Dec 22
You’re spent, literally. Holiday shopping has thoroughly ravaged your wallet and soul. That means it’s time to rein in the discretionary expenses for the New Year. There’s no better place to start than that grotesque $180 cable bill. More »
Dec 21
Hulu Plus not happening on cable-provided TiVo Premiere DVRs, Scrooge wins again
Posted in: cable, content, dvr, hulu, netflix, tivo, Today's Chili
It’s a little hard to know exactly who to blame here, but one thing is for sure: consumers lose. Last week Suddenlink started deploying TiVo Premiere DVRs to its customers minus Netflix, saying that it was the agreements Netflix has with studios that prevents its streaming service from being deployed on a cable company DVR. At the time it was hopeful that Hulu Plus could still work, but now it’s confirmed that its customers won’t get that either, blaming the same sort of agreements between Hulu and its content providers. Frustrating? Absolutely — but there is one obvious work-around: buy your own darned TiVo Premiere, get access to Netflix and Hulu Plus, and stop paying your cable provider that monthly rental fee. Mind, you’ll have to rock a CableCard, losing the ability to watch video on demand, and the separate TiVo plus Hulu Plus fees might cost a bit more, but consider that a small price to pay for the right to stick a finger in the eye of The Man.
Hulu Plus not happening on cable-provided TiVo Premiere DVRs, Scrooge wins again originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 07:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | 
GigaOm | Email this | Comments
Nov 29
Comcast Is Bullying Netflix Partners Into Paying a Toll to Deliver Streaming Video [Bullies]
Posted in: cable, netflix, StreamingVideo, Today's Chili, top
Level 3 Communications, the networking company that delivers streaming video to Netflix users, says that Comcast is demanding a “recurring fee” for the transmission of such videos to its subscribers. This, it goes without saying, is very shitty news. Updated. More »
Nov 22
Regulators perturbed by Comcast’s executive reshuffling, NBC Universal takeover to blame
Posted in: business, cable, content, deal, industry, partnership, sale, sales, Television, Today's Chili, TV
Hold your horses, Bubsy. While it looked like there were but a few Is to dot and Ts to cross before Comcast’s takeover of NBC Universal was official, folks in high places are now shaking their heads at a recent decision by the carrier. As the story goes, Comcast and NBC Universal are still in talks with the government over the proposed takeover, and it seems that a few wires were crossed in recent days; Comcast decided to announce a new management slate for NBC Universal just a few days ago, despite the fact that the takeover hasn’t actually been green-lit. According to an inside report over at The New York Times, one unnamed official in Washington had this to say: “For a deal this large, and one that hasn’t been approved, Comcast’s behavior is presumptuous and arrogant.” Of course, it’s not like this trigger-pulling in and of itself is reason for the whole deal to collapse, but it certainly won’t make things any easier on either company. So much for taking on those new roles (and accompanying raises) prior to Turkey Day, huh?
Regulators perturbed by Comcast’s executive reshuffling, NBC Universal takeover to blame originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 18:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Nov 17
Motorola video survey says Americans are still into paying for TV service, buying new TVs
Posted in: 3d tv, cable, motorola, satellite, streaming, Today's Chili, TV
It doesn’t seem like everyone’s jumped on the cord cutting bandwagon just yet, as the 2010 “Media Engagement Barometer” conducted by Vanson Bourne for Motorola surveyed 7,500 consumers in 13 countries (1,000 in the US) before issuing its findings that 86 percent of Americans subscribe to pay TV providers and 6% are using video/TV on the internet, even while free OTA TV is available. And those 3D TVs that are everywhere? Worldwide, they figured 75 percent of viewers either own or plan to own an HDTV in the next 18 months, while 4% currently own 3D sets, 25 percent indicated they plan to upgrade to one in the same time period. US stats pegged 59 percent of respondents with HDTVs, 20 percent with an internet enabled set and 25 percent with a smartphone. Other results indicate we haven’t seen the last of the Twitter widget on our TVs and set-top boxes either, with 58 percent of responses showing people have used social media during a TV broadcast and would switch providers to have it integrated in their TV service. Check out the press release after the break and PDF fact sheet for more statistical breakdowns while we figure out exactly what this means for any a la carte TV dreams.
Motorola video survey says Americans are still into paying for TV service, buying new TVs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 18:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink 
Media Experiences 2 Go | Motorola, Fact sheet (PDF) | Email this | Comments
Nov 08
Time Warner has been running trials of its Look Back service for a year or so in various markets, but it’s finally ready to bring it to the Real America. The feature lets good, honest folk go back and watch shows they’ve missed for up to three days after they’ve aired, with no need to set a DVR — it’s basically on demand content with a better name and no charge. Shows will be available to watch immediately after they’ve aired. Look for it to hit a coax cable near you very soon.
