola executive who is now general partner with. (Multichannel News)
Typical U.S. TV Household Now Gets 130-Plus Channels Jul 21, 2009
ADVERTISEMENT You will be redirected to your destination in 10 seconds. Americans are getting more channels ; and they;re watching more TV than ever. (Multichannel News)
Comcast's Pay-TV Online Test: Gaps In the Lineup Jul 18, 2009
Yes, Comcast is in the first inning of On Demand Online, described as a ;trial; that is just getting underway. But the content roster, even at this early stage, has some pretty big gaps. (Multichannel News)
MTVN: Web-Video Ad Winner Is Lower-Third Overlay Jul 17, 2009
In a test of 50 million short-form videos, MTV Networks found that an ad unit combining a 5-second preroll with a 10-second lower-third overlay beat out two formats (a 30-second preroll and 5-second preroll plus 10-second animated ;sideloader;). What was the difference. (Multichannel News)
Disney Backs DTAs With Crypto Jul 15, 2009
The Mouse House is officially in favor of letting cable operators use low-cost digital transport adapters ; a.k.a. digital-to-analog adapters, or DTAs ; that have embedded security features as part of moving to all-digital TV distribution. A turning point on the DTA issue came in June, when the FCC issued a to Evolution Broadband, exempting any of the vendor;s customers from the agency;s ;integrated set-top ban; to be able to deploy DTAs with content encryption enabled (see ). (Multichannel News)
Cable's Tru2way Shopping Lists Jul 8, 2009
ADVERTISEMENT You will be redirected to your destination in 10 seconds. A big benefit the industry touts for the is that it can let cable operators more easily deploy set-tops that are not from Cisco or Motorola, by abstracting the guide and other applications from the underlying hardware. (Multichannel News)
Akamai Announces Variable Bit Rate Streaming Support to Deliver Live High Quality Video Content to iPhone and iPod touch Jul 3, 2009
--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: - ), the leader in powering rich media, dynamic transactions and enterprise applications online, today announced variable bit rate streaming support for live and high quality video content on the iPhone and iPod touch. Variable bit rate streaming was a key feature delivered in the recent iPhone 3 ... Variable bit rate streaming over HTTP benefits the consumer by enabling a high fidelity viewing experience at any bit rate, faster video start... (Yahoo! Wire -- Entertainment News)
How Much 'TV Everywhere' Will Comcast's Caps Allow? Jun 28, 2009
High-definition in this case isn;t broadcast-quality HD (see ); the bit rates I was hitting over a Cablevision Optimum Online connection for each episode were 1. 091 Mbps, 974 Kbps and 1. (Multichannel News)
Cybersnooping: It's Illegal in the U.S. Jun 27, 2009
Apparently I wasn;t explicit enough in my post about why it;s ludicrous to compare Iran;s use of deep packet inspection to block and intercept the communications of dissidents to the use of DPI technology by U.S. ISPs. Let me spell it out: It;s illegal in the United States for service providers to intercept or disclose private electronics communications without a court order. (Multichannel News)
TV Everywhere: The Ball Gets Rolling Jun 25, 2009
The cable industry;s first crack at ;authentication; is supposed to kick off next month, when Comcast offers a trial group of 5,000 subs access to TNT and TBS episodes, and eventually other programming. Today;s announcement has already raised several questions. (Multichannel News)
CableLabs Floats Bandwidth-On-Demand Concept Jun 24, 2009
Pigs eating too much at the Internet trough. CableLabs has sketched out a system that would let cable customers tell their providers when they want more bandwidth ; or less ; and pay more (or less) accordingly. (Multichannel News)
The Evil That Routers Do Jun 23, 2009
ADVERTISEMENT You will be redirected to your destination in 10 seconds. In a fascinating display of political rhetoric, activist group Free Press is that a technology used by repressive regimes in Iran and China to spy on or block Internet communications is also employed by U.S. Internet service providers as a tool to manage their networks. (Multichannel News)
