Broadbandinfo.com keeps you up-to-date on the latest broadband news and advancements & developments in high speed Internet, VoIP, WIFI and other broadband technologies. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/ Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:50:10 -0500 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:48:45 -0500 FeedForAll v2.0 (2.0.2.9) http://www.feedforall.com Through an agreement with NBC Universal (NBCU), Mediacom is offering its customers access to thousands of hours of 2008 Beijing Olympic Games coverage across multiple platforms from traditional cable to video-on-demand, high-definition television, and high-speed Internet. Mediacom Customers Choose What, When, and How to Watch the Olympic Games "The bar has been raised in a significant way this year, and we're proud to use Mediacom's fiber-optic broadband network to give our customers multi-platform access to the Summer Olympics," said John Pascarelli, Mediacom's executive vice president of operations. "The biggest change for these Olympics isn't just that our customers have the opportunity to see much more content; it's their ability to choose what, when, and how they watch the Games." Mediacom Has Thousands of Hours of Olympics Coverage on Multiple Platforms While offerings may vary by systems, Mediacom's channel line-ups generally include all seven NBCU networks - NBC, USA Network, MSNBC, CNBC, Oxygen, Telemundo, and Universal HD, and high-definition reception is offered for NBC and USA Network as part of HDTV Family Cable. In addition to the more than 1,200 total hours of Olympics coverage on those networks, NBCU's enhanced content offerings will allow Mediacom customers to watch the games through services including video-on-demand, high-definition television, and high-speed Internet. Mediacom High-Definition TV, Video-on-Demand, and High-Speed Internet Mediacom services include the following features: High-Definition Television: Mediacom High-Definition customers will have access to more than 800 hours of Olympic HD coverage on NBC HD, Universal HD, and USA HD. Video On Demand: Mediacom Digital Cable customers will have access to 60 clips focusing on the emotion and excitement of the Games including categories such as Beijing 411, Meet the Athletes, and Team USA Preview. The In-Games package will contain the best events each day. Content will include overall daily highlights by sport (approximately 15 per day, some in HD), and "Rewind," approximately 5 to 10 of the best sessions/games per day. High-Speed Internet - Mediacom Online customers may use their Internet connection to access NBCU's 2,200 hours of coverage of 25 events streamed live, plus full-event video replays, extensive highlights, including daily recaps of key events, best-of montages, commentator analysis, and athlete-specific clips each day, all available on NBCOlympics.com via a link from Mediacomtoday.com. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/mediacom-to-feature-olympics-coverage-384.html B86AA662-EABE-4938-AFE7-A7F3CF3F0B3C Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:28:31 -0500 Electronic Arts has announced the date the highly anticipated massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), "Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning" (WAR), will go live. In development for three years by Virginia-based Mythic Entertainment, "Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning" will open its North American, European, and Oceanic servers on September 18. Based on Games Workshop's epic and longstanding tabletop fantasy war game, WAR is a unique MMORPG that features revolutionary Realm vs. Realm (RvR) game play that will immerse players in a world of perpetual conflict for years to come. WAR has been recognized for its unique play style that appeals to novice MMO players while offering great depth for more seasoned players. Electronic Arts "Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning" Wins Multiple Awards "Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning" has received significant media attention, picking up numerous critic awards at this year's E3, including "Best PC Game" from G4's XPlay, "Best MMO" from IGN and Voodoo Extreme, and "Top 10 PC Game" from GameSpy, as well as being nominated for the prestigious Game Critic's Awards "Best PC Game". Consumer interest has been high as well and all units of the game's Collector's Edition having been pre-sold in North America. Mark Jacobs, founder and general manager of Mythic Entertainment, said "For the last three years, the entire team at Mythic has poured their hearts into making 'Warhammer Online' the next great MMORPG. We are so excited to open up this world and share it with the fans that will live in it, quest in it, go to war in it, and make it come alive." Electronic Arts "WAR" MMORPG Subscription Plans for Gamers Gamers will be offered several pricing options including monthly, three-month, and six-month subscriptions. Additionally, collectible 30- and 60-day prepaid Game Time Cards will be available at many game retailers. Players can now pre-order their copy of "Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning" which includes special features. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/electronic-arts-announces-warhammer-online-age-of-reckoning-ship-date-383.html F9D955C6-C848-4585-A68A-C2DDEA71ECE3 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:28:31 -0500 World Golf Tour and GGL Global Gaming are partnering to bring online golf to Internet players through GGL's Digital Games, a worldwide, online video game competition across multiple platforms, genres, and gaming titles. The companies hope to increase awareness and support golf's bid to become an official Olympic Sport. World Golf Tour is one of the Digital Games in which amateur, professional, and celebrity video gamers will have the opportunity to play against each other from anywhere in the world. Gamers can represent their country in a series of Inter-Continental Regional Qualifiers before advancing to the Digital Games Grand Finals. The Grand Finals is a live event in Shanghai and is part of the "Our Olympic Organizing Committee's 'OOOC'" welcome events, hosted by the China Government. World Golf Tour and Digital Games Will Introduce Video Game Players to Golf "World Golf Tour's goal is to introduce new people to golf and we support the sport's bid to join the 2012 Olympics," said YuChiang Cheng, CEO of World Golf Tour. "Gaming was recently declared the '99th Official Sport of China' and with the launch of the Digital Games coinciding with the 2008 Olympics, it's a great opportunity to bring the game of golf to a large international audience and reach out to younger participants. Online golf is much more affordable and can engage those who may not have the means to hit the links in real life." "Golf, while an individual sport, has always been a highly social activity that knows little age or skill boundaries" said Ted Owen, chairman of GGL Global Gaming. "This partnership leverages the interactivity of our proprietary social networking platform and communities, with World Golf Tour's superior HD golf experience. It's a natural twosome that will serve to deepen the social experience of video gamers and advance the great sport of golf." GGL Digital Games Site Allows Gamers to Master Online Golf Skills From the GGL Digital Games site, gamers wishing to master their online golf skills are directed to WorldGolfTour.com to play the free online game which requires no download or installation of software. Players get a taste of an authentic online golf experience through the closest-to-the-pin competition. The full version of the game will be available later this summer. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/world-golf-tour-and-ggl-global-gaming-bring-golf-to-olympics-382.html 32C86D71-2AEE-4C99-8836-9F74AAB1FEB7 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:27:32 -0500 Verizon has announced it will be offering FiOS TV to four additional communities in Massachusetts bringing to 78 the number of communities where Verizon FiOS TV is or will soon be offered. The most recent additions are Northborough, Stoughton, Stow, and Sutton. Verizon says it is currently in negotiations with other communities in the state to obtain additional franchises to provide FiOS TV service over the company's all-fiber network. Verizon FiOS TV Service Offered to 78 Massachusetts Communities Donna Cupelo, Verizon region president for Massachusetts and Rhode Island, said, "FiOS TV gives consumers in Massachusetts a choice for their video entertainment. Customers who liked what FiOS did for their Internet connection will love what it does for their TV." Verizon FiOS TV Delivers Many Features to Massachusetts Customers Verizon FiOS TV service highlights include: * More than 400 all-digital channels grouped by genres such as entertainment, sports, news, shopping, movies, and family. * 31 high-definition (HD) channels for Massachusetts customers. The company plans to offer all available major HD programming by year-end. * A library of more than 10,000 video-on-demand (VOD) titles each month, 70 percent of which are free. The VOD library also includes an increasing number of HD titles, and will offer 1,000 HD VOD titles per month by the end of the year. * An easy-to-use interactive media guide. * Set-top boxes ranging from a standard-definition box to the Home Media DVR, featuring a multi-room DVR that enables up to three simultaneous viewings of recorded programs without requiring customers to set up a complex home network or buy extra equipment. The recorder is bundled with Media Manager, which lets customers easily access photos and music from their personal computer and play them on their entertainment center where they look and sound the best. * FiOS TV Widgets, a free interactive feature that provides local weather and traffic information. Verizon FiOS TV Offers Multicultural Programming Programming choices for Hispanic, African-American, Asian, Russian and other multicultural audiences are available in every market. