Also making cable news: ivi's big setback, the net neutrality battle heats up, WOW gears for wideband, and reviewers torch Sony's Google TV

January 24, 2011

3 Min Read
Charter Throws In With TiVo

TiVo Inc. (Nasdaq: TIVO)'s big score with Charter Communications Inc. leads today's cable news roundup, which also hits ivi Inc. 's spat with broadcasters, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) 's looming court battle over net neutrality and AOL Inc. (NYSE: AOL)'s entry into the late-night talk show war.

  • In its biggest deal yet with a U.S. cable MSO, TiVo said Charter will deploy its Premiere DVR and use its navigation software for a multi-room DVR service and non-DVR platforms. (See Charter Connects With TiVo.)

    TiVo, which has also struck recent deals with Cox Communications Inc. , RCN Corp. , Virgin Media Inc. (Nasdaq: VMED), and smaller pay-TV providers, said Charter will deploy its Premiere box -- a broadband-connected DVR that integrates Web video content -- later this year.

    Charter will also work with TiVo for strategies on "next generation platforms that will expand the service with new devices, features, and third party applications," TiVo said.

    Charter subscribers with the Premiere DVR will also be able to access Web applications such as Facebook and Twitter Inc. , Charter video-on-demand (VoD) content, online video from some "top destinations" that TiVo didn't specify, and an application for Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL)'s iPad. (See TiVo Makes its Suddenlink Debut, TiVo: $99 Premiere DVR Revving Retail, TiVo CEO: 'iPad Effect' Could Spur Cable Deals and Cox, TiVo Strike a DVR Deal.)

    [Ed. note: Look for more detail on this deal soon.]

  • A Seattle court rejected ivi TV's request for a ruling that would declare it isn't ripping off local broadcasters by streaming their signals on the Web. (See Q&A: ivi Inc. Founder & CEO Todd Weaver.)

  • Competitive overbuilder WideOpenWest Holdings LLC (WOW) has completed its Docsis 3.0 network upgrades, and is in the process of installing provisioning systems that can support the new D3 modems, according to this blog post from CTO Cash Hagan. No word yet on what speeds WOW's upcoming D3 service will offer as it gets ready to lock horns by cable incumbents such as Comcast, Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE: TWC), and Insight Communications Co. Inc. . (See WOW Gets D3 Ball Rolling.)

  • Comcast Corp. (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) says it had nothing to do with Keith Olbermann's ungraceful exit from MSNBC.

  • Those conditions the FCC placed on Comcast's merger with NBC don't have many teeth, according to industry analyst Bruce Leichtman. (See FCC Blesses Condition-Laden Comcast-NBCU Deal.)

  • Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ)'s challenge to the FCC's net neutrality rules is likely just the beginning, as other similar suits are expected. (See Verizon Fights Net Neutrality Order.)

  • AOL is getting into the late-night talk show game, signing Kevin Smith, Adam Carolla and Kevin Pollak for an online video series.

  • There's a pretty rough review of a new Sony Corp. (NYSE: SNE) Internet TV with Google TV in Digital Trends, which called Google TV "a tortured beast, pockmarked with huge content holes from networks likes CBS and NBC, major sites like Hulu still blocked, and a browsing experience that lumbers along too clumsily to use casually." (See Google TV Still Not Ready for Prime Time .)

  • The U.K.'s Sky and Virgin Media Inc. (Nasdaq: VMED) are working on 3-D versions of their interactive program guides.

    — Steve Donohue, Special to Light Reading Cable

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