FiOS TV Tees Up N.Y.-Area News Jun 21, 2009
In what might be the official launch of FiOS1 in the NYC area, Verizon on Monday, June 22, ;will reveal new choices for local programming available on the Verizon FiOS TV Network in the greater New York/New Jersey region,; the company said in a media advisory yesterday. We got wind of the forthcoming FiOS1 launch in the Big Apple and suburbs last Monday ; see. (Multichannel News)
Did Canoe 'Overhype' the Zone-Targeted Ads? Jun 20, 2009
Did Canoe 'Overhype' the Zone-Targeted Ads. Did Canoe 'Overhype' the Zone-Targeted Ads. (Multichannel News)
Sirius-ly Flawed Jun 19, 2009
It appears the reason for this is because the new iPhone application uses new ;Variable Bit Rate; streams while the web streams from the Sirius XM website are 128k streams ... There are three apps that I know of which will allow you to listen to the high bit rate streams and also enjoy the Howard Stern show. (Multichannel News)
TI's DOCSIS Guy Now Cable Europe Labs' CTO Jun 18, 2009
Peter Percosan, previously Texas Instrument;s top ambassador to the cable industry, has taken on a new gig as chief technology officer of Cable Europe Labs. The new job;s going to require just a bit of air travel for Percosan, who has been living in the San Francisco Bay Area. (Multichannel News)
Verizon Expected to Launch FiOS1 NY Next Week Jun 17, 2009
ADVERTISEMENT You will be redirected to your destination in 10 seconds. Local news and weather channel FiOS1 New York will launch next Monday, June 22, available exclusively to Verizon FiOS TV subscribers in the New York metropolitan area, according to a source familiar with the telco;s plans. (Multichannel News)
Let's Party Like It's 6/12/2009! Jun 6, 2009
Let's Party Like It's 6/12/2009. Let's Party Like It's 6/12/2009. (Multichannel News)
Are You Ready for HD? High-Def Makeup, That Is Jun 4, 2009
Are You Ready for HD. ADVERTISEMENT You will be redirected to your destination in 10 seconds. (Multichannel News)
FCC: Bring on the DTAs Jun 3, 2009
The FCC has granted a waiver request to Evolution Broadband for two low-cost digital terminal adapters ; or DTAs ; and has signaled it;s ready to give the OK to other manufacturers of similar devices if warranted. The FCC, in the released Tuesday, noted the Evolution Broadband waiver was the first granted for a low-cost device rather than for a specific cable operator;s deployment of such a device. (Multichannel News)
Xbox Extras: Look, Mom, No Controller! Jun 2, 2009
Xbox Extras: Look, Mom, No Controller. ADVERTISEMENT You will be redirected to your destination in 10 seconds. (Multichannel News)
First Clips and Screen Shots: G1 Gets Video Recording Through Android Update May 31, 2009
There are two recording modes: High-quality offers you a resolution of 352288 and a 360 Kbps bit rate while the low-quality setting comes with a resolution of 176x144 and a bit rate of 192 Kbps. How does all of that look. (Salon)
First Look: Comcast's Remote DVR Scheduling For TiVo via Fancast May 30, 2009
Comcast;s first foray into ; a feature DirecTV made the slamming cable ; may be in partnership with TiVo, through its Fancast Web site. This summer, Comcast will allow TiVo DVR customers in New England to schedule recordings online, TiVo said in announcing its Q1 results Wednesday. (Multichannel News)
Steve Case: Mea Culpa May 29, 2009
AOL is officially getting kicked out of the Time Warner nest, nine years after the pair hooked up in a $100-billion-plus cascade of Internet funny money (see ). In January 2000, when the deal was announced, Time Warner Inc. CEO Gerald Levin said: ;This strategic combination with AOL accelerates the digital transformation of Time Warner by giving our creative and content businesses the widest possible canvas. (Multichannel News)
What Will Be In the 'Authentication' Basket? May 28, 2009
Quality of experience: delivering video at higher bit rates than what is available on Hulu or other sites. Exclusive content: extras, deleted scenes, interviews, etc. (Multichannel News)
