TW Cable Sets Docsis 3.0 Expansion

Today's cable news headlines range from wideband's expanding reach, a glimpse into cable's interactive future and old spats between cable ops and broadcasters.

Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE: TWC)’s relatively slow roll on Docsis 3.0 continued this week with word that the MSO will launch wideband services in Rochester, N.Y., this spring. Comcast Corp. (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK), meanwhile, has almost completed its D3 network upgrades. (See Docsis 3.0: It's More Than Speed.)

Keep an eye on PrimeSense Ltd. . The Israeli company that built Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT)’s Xbox 360 Kinect Motion sensing technology just raised another US$50 million. Are motion-control-based TV navigation systems in the works?

Reality show producer Endemol is developing an interactive Web series for AOL Inc. (NYSE: AOL). If AOL and Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE: TWC) were still owned by the same company, would AOL be used to incubate original interactive TV programming for cable subscribers? (See Cox Reports Heavy Interactive TV Usage .)

Cox Media Group has merged its Cox Cross Media and Adify units to form Cox Digital Solutions.

Fox Broadcasting Co. may have extended its affiliation contract with Sinclair Broadcast Group through 2012, but Time Warner Cable subscribers could lose Family Guy and other Fox shows unless it cuts a new retransmission consent deal with Sinclair by Friday. (See TV Contract Disputes Heat Up.)

— Steve Donohue, Special to Light Reading Cable