Continue reading Time Warner Cable rolling out Look Back service to the masses
Time Warner Cable rolling out Look Back service to the masses originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Nov 2010 11:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Nov 05
Big cable loses 500,000 subscribers in Q3, we neglect to send flowers
Posted in: cable, Today's Chili
Last quarter was the first time ever that US pay TV subscription rates were down. Now, according to GigaOM’s calculations, big cable suffered another set back in Q3, waving goodbye to over 500,000 subscribers in total. Comcast was saddled with over half of the carnage and lost 275,000 customers, while Time Warner took a 155,000 subscriber hit. Charter Communications and Cablevision fared slightly better, but still added 63,800 and 24,500 respectively to the industry pit of despair.
Naturally, the blame game for the poor numbers was aimed squarely at the weak economy and increased competition from over-the-top video providers. Before you call the undertaker away from his wrestling day job, though, remember that cable’s traditional backstop is to raise prices for remaining customers — vicious cycle, anyone? In fact, Comcast shared on its Q3 earnings call that average customer revenue rose by ten percent year over year to $136 a month. Charter’s similarly jumped by nine percent to $126, and while Cablevision’s didn’t increase by the same rate, monthly revenue per customer still amounted to a whopping $149 a month. So whether the reason is cord cutting or simply hard times, it’s hard to get worked up over self-inflicted wounds.
Big cable loses 500,000 subscribers in Q3, we neglect to send flowers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Nov 2010 06:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | GigaOM | Email this | Comments
Oct 12
Do I Need an Apple TV? [Video]
Posted in: Apple, apple tv, cable, feature, playstation 3, ps3, sony, streamer, Today's Chili, top, xbox, xbox 360
By lowering the price to $99, Apple has made a bold thrust into the living room, proclaiming, “This is the streamer for the masses.” But, ho, masses! Should you add this relatively inexpensive box to your increasingly cluttered TV system? More »
Oct 06
Ask Giz: Insecure Boyfriends, Insecure Careers, and Creepy Neighbors [Ask Giz]
Posted in: cable, Today's Chili, top, wi-fi
A girlfriend with dubious motives. A frightened social networker. A lonely neighbor with an eye on his WiFi. Some of you are real wrecks! Luckily, so are we. Let’s commiserate. More »
Sep 29
More TV Coming to TiVo and Roku This Fall with Hulu Plus
Posted in: apple tv, cable, dvr, Home Audio and Video, hulu, netflix, tivo, Today's Chili
Roku’s streaming media players can shake off the “Netflix box” tag once and for all. TiVo, too, keeps its spot high in the set-top food chain. Both Roku players and TiVo’s Premiere and Premiere XL boxes will be able to stream network shows with Hulu Plus this fall.
Hulu Plus, a $9.99/month subscription service that offers additional premium content in addition to the network TV shows and backlist films offered through the free Hulu web site, is already available for streaming with net-connected Samsung TVs and Blu-ray players, Boxee’s set-top boxes, and Sony’s Playstation 3, with announced support for XBox 360, other Sony devices, and some Vizio TVs and Blu-ray players coming either this fall or in early 2011.
The announcements from TiVo and Roku did not specify dates on which the service would be available on either device. Roku currently offers access to Netflix Watch Instantly, Amazon Streaming Video, Pandora, and other streaming media channels. TiVo offers DVR capability in addition to most of the same services. Apple’s much-anticipated new version of Apple TV offers Netflix access and rentals through iTunes, but not Hulu at this time.
The emerging model for set-top boxes appears to be devices that offer a wide range of streaming services, whether free, for purchase, for rental, or through subscriptions. Either the boxes are inexpensive and dedicated for this purpose, like Roku and the new Apple TV, or relatively expensive but offer additional services like gaming, web browsing, or video recording, like TiVo, PS3, or XBox 360.
The devices have differentiated themselves according to three features: 1) price; 2) some exclusive features, as in the case of game consoles; and 3) the strength and ease-of-use of their interfaces — both the on-screen software and remote control capability.
All can be used in conjunction with traditional cable and satellite TV service, but some users are beginning to find the offerings of internet video rich enough that they can forego cable or satellite altogether. Hulu Plus on TiVo and Roku may be what pushes many of them over the edge.
Image via Hulu.com
See Also:
- Hulu Plus Launches: Three Networks, Zero Real-Time Shows …
- Subscription Hulu: Beginning of the End for Cable, Satellite TV …
- Roku Launches $60 HD Streaming Media Player
- Roku Moves Beyond Netflix, Says Hello To Amazon
- TiVo Redesigns Search Function, Wants to be the 'Google of TV …
- It's Another QWERTY Keyboard, Now for TV
- Google TV Revealed: One Screen to Rule Them All
Who's in charge here?
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.