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/verizon-fios-tv-now-available-in-four-more-massachusetts-communities-381.html F75AE644-F516-4248-ACBB-6F8354D32F06 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:28:57 -0500 AT&T announced that its U-verse TV and U-Verse High-Speed Internet service has been launched in parts of Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties. Delivered over AT&T's Internet Protocol (IP) network, U-verse brings together television, broadband, and wireless services. The company expects to make U-verse available to more customers throughout south Florida on an ongoing basis. AT&T Delivers U-verse and High-Speed Internet to Residents in South Florida "AT&T has made a commitment to help customers in the Southeast benefit from faster and wider delivery of services like AT&T U-verse," said Rob Bentley, AT&T vice president and general manager for the Southeast region. "We look forward to expanding U-verse services and video to more customers in the Southeast." AT&T High-Speed Internet Speeds up to 10 Mbps AT&T U-verse High-Speed Internet offers downstream speeds up to 10 Mbps and upstream speeds up to 1.5 Mbps. Where available, local AT&T U-verse features include: * A selection of television packages and 100 percent digital television service with up to 320 channels, including digital music, local, movie, and sports programming. All packages include HD-capable equipment, and most packages include an HD-capable digital video recorder (DVR). * A Spanish-language package which features novelas, movies, news, sports, children's programming, talk shows, and more. * More than 45 HD channels. U-verse TV supports both 720p and 1080i formats. * The ability to record up to four programs at once using a DVR that can be set from any Web-connected PC or compatible AT&T mobile phone by using the customer's AT&T High-Speed Internet account. * Customers can upload photos with AT&T Online Photos from Flickr and watch slide shows on their TV screen. * AT&T U-bar, which brings customizable weather, stock, sports, and traffic information to the TV screen, without interrupting the current program. * Yellowpages.com TV for fast and easy searches to find local businesses and other information via the TV screen. * AT&T Yahoo! Games, allow online game play on the TV screen. * A Video-on-Demand (VOD) library. * Easy-to-use parental controls. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/att-u-verse-arrives-in-south-florida-380.html 1029DB57-7A4A-4649-A524-1B3E6D929CE2 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:27:31 -0500 Turbine has announced the launch of "The Way of the Monk," a major update to the massively multiplayer online (MMO) interactive role-playing game "Dungeons & Dragons Online" (DDO). The update includes a new playable class, revamped adventure areas, more monsters, spells, magic items, and traditional dungeons. "The Way of the Monk" provides new features and experiences for players including two new raids, three new monsters, new raid crafting recipes and eldritch rituals, chat and UI enhancements, and several new challenging adventure areas. Turbine Updates Dungeons & Dragons" with "The Way of the Monk" "This latest module offers players fun and excitement and we are proud to introduce the long-awaited new class " the Monk," said Jim Crowley, president and CEO of Turbine, Inc. "We are really very excited with how far DDO has come and we have a tremendous amount planned for the game which we look forward to sharing as the year progresses." New Features for Turbine's DDO "The Way of the Monk" Players "The Way of the Monk" offers many new features including: - The Monk: DDO's favorite class, the Monk, features a martial discipline of hand-to-hand combat and kicks and now includes special abilities that make the character even deadlier. Stun foes, unleash a flurry of blows, and work up to the deadly quivering palm attack which can kill enemies with a single strike. - New Landscape: Players can now explore the all-new, much larger Three-Barrel Cove wilderness and the underground Black Loch outpost. Three new challenging hand-crafted adventures have been added. - New Raids: In the wake of the destruction of the Marketplace tent, the scholars of the Twelve have found that dangerous enemies lie below the city of Stormreach. Guilds must return to battle former raid bosses like Velah, the Red Dragon, and the Black Abbot Lich to collect the keys needed to unlock the underground raid wilderness. Once unlocked, players will be able to battle Suulomades, the devil general responsible for the attack on the Marketplace. - More Solo Adventures: Daily quests in the Harbor provide new opportunities for solo characters. Collect trophies from vanquished monsters, make deliveries, and collect bounties for enemies. - Gygax Memorial: Set in a wooded alcove near Delera's Tomb, the adventure series Gary Gygax narrated, a symbolic memorial site has been erected for visitors to pay homage to Dungeon Master Gary Gygax. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/turbine-reveals-details-of-dungeons-dragons-update-379.html 2E7F3274-E9DF-43DC-804F-B384EF415F98 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:26:39 -0500 AT&T has announced the launch of its 3G wireless network to consumers and businesses in Savannah. The network offers broadband-like speed and access to interactive voice, video, and data applications. AT&T 3G Wireless Broadband Brings a Wide Variety of Features to Savannah "The city of Savannah is experiencing impressive growth, and we are growing our local network to meet this increased demand for wireless service," said Brenda Kittila, vice president and general manager, AT&T Georgia Wireless Operations. "Our goal is to ensure that AT&T customers in Savannah have the best wireless experience possible - which includes coverage, speed, and quality of service when customers are on the move. They can view videos from their favorite shows, play games, download music, check the stock market, or just read and write e-mail as if they were at home or in the office." AT&T 3G Devices Support AT&T Video Share Service Many of AT&T's 3G devices support AT&T Video Share, a first of its kind service in the U.S. that enables users to share live video while carrying on a voice call. AT&T's 3G customers can also view video clips through CV, an on-demand streaming video service that offers a comprehensive library of mobile video content from CNN, FOX News, ABC Mobile, CBS Mobile, NBC, ESPN, The Weather Channel, MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, "American Idol," HBO Mobile, and more. AT&T 3G Network Offers Downlink Speeds up to 1.7 Mbps The 3G network in Savannah will launch with HSUPA technology. This year's HSUPA deployment in all 3G markets completed the transition of the AT&T 3G network to High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) standards. The AT&T 3G network now delivers LaptopConnect users typical downlink speeds ranging between 700 kilobits per second (Kbps) and 1.7 megabits per second (Mbps), and faster uplink speeds ranging between 500 Kbps and 1.2 Mbps. The faster uplink speeds allow users to quickly send large files and take full advantage of the latest Internet and business applications. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/att-launches-3g-wireless-broadband-in-savannah-378.html 60F48D40-58A2-4DE6-A555-DAA42491E709 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:26:39 -0500 Comcast, in an agreement with NBC Universal (NBCU), will provide its customers with NBCU's extensive coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Delivered over the company's fiber optic network, Comcast customers will be able to access Olympics programming on multiple platforms. Thousands of Hours of Olympics Coverage for Comcast Customers Comcast will provide thousands of hours of NBCU's wide-ranging coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games including a variety of on-air and online viewing options through NBCU's multiple broadcast and cable networks, high-definition (HD), video on demand (VOD), and 2,200 hours of broadband content available on NBCOlympics.com via a link from Comcast's website. While offerings may vary by system, in addition to the more than 1,200 total hours of Olympics coverage on seven NBCU networks - NBC, USA Network, MSNBC, CNBC, Oxygen, Telemundo and Universal HD - Comcast nationwide will deliver more than more than 700 hours of HD coverage on networks including NBC HD, Universal HD, and USA HD. Programming available on Comcast Central gives viewers a place to simultaneously watch numerous events via access to multiple live NBCU feeds. Pre-recorded Olympic content, interactive text buttons, a continuous medal count, and Olympic news headline updates will also be available. Comcast VOD Olympic Coverage NBCU's pre-Games On Demand coverage includes special clips, 60 programs including "Beijing 411," "Meet the Athletes," and "Team USA Preview," which are available now. Once the Games begin, viewers will have instant access to catch up with daily highlights, events, and more. Next-day highlights from the Beijing Games will also be available. NBC's "In-Games" On Demand package will feature daily highlights by sport. "We are excited to offer this unprecedented cross-platform experience and give our customers unparalleled access to NBC's coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games," said Matt Bond, executive vice president of content acquisition, Comcast Corporation. "Our customers now have front row seats to one of the most exciting events in the world, along with the ability to watch what they want, when they want to." http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/comcast-to-deliver-olympics-on-multiple-platforms-377.html 117E472E-02AA-4A72-A71C-42418F37E1EB Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:25:15 -0500 For the second consecutive year, PC Magazine has rated Verizon's FiOS Internet service the best ISP in the U.S. In a survey, PC Magazine readers rated their Internet service providers - fiber-based service, DSL, cable, and satellite - in 11 categories including speed, reliability, setup, ISP-provided email, likelihood of choosing, and overall rating. Verizon's FiOS Internet service received the highest scores among all ISPs in each of these categories. Verizon FiOS Internet Service Offers Fiber-to-the-Premises Connection "Unsurprisingly, the favored method to connect is fiber-to-the-premises, as embodied by the Verizon FiOS service," PC Magazine said in reporting its survey results. "The fast fiber hookup received an 8.6 for an overall score - the best rating of all the broadband options." "Finishing at the top of the chart among PC Magazine's readers two years in a row is music to our ears," said John Wimsatt, Verizon vice president for broadband marketing. "It reinforces something we've known for quite some time about FiOS broadband service. But we're not about to rest on our laurels. We will continue to expand the FiOS network, introducing our service to more consumers while delivering improvements and new features." Verizon FiOS Internet Service Offers Speeds of 20 Mbps In the last year Verizon introduced its symmetrical FiOS Internet service with upload and downstream speeds of 20 Mbps and, in June, the company expanded its 50 Mbps downstream FiOS Internet service to consumers in 10 more states. It is now offered in markets in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. Verizon delivers ultra-high-speed broadband straight to customers' homes over its fiber-optic network which currently reaches 10 million homes and business, and is expected to reach more than 18 million by 2010. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/pc-magazine-names-verizon-fios-internet-top-broadband-376.html 28181D3E-3707-4A6B-826B-6FDC71EE17E0 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:25:15 -0500 AT&T has announced the launch of AT&T U-verse Voice in areas of San Antonio. The next-generation digital voice service is part of AT&T's triple play combination of home phone, wireless, broadband, and television service, all delivered over the AT&T U-verse Internet Protocol (IP) network. AT&T U-verse Voice Completes Triple-Pay Service in San Antonio "AT&T U-verse Voice is one more way we're making all of our AT&T services work together for our customers and connecting them to their world," said Mikal Harn, AT&T vice president and general manager for the Southwest region. "Just like U-verse TV has changed the way people watch television, U-verse Voice will change the way people use their home phone." AT&T U-verse Voice Offers Advanced Features to Customers AT&T U-verse Voice has advanced features including: * Combined AT&T U-verse Voice and AT&T wireless voice mail with U-verse Messaging, which provides a single voice mailbox that can be accessed from any phone line or PC. * U-verse Central, an online management portal that gives customers the option to easily and conveniently manage call preferences, voice mail, contacts, call history, and more from any PC, in addition to the ability to control call preferences from their home phone. * An online voice mailbox to check, manage and forward voice mail from the online portal, much like an e-mail inbox. * Call History, which enables you to view the most recent incoming and outgoing calls online or to view the most recent incoming calls on the AT&T U-verse TV screen. * Click to Call, which will initiate a call from the customer's home phone to any number in their Call History with one click of a mouse or the U-verse TV remote control. * An online address book that is accessible from any PC and allows customers to Click to Call from their home phone, to create and share contact groups with other U-verse Voice customers, or to set up distribution lists for voice messages. * Locate Me, a feature that provides simultaneous ringing on up to four wireless or landline numbers so that the customer never misses an important incoming call. * Traditional calling features, such as Call Screening, Call Blocking, Do Not Disturb, and privacy settings. All U-verse Voice customers will have 911 service. Where available via the local 911 network, U-verse Voice customers will have Enhanced 911 (E911) service. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/att-u-verse-voice-launches-in-san-antonio-375.html BEDC65DD-97B4-40E1-978B-0C4C786DA276 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:24:23 -0500 Delta Air Lines customers traveling in the continental U.S. will soon be offered the added convenience of broadband Wi-Fi access onboard the airline's domestic fleet of more than 330 mainline aircraft. Delta Wi-Fi Priced at $9.95 to $12.95 In-Flight Delta is joining with Aircell to install the company's mobile broadband network on the carrier's domestic fleet. Aircell's system, Gogo, will enable Delta customers traveling with Wi-Fi enabled devices, such as laptops, smartphones, and PDAs, to access the Internet, corporate VPNs, corporate and personal e-mail accounts, as well as SMS texting and instant messaging services. Gogo will be available to customers for a flat fee of $9.95 on flights of three hours or less, and $12.95 on flights of more than three hours. Aircell's Gogo to be Available on Delta's Entire U.S. Fleet by Summer 2009 Gogo will be offered initially on Delta's fleet of 133 MD88/90 aircraft and will rapidly expand to the remaining domestic fleet of more than 200 Boeing 737, 757 and 767-300 aircraft throughout the first half of 2009. The airline expects to have Gogo on more than 330 aircraft by summer 2009. The full fleet agreement between Aircell and Delta will provide a consistent, convenient experience for customers traveling on the airline who wish to use the Gogo Internet service. "Delta remains committed to providing a travel experience that maximizes the time our customers spend with us onboard by offering them even more productivity options," said Richard Anderson, Delta's chief executive officer. "Our customers asked for in-flight connectivity, and we're responding by rolling out the most extensive Wi-Fi network in the sky. Beginning this fall, our passengers will have the ability to stay connected when they travel with us throughout the continental U.S." "The advent of Air-To-Ground (ATG) technology has made broadband connectivity in the cabin economically viable for the first time for commercial airlines," said Jack Blumenstein, president and CEO, Aircell. "The game has changed and Delta will be among the first to provide an enhanced customer experience with broadband Wi-Fi access on more than 1,000 daily flights within the U.S." http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/delta-airlines-to-offer-aircell-wi-fi-374.html E4EFB50C-1CD1-4BBB-806A-F299E8F24D83 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:24:22 -0500 AT&T has announced expanded wireless international service in time to help keep customers stay connected to home and work around the world as they travel to the Olympic Games in Beijing. AT&T Offers International Service Including New Global GPS Navigation AT&T's new global offerings include: * New international data discount plans for smartphone and LaptopConnect users. * Increased global voice and data coverage including international data roaming coverage in more than 150 countries; 67 countries where discounted data packages apply; and international roaming coverage on 120 major cruise ships. * New global GPS navigation with turn-by-turn GPS directions in the six Olympic cities in China, as well as Western Europe and North America. AT&T Resources to Assist International Travelers To help travelers stay connected and manage their wireless costs, AT&T offers a variety of resources to help customers. AT&T's Travel Guide (www.att.com/travelguide) allows customers to create an itinerary with rate information for up to ten international destinations as well as review discounted voice and data packages. The tool allows customers to input information about their wireless device so accurate rate-plan information is presented. "The ability to use your everyday AT&T device around the world makes international travel easier and more convenient," said Bill Hague, executive vice president of International for AT&T's wireless unit. "We provide our customers with the complete solution to stay in touch with family, friends, and business colleagues while abroad - all on the same wireless number and device they use at home." AT&T Offers Smartphone and LaptopConnect Users New International Rates Smartphone and LaptopConnect users now have new options for using data abroad at discounted rates. AT&T has increased the number of countries in which it offers discounted data rates and is offering two new additional plans with larger "buckets" - 50 MB of data in 67 countries for smartphone users, and 5 GB of data in the U.S. plus 200 MB in 67 countries for LaptopConnect users. With access to e-mail, Web browsing, and other applications that can use a significant amount of data, smartphone, iPhone, and laptop users might find themselves using more data than they thought while traveling abroad. International data usage is not included in U.S. data plans, but customers can save money on international data usage by signing up for one of AT&T's international data plans and following some simple tips at www.att.com/wirelesstraveltips. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/att-expands-international-offerings-for-travelers-373.html 12B8539E-7850-447B-A95C-A8F825A7F029 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:23:00 -0500 Charter Communications has confirmed that it has signed a distribution agreement with NBC Universal (NBCU) enabling Charter to offer NBCU's coverage of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing to its subscribers. Olympic coverage will be featured on multiple platforms. Charter Customers Will Have Access to Extensive Olympic Game Coverage "Our customers will experience all the athletes' emotion and accomplishment with Charter's high definition programming. And with the convenience of Charter's On Demand and High-Speed offerings, our customers can watch all the highlights, drama, and excitement anytime," said Ted Schremp, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Charter. Charter Olympic Games Coverage with HD, VOD, High-Speed Internet, and More In addition to more than 1,200 total hours of Olympics coverage on seven NBCU networks - NBC, USA Network, MSNBC, CNBC, Oxygen, Telemundo, and Universal HD, Charter customers will also receive: High Definition - Charter HD customers will have access to hundreds of hours of NBCU's Beijing Olympic Games HD coverage on NBC HD and Universal HD. Charter will also carry two HD sport-specific channels for the Olympics: NBC Olympic Soccer Channel and NBC Olympic Basketball Channel. Video On Demand - Charter Digital customers can experience the Games at their convenience with NBCU's 60 clips across several categories, including Beijing 411; Meet the Athletes; and Team USA Preview On Demand. At the start of the Games, the In-Games package will feature access to the best events each day. Content includes overall daily highlights by sport (approximately 15 per day, some in HD), and "Rewind," approximately five to 10 of the best sessions/games per day. High-Speed Internet - Charter High-Speed Internet customers can view NBCU's 2,200 hours of 25 events streamed live, plus full-event video replays, extensive highlights, including daily recaps of key events, best-of montages, commentator analysis, and athlete-specific clips each day. Visit NBCOlympics.com for more information. Foreign Language TV Coverage - In some markets Charter will offer customers NBC's foreign language coverage from Beijing with commentary in one of the host country's native tongues, Mandarin (Chinese), as well as Korean, for approximately six hours per day for each language during the Games. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/charter-to-feature-olympics-on-multiple-platforms-372.html AF65DD15-7E54-496E-90FB-91F2E0E432F1 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:23:00 -0500 Turbine announced today a partnership with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment to distribute a retail version of "The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria" in North America. As part of the announcement, Turbine unveiled its fall product lineup which includes two titles that will be available at retailers across the U.S.: "The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria, Complete Edition" and "The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria, Collector's Edition," as well as a digital only title for existing subscribers, "The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria, Digital Expansion." Warner Bros. Distribution Deal Makes "Lord of the Rings Online" Available at Retailers "We are excited to publish 'The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria' and to partner with Warner Bros. to distribute the title at retail this fall," said Jim Crowley, president and CEO of Turbine, Inc. "'Mines of Moria' introduces breakthrough content and features including our legendary item system that will revolutionize the way players advance and customize their unique heroes." "Turbine has an impressive track record of creating and publishing high quality massively multiplayer online games," said John Quinn, executive vice president, worldwide operations, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. "We look forward to working with Turbine and we will leverage our experience in distributing successful premium titles with the launch of 'The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria' this fall." "Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria" Fall Product Lineup The Complete Edition will include the original "The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar" game (Volume I), all content updates released since launch, and "The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria" (Volume II) and will be available at retail stores nationwide The Collector's Edition will feature Complete Edition content as well as digital and physical items for collectors. Limited quantities will be available at retail outlets in a unique leather-bound book packaging and will include tokens that can be exchanged for the player's choice of 8 different in-game items, cloth map of the Mines of Moria, gold-plated ring complete with chain and pouch, Mines of Moria poster, art and music collection, a full-color starter guide. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/turbine-announces-warner-bros-partnership-for-mines-of-moria-371.html B445A1FC-D403-47B9-A15F-31EEC814740F Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:44:10 -0500 Sony Pictures Television (SPT) has acquired the worldwide distribution rights to Rocketboom.com. Under the agreement, SPT will manage Rocketboom's current distribution agreements and increase distribution across all platforms. Rocketboom's Daily Show to be Available on Crackle.com Rocketboom will be fully integrated with SPT's Crackle, including putting the daily show on Crackle.com, presenting the show with a Crackle player on the Rocketboom.com website, and distributing it over Crackle's syndication network, including direct to Sony BRAVIA televisions via BRAVIA Internet Video Link and mobile partners. Additionally, SPT will handle all of Rocketboom's ad sales exclusively. Rocketboom: an Online Video News Program Rocketboom is a creative online daily video news program based in New York City covering a wide range of information and commentary from top news stories to quirky internet culture. Rocketboom is distributed online for Mac's, PC's, portables, RSS aggregators like Google Reader, Bloglines, iTunes and Miro, iTV software and boxes like TiVo, Apple-TV, Pando and TVTonic, flash sites like YouTube, Metacafe, Myspace, Yahoo, Blip and Viddler via TubeMogul, P2P sites like Vuze, phone sites including iPhone and Nokia N-series phones and in various languages around the world via Dotsub. "Rocketboom is a pioneer in the video blog space and millions of viewers flock to it for its irreverent entertainment," said Michael Arrieta, executive vice president, digital distribution and mobile entertainment, SPT. "We're thrilled to have it in our portfolio and to take it to the next level." "We believe Sony Pictures Entertainment's experience as a TV and film company -- and their established prowess as a distribution and ad sales partner, bring an unparalleled level of resources and infrastructure to a company like ours," said Andrew Baron, creator of Rocketboom. "We also believe in Sony Pictures Television's overall strategy for the future and think they are a step ahead." http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/sony-pictures-tv-to-launch-web-show-rocketboom-370.html AED6F4FA-2CCB-4EA0-B2E8-088046B56E23 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:44:10 -0500 Verizon announced it has launched its FiOS TV service - with 100 high-definition (HD) channels - to customers in New York City. The new channel lineup will also be offered to existing FiOS TV markets in the New York metropolitan area, including parts of Long Island, the suburbs just north of the city, and northern New Jersey. Shawn Strickland, vice president of video solutions for Verizon, said "The capacity of our network means FiOS TV customers receive HD signals just as Verizon receives them, without any additional compression. This means picture-and-sound quality that's noticeably better, delivered on a network that's made for HD." Verizon FiOS TV Customers in New York Offered 100 HD Channels FiOS TV customers in the New York metro area will have 100 HD channels and 400 HD video-on-demand (VOD) titles each month. Verizon plans to increase its monthly HD VOD titles to more than 1,000 over the next few months while continually expanding its HD channel lineup in order to offer all available major HD programming by the end of the year. Verizon FiOS TV High-Definition Channel Lineup for New York Residents Verizon FiOS TV customers in the New York metro area will receive HD channels including Animal Planet, TLC, FX, USA, Bravo, TBS, History Channel, Weather Channel, Science Channel, SCI FI, Smithsonian Channel, QVC, the Travel Channel, and Planet Green. HD news channels include CNN, CNBC, Fox Business Network, and Fox News Channel. Children's HD channels will include the Disney Channel and Toon Disney. Subscribers will also have 11 new channels from Cinemax and 13 new channels from HBO in HD plus FiOS TV's Movie Package, which now includes 13 new HD channels from The Movie Channel, Starz, and Showtime. HD sports channels include Big Ten Network, Versus/Golf Channel, Outdoor Channel 2, and World Fishing Network. FiOS TV Service from Verizon is Available in New York City Neighborhoods FiOS TV is currently available in parts of the following New York City neighborhoods: The Bronx: Baychester, Bronxdale, Eastchester, Edenwald, Laconia, Norwood, Olinville, Wakefield, Williamsbridge, Woodlawn. Brooklyn: Bergen Beach, Canarsie, Flatlands, Georgetown, Gravesend, Homecrest, Madison, Manhattan Terrace, Marine Park, Midwood, Mill Basin, Mill Island, Paerdegat Basin. Manhattan: Battery Park City, Carnegie Hill, Chelsea, Chinatown, Clinton, East Harlem North, East Harlem South, East Village, Flatiron, Hudson Yards, Lenox Hill, Lower East Side, Midtown, Midtown South, NoHo, Union Square, Upper East Side, Roosevelt Island, West Village, Yorkville. Queens: Auburndale, Bayside, Bayside Hills, Bay Terrace, Beechurst, Cambria Heights, Clearview, Douglaston, Douglaston Manor, Far Rockaway, Floral Park, Fresh Meadows, Glen Oaks, Laurelton, Little Neck, Malba, New Hyde Park, Oakland Gardens, Rosedale, South Brookville, Springfield Gardens, Whitestone. Staten Island: Annadale, Arden Heights, Arlington, Arrochar, Bloomfield, Charleston, Clifton, Dongan Hills, Eltingville, Emerson Hill, Fort Wadsworth, Fox Hills, Granitville, Grasmere, Great Kills, Grymes Hill, Heartland Village, Huguenot, Lighthouse Hill, Mariners Harbor, Midland Beach, New Brighton, New Dorp, New Springville, Oakwood, Oakwood Beach, Old Town, Pt. Ivory, Prince's Bay, Port Richmond, Richmond Valley, Rosebank, Rossville, St. George, Silver Lake, South Beach, Stapleton, Todt Hill, Tottenville, Travis, Westerleigh, West New Brighton, Woodrow. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/verizon-fios-tv-delivers-100-hd-channels-in-new-york-369.html BA91639C-871E-48FB-B959-EAD88B7555F2 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:44:10 -0500 AT&T has announced that, based on approval by Alabama city and county governments, it will be investing $400 million to bring new services to consumers in the state. The investment will be used for fiber network upgrades, further broadband deployment, and Internet-based technologies. AT&T U-verse Service Planned for Alabama Residents Fred McCallum, state president of AT&T Alabama, said "The local government support that has been shown will allow AT&T to give consumers a new communications and entertainment experience. We look forward to delivering television, voice, and Internet services to Alabama." On July 8, the Birmingham City Council, with support from the mayor, approved an agreement with AT&T that will enable AT&T to provide new services to local consumers. That same day, the Jefferson County commission approved a similar agreement. They join 34 communities across the state in approving similar agreements with AT&T, including Hoover, Bessemer, Midfield, Helena, Bay Minette, Vestavia Hills, Clanton, Tuscaloosa County, Jasper, Madison, and Albertville. "We are continuing to work with other cities and counties around the state that are critical to our investment decisions and look forward to completing these negotiations in the near future," said McCallum. AT&T U-verse Television, High-Speed Internet, and Voice Service In part, the new technology upgrades being considered by AT&T will support Internet Protocol (IP)-based television, high-speed Internet, and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services. AT&T U-verse service includes features such as the ability to record up to four programs at once using a digital video recorder (DVR); web and mobile remote access to a DVR; access to customized weather, sports, traffic, and stock information; and built-in picture-in-picture browsing. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/att-announces-new-technology-investment-for-alabama-consumers-364.html 8F69C28A-409A-40AA-83BA-A7AA205DF5AE Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:44:10 -0500 The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) held a hearing on "Broadband and the Digital Future" at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh last week. Expert panelists at the hearing included Robert Quinn, senior vice president of AT&T, Mark Cuban, chairman of HDNet, Mark Cavicchia, CEO of WhereverTV, Matthew Polka, president and CEO of the American Cable Association, and academics, government representatives, the American Civil Liberties Union. FCC Chairman, Kevin Martin presided over the meeting. ACLU Addresses Privacy Concerns at FCC Hearing As part of the FCC hearing the American Civil Liberties Union submitted comments about how deep packet inspections (DPI) and other practices threaten Americans' online privacy and a neutral Internet. This was addressed in a statement from Caroline Fredrickson, director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office: "The ACLU urges the Commission to scrutinize the growing practice of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) examining their customers' Internet habits. Using deep packet inspections (DPI), ISPs know everything we do online. DPI allows ISPs to have access to all of your searches, friends and family, anything you read and email, any sites you visit, and any comments you post. DPI is a virtual strip search for you and your computer." Fredrickson continued, "This ISP practice not only threatens our online privacy, but also the neutrality of the Internet. ISPs can now use a free speech forum to discriminate based on the content of the communications. This kind of scrutiny is ripe for abuse, especially where there is money to be made. We would never give the post office the power to route mail according to the content of a letter. The Commission must ask some very hard questions about the reasons for this scrutiny." FCC Commissioner Hearing Statements Available Online Statements for the hearing from FCC Commissioners Michael J. Copps, Deborah Taylor Tate, and Jonathan Adelstein can be viewed at www.fcc.gov. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/fcc-holds-hearing-on-broadband-and-digital-future-363.html 3349A270-1E26-46F1-96B8-1BE8BC2418DB Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:42:09 -0500 Time Warner Cable, Cablevision Systems, and Cox Communications have chosen thePlatform, a Comcast subsidiary, to manage online videos for the companies' websites. Under the agreements, thePlatform will aggregate and publish video content and associated advertising for the websites, and the cable companies will have access to thePlatform's media player tools in order to create unique video channels and playback experiences for consumers. thePlatform Manages Online Video for Four Major Cable Companies thePlatform already managed online video for its parent company, Comcast, and the addition of Time Warner Cable, Cablevision, and Cox means that thePlatform now powers the video portals for four of the five largest U.S. cable companies. thePlatform's management services are intended to help these cable companies meet high-speed Interent consumers' demand for online television shows, movies, and other Internet clips. thePlatform Manages Billions of Online Videos Every Year According to a statement from thePlatform, hundreds of companies use the firm to manage billions of video plays every year. thePlatform's system manages the entire logistics process behind the publication of broadband video from the content owner to the consumer. Media companies and video sites use thePlatform's services to manage their media, generate revenue from their content, syndicate media to outlets, and create unique broadband video players. In addition to Time Warner Cable, Cablevision, and Cox Communications, thePlatform provides online video publishing and management for a host of well known consumer brands including: BBC, Corus Entertainment, CBS's College Sports TV, CNBC, Comcast, Gannett/USA Today, Fancast.com, Helio, HIT Entertainment, PBS, PBS KIDS Sprout, Sony BMG, The Hearst Corporation, Verizon Wireless, Vongo, and numerous other media companies. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/comcast-subsidiary-to-manage-online-video-for-major-cable-operators-362.html 35BE05C7-040A-4F86-8542-08A461D1D17F Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:42:09 -0500 At a Federal Communications Commission hearing concerning the future of broadband service and digital media held at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburg, AT&T senior vice president Robert Quinn said AT&T would be changing the way its broadband internet service is offered to customers by introducing a choice of tiered packages based on different Internet speeds. As one of many experts who testified at the hearing, Quinn said AT&T expects to roll out the modifications before the end of the year. AT&T to Offer Minimum/Maximum DSL Speed Service Tiers Currently AT&T offers its subscribers packages that describe Internet speeds up to a maximum potential, but since Internet speed can be affected by conditions beyond the control of Internet providers, customers do not always receive the fastest speeds advertised. The new system will provide service tiers that include a minimum and maximum range of DSL speed. If a subscriber chooses Internet speeds in the range of 1.5 to 3 Mbps, AT&T will do its best to see that the service falls in that range. In a written statement, Quinn said, "When AT&T provides broadband service by speed, it will do so in discrete, non-overlapping tiers. We will strive to provide service within the speed tier purchased by the customer and, if we find that we are not providing service within the ordered speed tier, AT&T will take action either to bring the customer's service within the ordered tier or give the customer an option to move to a different tier." New AT&T High-Speed Internet Service Tiers Expected by October When referring to conditions that affect Internet speed that AT&T and other provider's cannot control he added, "One of the challenges associated with providing broadband Internet access is the fact that end-to-end Internet throughput that customers experience is largely outside the control of individual broadband providers like AT&T." According to AT&T, subscribers should see changes in their contracts and disclosures that will "clearly identify any limitations on the amount of usage that may apply to a customer's service plan." The notices also will explain the difference between the speed capabilities that AT&T provides and the throughput speeds that are dependent on other networks. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/att-to-modify-broadband-service-options-361.html D943E89C-C1A5-43E4-8B5D-6746DD65A66A Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:42:09 -0500 Sony Entertainment Online, in collaboration with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Comics is developing the massively multiplayer online (MMO) action game "DC Universe Online" (DCUO). Details were revealed at this year's Comic-Con International held in San Diego. Sony's "DC Universe Online" Offers Unique Game Action and Customization "DC Universe Online" will allow players to create their own customized super hero or villain - down to apparel and personality traits - while wielding amazing powers in the name of good or evil as they write their own chapter in the DC universe. Supporting the game's distinctive, dynamic look is a physics-based combat system that sets it apart from traditional role-based MMO games. With "DC Universe Online" characters will have virtual powers and players will be able to create unique situations as they play, whether it's flying around or deciding to pick up a bus to toss at a foe - which will affect other players in the vicinity - shooting blasts of energy from power rings, or running with incredible speed on the sides of skyscrapers. There is also potential for team/raid-based content and player versus player interaction. "The rich, storied world of DC Comics has never been available to players like this before," said John Smedley, president of Sony Entertainment Online. "For the first time, gamers can actually open tht door and step into the vast world of DC Comics and choose their own fate. Who wouldn't want to infiltrate Batman's cave or fly over Metropolis as you speed toward a mission to help Superman?" DC Comics' Jim Lee Involved in Creating "DC Universe Online" Jim Lee, executive creative director for DC Comics, added "This is a one-of-a kind type of game, and a lot of love has already gone into it. DCUO will be able to tap into DC Comics, which goes back more than 70 years, and use it in ways that comic and gaming fans have never seen before. DCUO is in many ways a reinvention of the traditional MMO; it's a hybrid between the traditional MMO and a button-mashing, console-action game." "DC Universe Online" (DCUO) Features Key Features of "DC Universe Online" include: * Design based on the artwork and designs of Jim Lee * Iconic DC Comic settings and characters, from Gotham City to Arkham Asylum, Batman to Blue Beetle * Players can enter a persistent DC Universe and fight alongside their favorite heroes and villains to play their own adventure in the mythology of these characters and locales * DCUO will be an online world that stays true to the DC Comics property and allows players to feel and act like super heroes or villains * Physics-based fighting turns vehicles, streetlights, and other players into weapons, resulting in dynamic combat scenarios that are different every time "DC Universe Online" is being developed for the Playstation computer entertainment system and PC. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/sony-unveils-dc-universe-online-360.html 76365799-1327-4223-8C8A-B796D48772BC Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:42:09 -0500 Verizon Wireless announced that in the first half of 2008 it has invested nearly $75 million throughout the state of Florida on new cell sites, network facilities, and additional technologies to enhance services and coverage, making a total of $1.8 billion spent in the state since 2000. Pam Tope, Florida region president for Verizon Wireless, said "We take pride in providing our tech-savvy customers with the latest wireless products and services. The continuous investments we make across the state ensure that Floridians can enjoy wireless service every day." Verizon Wireless Expands High-Speed EV-DO Revision A Network in Florida Verizon's enhancements this year in Florida include the expansion of the company's high-speed Evolution Data Optimized (EV-DO) Revision A network across the state. This technology provides access to services such as V CAST - which allows customers to stream video clips, play 3D games, and download full song tracks over the air, and VZ Navigator - a location-based service offering maps, audible driving directions, traffic updates, gas station locations and pricing, and more. Verizon Wireless BroadbandAccess Offers Average Download Speed of 600 kbps EVDO technology also provides high-speed wireless connection to BroadbandAccess, the company's business data service, which offers average download speeds of 600 kilobits per second (kbps) to 1.4 megabits per second and upload speeds of 500-800 kbps. BroadbandAccess customers can wirelessly access their e-mail, calendars, the Internet, and other information anytime, anywhere via a high-speed secure connection. Verizon Has Activiated Nearly 50 New Wireless Transmisson Sites in Florida The installation of new transmission sites is also a key part of the ongoing network enhancement with nearly 50 new wireless transmission sites having been activated in Florida so far this year. About 85 percent have their own on-site generators and new expanded fuel tanks to extend power-generating capacity. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/verizon-wireless-invests-75-million-for-network-enhancement-in-florida-359.html E22BFFBF-90D5-4A2D-93D4-200D35763024 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:38:45 -0500 AT&T has announced an agreement with Electronic Arts and Electronic Arts Mobile to bring exclusive "Spore Origins" game content to AT&T wireless and high-speed Internet customers. AT&T "Spore Origins" Offers Gamers Multiple Platform Choices AT&T offers gamers multiple platform choices while "Spore" offers multiple ways and platforms on which to play the game. Players can customize nearly every aspect of their universe, including creatures, vehicles, buildings, and UFOs. "Spore" players create and evolve life, establish tribes, build civilizations, sculpt entire worlds, and explore a universe filled with creations made by other gamers. "Spore" will be released in the U.S. September 7 for PC and Mac along with "Spore Creatures" on Nintendo DS. "Spore Origins" for the iPhone and additional mobile carriers will be available September 4. AT&T's Exclusive "Spore" Content Highly Anticipated by Gaming Community "The 'Spore' launch has been highly anticipated among the gaming community, and we are excited to have been able to expedite its delivery to our mobile customers," said Mark Collins, vice president of consumer products for AT&T Mobility. "AT&T's comprehensive suite of communications services presents the opportunity to take entertainment content to a higher level of user experience," said Glenn Broderick, AT&T executive director of gaming." Adam Sussman, vice president of publishing, Americas and Asia, for Electronic Arts Mobile, added, "EA's excited to extend our relationship with AT&T beyond mobile devices for the first time. This is a great opportunity to bring 'Spore Origins' to AT&T mobile consumers now, in addition to 'Spore' content to AT&T online consumers when the PC game launches in September." AT&T's "Spore" Content for Wireless and High-Speed Internet Customers AT&T's agreement with EA will provide both AT&T's wireless customers and AT&T High Speed Internet customers with exclusive "Spore" content including: * Spore Origins: Designed specifically for mobile phones, "Spore Origins" is now available exclusively on AT&T mobile devices until September 4 * Spore Giveaway Offer: Beginning with pre-orders today and running until September 20, AT&T will be offering a complimentary copy of the full downloadable PC versions of "Spore" to new AT&T high-speed Internet customers * Spore Creature Creator: Free PC download of the AT&T edition of the "Spore Creature Creator Demo" (the creature design tool) which includes exclusive content. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/att-and-electronic-arts-bring-spore-origins-to-wireless-customers-358.html 15311E69-5F1F-422C-9C92-95852F6FCE91 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:38:45 -0500 National Geographic Channel and RealNetworks have announced the launch of "Habitat Rescue! With National Geographic Channel," a real-time simulation game that will serve as the centerpiece for National Geographic Channel's new online game site. The site hosts hundreds of fully interactive RealNetworks games that align with National Geographic Channel's content and brand including Animals & Nature, Science & Technology, History & Events, Exploration & Adventure, People & Places, and Preserve Our Planet. National Geographic Channel's New Online Game Site "We have produced a portfolio of innovative and dynamic online games as diverse as our programming, but until now they've only been linked to the show-specific websites," said Brad Dancer, National Geographic Channel's senior vice president of research and digital media. "The launch of our game hub will be a single destination that will allow users to sample among the games much more readily. And working with RealNetworks on our newest creation has resulted in a particularly fun and rich experience that is also educational, making it the perfect showpiece for the launch of our site." Rutger Peters, vice president of global sales and marketing for the games division at RealNetworks, said, "Real is always looking for syndication opportunities to bring our popular casual games to new audiences. Partnering with a major consumer brand like National Geographic to deliver entertainment that will resonate with their core audience is just one of the ways Real is expanding our reach and creating new fans of casual games every day." "Habitat Rescue! With National Geographic Channel" Online Game "Habitat Rescue! With National Geographic Channel" sets a scene where users help a pride of lions that has lost its ancestral home to pollution and environmental destruction. Players guide the lions on a journey to reclaim and heal their lost kingdom through solving puzzles and embarking on adventures involving hyenas, crocodiles, hippos, and other inhabitants of the vast savanna while watching the lions learn, grow, and have offspring in real-time - even if the player's computer is turned off. The launch of the game site, at www.natgeotv.com/games, and "Habitat Rescue! With National Geographic Channel" is a continuation of the network's digital momentum, and follows the redesign of the channel's home website which showcases more than 1,000 video clips and full length shows across seven broadband channels. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/national-geographic-launches-online-game-site-357.html 953548CE-A22A-42CB-9B55-37212FE2D633 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:38:45 -0500 Verizon has announced the roll out of its high-speed wireless broadband network in more than 12 communities throughout Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. Residents now have Internet access on their laptops and will also be able to download music, videos, and games on their phones. Verizon's BroadbandAccess and V CAST services are now available in Minersville, Frackville, Mahanoy, McAdoo, Deer Lake, Ashland, South Schuylkill, Schuylkill Haven, Pottsville, Tamaqua, Mt. Carbon, New Ringold, Buck Mountain, and South Tamaqua as well as areas along Interstate 81 and Routes 54, 61, 901, 443, 209, and 309. Verizon BroadbandAccess and V CAST services in Pennsylvania Christine Baron, president of Verizon Wireless' Philadelphia Tri-State Region, said "Our high-speed wireless network gives our customers speed, mobility and security allowing our business customers and mobile professionals to increase productivity and see bottom-line business benefits. In addition, our V CAST services, such as V CAST Music with Rhapsody, help keep customers entertained while on the go - on the same devices they carry with them every day." The network expansion into Schuylkill County enables Verizon Wireless business customers a mobile office with BroadbandAccess, giving them access to their calendars, the Internet, e-mail, and critical business information residing behind their companies' firewalls. BroadbandAccess was developed with a range of users in mind and enables large enterprises, small- to medium-sized businesses, and mobile professionals to conduct business anytime, anywhere in the BroadbandAccess coverage area via a secure, high-speed data connection. Verizon Wireless Broadband Offers Average Download Speeds of 600 kbps Customers in wireless broadband coverage areas can expect average download speeds of 600 kilobits per second (kbps) to 1.4 megabits, and average upload speeds of 500-800 kbps, which means customers can download a 1 Megabyte e-mail attachment - the equivalent of a small PowerPoint presentation or a large PDF file - in about eight seconds and upload the same sized file in less than 13 seconds. Verizon V CAST Service Verizon's V CAST service offers customers the ability to play 3D games and stream video clips straight to handsets. V CAST offers content updated daily so customers can watch dozens of on-demand videos, including breaking news, weather, sports highlights and entertainment clips. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/verizon-wireless-launches-high-speed-products-throughout-pennsylvania-county-356.html 469C440C-BA03-4F34-ABEB-4715338F7081 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:38:45 -0500 An agreement between Verizon and the City of New York will pave the way for the company to provide television service to all five New York City boroughs. The New York City Public Service Commission (PSC) confirmed the go-ahead which follows an agreement on April 29 by the City's Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications to accept the Verizon proposal, and approval by the City's Franchise and Concession Review Committee on May 27. The New York PSC confirmation is the final governmental and regulatory step in Verizon's plan to offer FiOS TV service to New York City residents. Verizon to Bring FiOS TV to New York City Residents Monica Azare, Verizon senior vice president for New York and Connecticut, said, "Today is a great and historic day for New York City residents. When we launch our FiOS TV service in the city in the coming weeks, consumers will be amazed at the comprehensive channel lineup, the vast number of high-definition offerings, the clarity of the picture, and the real value they will be receiving for their entertainment dollar. All these benefits will be brought to New Yorkers by Verizon's all-fiber-optic technology, straight to consumers' doors. Azare added, "We will have more to say soon about the introduction of FiOS TV service in New York City. But for now, we're thrilled to be able to bring FiOS TV to the people of New York." Verizon's Broadband, Wireline, and Wireless Communications Verizon Communications Inc., headquartered in New York, delivers broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates a wireless network, serving more than 67 million customers nationwide. Verizon's Wireline operations include Verizon Business and Verizon Telecom. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/verizon-tv-franchise-approved-by-new-york-psc-355.html 0255D990-91FC-4444-A92F-62DF2EF8A33C Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:38:45 -0500 AT&T has announced that its U-verse Voice service is now available to residents in parts of the Indianapolis area. The next-generation digital voice service is a component of AT&T's IP triple play which includes home phone, wireless, broadband, and television service, all delivered over AT&T's U-verse Internet Protocol (IP) network. AT&T U-verse Voice is available to all new and existing U-verse TV customers in the Indianapolis, Bloomington, Muncie, and Anderson areas. AT&T U-verse Voice Available to Indianapolis Residents "AT&T U-verse Voice is one more way we're making all of our AT&T services work together for our customers and connecting them to their world," said Bob Nixon, AT&T general manager for Indiana and Michigan. "U-verse TV has changed the way people watch television, U-verse Voice will change the way people use their home phone." "Our deployment of U-verse Voice is an integral part of the planned $300 million in investment that AT&T has delivered in Indiana as a result of progressive reform legislation," said George S. Fleetwood, president of AT&T Indiana. AT&T U-verse Voice Features AT&T U-verse Voice features include: - Combined AT&T U-verse Voice and AT&T wireless voice mail with U-verse Messaging, which provides a single voice mailbox that can be accessed from any phone line or PC. - U-verse Central, an online management portal that gives you the option to easily and conveniently manage your call preferences, voice mail, contacts, call history and more from any PC, in addition to the ability to control call preferences from your home phone. - An online voice mailbox to check, manage and forward voice mail from the online portal, much like an e-mail inbox. - Call History, which enables you to view your most recent incoming and outgoing calls online or to view your most recent incoming calls on your AT&T U-verse TV screen. - Click to Call, which will initiate a call from your home phone to any number in your Call History with one click of a mouse or the U-verse TV remote control. - An online Address Book that is accessible from any PC and allows you to Click to Call from your home phone, to create and share contact groups with other U-verse Voice customers or to set up distribution lists for voice messages. - Locate Me, a feature that provides simultaneous ringing on up to four wireless or landline numbers so that you never miss an important incoming call. - Traditional calling features, such as Call Screening, Call Blocking, Do Not Disturb and privacy settings. - All U-verse Voice customers will have 911 service. Where available via the local 911 network, U-verse Voice customers will have Enhanced 911 (E911) service. AT&T U-verse Voice Calling Plans U-verse TV customers can choose from two flexible U-verse Voice calling plans: U-verse Voice Unlimited, which includes unlimited local and nationwide minutes to any location in the U.S., Canada or U.S. territories for $40 a month; and U-verse Voice 1000, which includes 1,000 Call Anywhere minutes to any location in the U.S. or U.S. territories for $30 a month. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/att-u-verse-voice-launches-in-indianapolis-354.html 1E490738-5EDD-47A1-9076-32126481501D Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:38:45 -0500 Comcast has announced it will be partnering with Warner Bros. Pictures to provide exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, mini-movies, and trailers from Warner Bros.' "The Dark Knight," one of this summer's most-anticipated films. Comcast Offering Exlusive "The Dark Knight" Content on On Demand Comcast will offer six mini-movies, which are exclusive original-content episodes, of a show called "Gotham Tonight," featuring the film's actors providing commentary in character and in a news format that tell the story of what has occurred between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. In addition to the "Gotham Tonight" segments, customers can watch exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, interviews with the cast and filmmakers, and The Dark Knight trailers, all in HD. This exclusive content is available on Comcast On Demand, www.comcast.net/thedarkknightmovie, and Fancast.com. The "Gotham Tonight" episodes also can be seen at www.Gothamcablenews.com. Comcast Offers Batman Behind-the-Scenes Features to Customers "This exclusive behind-the-scenes Batman-VOD adds to our line up of extensive HD On Demand offerings," said Derek Harrar, senior vice president and general manager of video services for Comcast. Comcast's special "The Dark Knight" features, blockbuster movies, new television series and other new viewing choices are part of the company's Project Infinity, a commitment to deliver exponentially more content choice on TV, including more HD, sports, movies, kids' programs, and network TV shows. Currently, Comcast's VOD lineup offers more than 10,000 unique selections each month, with more than 500 of those choices available in HD, and Comcast customers now are selecting On Demand more than 300 million times per month. Comcast Corporation's Broadband Cable Systems Comcast Corporation s the nation's leading provider of entertainment, information, and communications products and services. It is principally involved in the development, management and operation of broadband cable systems and in the delivery of programming content. Comcast's content networks and investments include E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, The Golf Channel, VERSUS, G4, PBS KIDS Sprout, TV One, ten Comcast SportsNet networks and Comcast Interactive Media, which develops and operates Comcast's Internet business. Comcast also has a majority ownership in Comcast-Spectacor, whose major holdings include the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team and two large multipurpose arenas in Philadelphia. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/comcast-partners-with-warner-bros-for-exclusive-batman-content-353.html B1D38800-1294-4182-9BE4-FD32DB8674DD Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:37:19 -0500 Cablevision Systems announced an expansion to its video on demand (VOD) library with the addition of new programs from MTV Networks, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, The N, Noggin, Logo, and BET. The new VOD content includes Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," Logo's "Exes & Ohs," and BET's "Baldwin Hills." The new programs also include educational and entertainment programming for children and teens including Nick Jr.'s "Blue's Clues," Noggin's "Franklin," and The N's "Degrassi: The Next Generation." New VOD Programming Available to Cablevision iO Digital Cable Customers The new Cablevision VOD is accessible at no additional charge to iO digital cable customers with a set-top box through the "Free On Demand" menu on the iO TV user interface. Of Cablevision's nearly 2.7 million customers, more than 85 percent are iO TV digital cable customers and have access to as many as 360 channels, including 53 premium movie channels, 48 digital music channels, 3,500 On Demand titles, 45 high-definition programming services, and interactive television applications including News 12 Interactive. Cablevision VOD Expansion to Diversify Entertainment Resources "With the addition of leading cable programming from MTV Networks and BET Networks, Cablevision continues to demonstrate our commitment to offering customers greater value and more choice over their entertainment experience," said John Trierweiler, Cablevision's senior vice president of product management. "This expansion of the free video on demand library provides a broad range of content aimed at meeting the diverse entertainment needs of our customers." "MTV Networks and BET Networks continue to be huge drivers of VOD usage, with channels like Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, and BET consistently ranking at the top of their categories," said Denise Dahldorf, executive vice president, content distribution and marketing, MTV Networks and BET Networks. "Through this agreement with Cablevision, we're deepening our relationship with a trusted partner, and giving our audiences instant access to an even greater collection of our hit programming." http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/cablevision-adds-mtv-and-bet-programming-to-video-on-demand-offerings-352.html 06F03876-02BA-4298-9028-866B3B880478 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:37:19 -0500 In an unprecedented industry-wide agreement, U.S. cable operators will voluntarily take additional measures to help limit the distribution of child pornography on the Internet through an agreement between the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA), the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), and the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG). Cable operators bring the Internet to 87 percent of U.S. households and those companies on NCTA's board of directors have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NCMEC to aid in the fight to reduce the proliferation of child pornography online. The commitment by these cable operators represents Internet service to more than 112 million homes. Cable Operators Agree to Help Battle Internet Child Pornography "Building on our strong commitment to online safety, the cable industry wants to help combat child pornography and exploitation," said Kyle McSlarrow, president and CEO of NCTA. "By signing the NCMEC MOU, cable Internet service providers are reaffirming their strong commitment to online safety and Internet literacy for all American families." Ernie Allen, president and CEO of NCMEC, added, "We are deeply grateful for this industry-wide attack on child pornography. It is not possible to arrest and prosecute every offender. We must be creative and build new public-private partnerships to address this insidious problem more effectively. This announcement represents a bold step forward." Cable Operators Given More Backup to Combat Online Child Porn The agreement with NCMEC will provide cable broadband service providers with an invaluable source of information to help them enforce their terms of service, all of which forbid the hosting of such illegal materials on their servers. The information provided by NCMEC to cable service providers will also help them identify instances of child pornography, facilitating their reporting of such material to NCMEC as required by federal law. This in turn enables NCMEC to refer these cases to law enforcement for investigation and prosecution. The cable operators that have agreed to execute the MOU within 30 days include: Comcast Corporation; Cox Communications; Charter Communications; Cablevision Systems Corporation; Bright House Networks; Suddenlink Communications; Mediacom Communications; Insight Communications; Bresnan Communications; Midcontinent Communications; Broadstripe; GCI; Harron Communications; US Cable Corporation; BendBroadband; Eagle Communications; and Sjoberg's, Inc. Time Warner Cable has already signed the MOU. Cable Providers Fight for Online Safety for American Families NCTA's agreement with NCMEC is the latest milestone in cable's efforts to ensure online safety and promote Internet literacy for all families and Internet users. When NCTA launched its PointSmartClickSafe online safety initiative in June 2007, cable ISPs pledged in a code of conduct to support law enforcement in its efforts to ensure online safety for American families. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/cable-operators-to-combat-online-child-pornography-351.html 08F9DEA0-3083-4DB7-AB08-3BAC0C306512 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:31:32 -0500 Charter Communications, the third largest cable company in the U.S., announced plans to add six new high-definition (HD) channels in its Northeast Wisconsin markets on August 20. The new HD channels are Fox Sports Net (FSN) Wisconsin, Animal Planet HD, Smithsonian Channel HD, TBS HD, The Movie Channel HD and an HD VOD channel. The additions will increase Charter's HD channel lineup in Northeast Wisconsin to 23 channels. FSN Wisconsin Features Brewers Games in HD FSN Wisconsin expanded its HD Milwaukee Brewers game coverage from 17 broadcasts last year to 65 games this season. Of those, 11 HD game broadcasts will be seen on Charter Cable after August 20. Smithsonian Channel Signed Carriage Agreement with Charter Earlier This Year The Smithsonian Channel signed a deal with Charter Communications earlier this year to add Smithsonian HD programs as well as "Smithsonian On Demand" to the cable operator's HD offerings. These will also be available to Charter's Wisconsin markets in August. The Smithsonian Channel showcases the Institution's extensive resources of collections, exhibitions, archives, and cultural expertise. About Charter Communications Charter Communications is the third-largest publicly traded cable operator in the U.S., serving approximately 5.7 million customers in 29 states. A Fortune 500 company, Charter is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, and its stock is traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the symbol CHTR. The company's chairman and largest shareholder is Paul G. Allen, co-founder of Microsoft. According to a statement, Charter's corporate mission is to provide value to its customers by offering high-quality communication services, continually improving customer care, and unwavering commitment of its employees. