SureWest Rolls Out BigBand
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, November 14, 2011 · 
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SureWest Communications of Roseville, Ca., has rolled out BigBand Networks’ switched digital video platform in its service area of Kansas City, Kansas.
In Kansas City, the telco offers video over a hybrid fiber and coaxial cable network. The BigBand solution allows SureWest to optimize and reclaim network bandwidth. It will provide the bandwidth necessary to expand its channel offerings on the digital cable TV service without converting to an all-IP network or relying on digital analog converters (DTAs). SureWest already has been able to support approximately 50 additional HD channels in its IPTV product. The SDV solution also will free up bandwidth for other digital products. Read more
Verizon Adds Longhorn Network
Posted by Steve Fravel on Friday, August 26, 2011 · ·
Verizon can claim a first; having come to terms with ESPN on a national distribution deal for the new 24-hour Longhorn Network. The announcement of the agreement comes in the “nick of time,” as the network is scheduled to launch at 6 o’clock central on August 26. Read more
Echostar to Shut Down IPTV Service
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, August 15, 2011 · ·
EchoStar confirmed last week that it will shut down its ViP-TV linear MPEG-4 transport offering, giving its IPTV customers about 45 days to find a new vendor. The move will affect about 26 customers, almost all of them tier 3 service providers.
According to published reports, the company announced the decision to its customers via an email. The service will begin shutting down August 24 and will officially close on September 30. Read more
AMC Network in Play?
Posted by Steve Fravel on Friday, July 8, 2011 · ·
Spun off last week by Cablevision, the former Rainbow Media Holdings may be the acquisition target for one of several media companies. Rumor has it that Disney, News Corp. and Time-Warner each may have an interest in buying the newly renamed AMC Networks.
AMC Networks owns AMC, IFC, WE TV and the Sundance Channel. AMC also owns IFC Films and international programmer and TV program distribution unit. Speculation is that a deal for AMC Networks could run in the $3 billion range.
None of the organizations has commented publicly on the rumor. Of course if a deal is to go through it will provide the wining content provider with even more market power in retransmission consent negotiations.
Pace, Minerva Set-Top Box Integration
Posted by Steve Fravel on Friday, June 17, 2011 · ·
Pace has announced a partnership agreement with Minerva to integrate Minerva xTVFusion middleware technology into Pace HD set-top-boxes.
Pace indicates that this is an expansion to the options available to IPTV providers seeking middleware technology. The partnership will allow Pace to provide a “pre-integrated, end-to-end solution” to service providers. Both Pace and Minerva refer to the arrangement as an effective method of providing viewing options to IPTV subscribers that includes video-on-demand, restart TV, network DVR, catch-up TV and Internet video integration.
Verizon Falls Short in STB Dust up with Cablevision
Posted by Steve Fravel on Monday, May 23, 2011 · ·
Last Friday, a U.S. International Trade Commission judge tossed claims that Verizon made against Cablevision Systems on set-top box patents. Verizon filed the complaint and suit against the cable MSO in early 2010.
Verizon claimed that three Cablevision set-top boxes (STBs) violated five patents held by the telco. Verizon released the following statement last Friday: “Our pursuit of this action reflects our long-established commitment to protect and enforce our intellectual property rights.”
Cablevision responded: “This is a significant victory for Cablevision, the judge rejected four of Verizon’s five claims in the case and the fifth had already been invalidated by a Virginia court. We are obviously pleased and will continue to defend ourselves vigorously as the process continues.”
Verizon is currently preparing a second case for review citing two additional patents that it believes Cablevision to be violating. If Verizon is victorious, the court will block Cablevision from importing three digital set-top models from Cisco, key hardware which subscribers use to record programs on the MSO’s new network DVR service.
In related news, ActiveVideo, an interactive TV vendor whose largest client is Cablevision, is waiting for a decision in a suit filed against Verizon for similar patent infringements in May 2010.
LIN and Dish Reach Agreement
Posted by Steve Fravel on Monday, March 14, 2011 · ·
After an eight-day blackout period in which 27 stations were dropped from Dish Network, the subscribers in 17 DMAs learned on Sunday that the stations were coming back.
LIN Media and Dish Network announced on March 13 that they had come to terms and would be restoring the missing channels to the Dish Network line-up. In a statement from LIN Media, LIN president and CEO Vincent Sadusky said, ”We are pleased that our negotiations with Dish Network resulted in a fair resolution and a new retransmission consent agreement.”