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/charter-communications-to-add-fsn-and-other-hd-channels-in-wisconsin-350.html BDB50CFD-DEAC-4961-9068-9CE4E3861E37 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:31:32 -0500 Yahoo has announced that Yahoo Games will be offering more than 400 ad-supported downloadable games to its online users. This large collection of games from top casual games publishers will reach Yahoo's gaming audience by year end. Yahoo Offers Gamers Demographic to Online Advertisers In-game advertising will not only allow Yahoo Games to monetize its games offering, but will also provide advertisers access to the coveted gamers demographic. Kyle Laughlin, head of games for Yahoo, said, "In-game advertising is a win-win for Yahoo Games and our partners, and our users. Yahoo Games will monetize our games experience while providing the most popular games free to game enthusiasts." Technology providers, Double Fusion and NeoEdge, will sell and integrate pre-roll, mid-roll, and post-roll video ads into the Yahoo Games catalog. Paid downloads without advertising will also be available to users on Yahoo Games. Yahoo Games Reaches Key Female Demographic Yahoo Games Double Fusion will lend its core expertise, fusion.runtime technology, and its ad sales force to enable ad-supported Yahoo games. For advertisers, the partnership brings the opportunity to access highly targeted reach to one of the most important consumer demographics - females 35 to 54 - at a time when they are fully engaged. By working with Double Fusion, Yahoo will be to make more games available, for longer or, in some cases, unlimited free trials. Yahoo will also leverage NeoEdge's NeoARM ad enabling technology along with the NeoAds advertising network and NeoEdge ad sales team to deliver a suite of ad-supported casual games giving Yahoo an efficient way to insert ads into its game library without requiring the game source code. NeoEdge also enables advertisers to reach the key female demographic. Online Games from Top Publishers Through Yahoo Games At launch, ad-supported downloadable games on Yahoo Games will be available from publishers including Alawar Entertainment, Anarchy, Big Fish Games, eGames, Floodgate, Freeze Tag, FreshGames, Funkitron, Gogii Games, GameHouse, Gamemill Publishing, HipSoft, I-Play, iWin, Last Day of Work, Legacy Interactive, Ludia, MumboJumbo, pixelStorm, PlayFirst, Playrix Entertainment, PopCap, Reflexive Entertainment, Sandlot Games, Sugar Games, TellTale Games, TikGames, uclick, Worldwide Biggies, and Zero G Games. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/yahoo-announces-ad-supported-online-gaming-347.html F8B66F1E-44A8-45E9-85B2-9C01BD08BC03 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:29:24 -0500 2K Games has announced that it will be the publisher for Cryptic Studios' highly anticipated MMO (massively multiplayer online) action game, "Champions Online". 2K Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., will be the North American and international publisher for the game which is being developed for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft* and Games for Windows. "Champions Online" is expected to be released spring of 2009. Cryptic Studios' "Champions Online" Offers Total Customization to MMO Players Established in July 2007, Cryptic Studios is a Los Gatos, CA based leading independent developer of massively multiplayer online games for Windows PC and current generation systems. An independent, employee-owned company, Cryptic is best known as the creator of the award-winning "City of Heroes" and "City of Villains" MMO titles. Based on the popular Champions pen-and-paper RPG, "Champions Online" will give players the ability to totally customize their hero experience while they explore a vast comic book universe. Champions Online MMO to Launch Next Spring "2K Games is excited to work with such a talented group as Cryptic Studios," said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. "Given their stellar pedigree and amazing grasp of the MMO genre, we are confident that 'Champions Online' will deliver an innovative and exciting action MMO experience to gamers." John Needham, CEO of Cryptic Studios, said "2K Games is a terrific publishing partner for Champions Online. Cryptic is proud that "Champions Online" will be 2K's first MMO title and we look forward to working together towards a tremendous launch next year." *Champions Online for Xbox 360 is not yet concept approved by Microsoft http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/2k-games-to-publish-highly-anticipated-mmo-champions-online-346.html F9879A6D-A1D8-4233-946B-E88E1F999A44 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:29:23 -0500 Verizon has announced it will carry Big Ten Network in both standard and high definition. Already available to subscribers in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the sports network will be expanded over the next few months to all areas where Verizon FiOS TV is available. Verizon Adds Big Ten Network to its Channel Lineup Big Ten Network is one of several new channels Verizon is adding to the FiOS TV lineup in areas where the company is already offering video service. These areas include home states for Big Ten schools such as Indiana - home to both Indiana and Purdue universities, as well as parts of Pennsylvania - home to Penn State University. The Big Ten is the nation's oldest major athletic conference. Its universities number more than four million alumni across the U.S. Other states that will be able to view Big Ten Network on Verizon FiOS include New York, California, Texas, Florida, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, Oregon, Delaware, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Verizon FiOS TV Offers Big Ten Network College Football in High Definition Terry Denson, Verizon vice president of FiOS TV content and programming, said, "Verizon has placed a high priority on providing the best in both sports and high-definition content to our FiOS TV subscribers. Big Ten Network is an exciting addition to our channel lineup, giving customers a front seat to their favorite college football games." Mark Silverman, Big Ten Network President, stated that Verizon FiOS will provide a means for millions of Big Ten universities' alumni and other fans around the country to get access to the year-old network. "As FiOS continues to roll out across the country, Big Ten fans can connect with their universities as never before," Silverman said. "We look forward to a very long and productive relationship for many years to come." Verizon and Big Ten Network to Launch New Broadband Content Ventures Verizon and Big Ten Network are also expected to launch new video-on-demand and broadband content ventures together within the coming year, with subsequent details to be announced later. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/verizon-fios-to-carry-big-ten-network-345.html 7AC0E13E-3767-4BEE-9767-3D47F547222C Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:29:23 -0500 Vega Promotional Systems announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire unique, proprietary software for online gaming which supports massively multiplayer online games (MMOG). This platform can support a user base of more than 80,000 online clients and 7,000 unique logins per day. Vega will license the proprietary software to online poker websites that will pay a reoccurring licensing fee to the company. The unique software allows users from each licensed website to play in a global, online community against players from other licensed websites throughout the world. Popularity of High-Speed Internet Provides MMODB Opportunities Michael Herron, CEO of Vega Promotional Systems said, "This is a major acquisition for our company and will provide us with the ability to expand our business throughout the world and create substantial, ongoing revenue for the company.” The popularity of high-speed Internet connections in North America, Europe, and Asia, where broadband penetration rates already range from 50 to 90 percent of households, is a driving factor behind the increasing popularity of online MMODB games. Vega to Offer Licensing for Online Poker Site Vega recently announced the launch of the "Poker Tour of the Americas" (PTA), a multi-city series of poker tournaments featuring the top professional poker players in the world. The company plans to license the software to an online gaming company to develop a "Poker Tour of the Americas" online poker site. "The online game development market is still in its infancy,” said Herron, “and there is an opportunity to consolidate many of the junior game developers within this market segment. Online poker has taken off all over the world and by being in a position to provide our unique online software to poker websites, we will be able to capitalize on the industry's tremendous growth and global expansion.” http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/vega-acquiring-mmodb-online-gaming-software-349.html C9F3D87A-F2DE-4115-9CA0-E828D9E9C89A Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:29:23 -0500 American Airlines has begun testing its new in-flight Internet service on two flights - one from New York City to Los Angeles and another from Los Angeles to New York. The initial Wi-Fi tests will be at no charge to American Airlines passengers, but when the service is launched in a matter of weeks, customers will pay $9.95 for flights up to three hours long, and $12.95 for flights that are more than three hours. While in-flight Internet service was available on Boeing overseas flights for a short time, ending in 2006, this is the first time a domestic carrier has offered in-flight Wi-Fi access to its passengers. American Airlines is partnering with Aircell LLC, a wireless data and voice communications provider to offer the new Gogo in-flight broadband system. American Airlines and Aircell Provide Access to In-Flight Internet With the Aircell broadband system, American Airline's customers will not only have unfiltered access to surf the Web but they can download videos, use email and instant messaging, and connect to secure networks with notebook computers and smart phones from designated Wi-Fi areas on the plane. Passengers will also have free access to the American Airlines website, travel guides, and news headlines. Gogo In-Flight Wi-Fi Service in the Works with Other Airlines Gogo in-flight Wi-Fi service is expected to be available on every American Airlines 767-200 plane flying from New York's JFK Airport to Los Angeles with plans to expand to certain San Francisco and Miami flights in the near future. Other airlines - including Virgin America and JetBlue Airways - are working with Aircell to provide in-flight Internet access to their passengers and, while no details have been released, service may be available by year-end. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/american-airlines-to-test-wi-fi-service-343.html A5459E77-ABA7-4028-B136-B01701E892B1 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:29:23 -0500 Charter Communications and the Big Ten Network entered negotiations for Charter to carry the Big Ten Network's sports programming. This follows the recent announcement that after more than a year of negotiations Comcast has signed a long term, multi-media deal with the Big Ten Network and, in August, will begin airing its programming in states with Big Ten schools including Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. Charter and Big Ten Network Hope to Reach Quick Deal Many Charter subscribers have expressed an interest in having Big Ten Conference sports included in the cable company's lineup. But while both Charter and Big Ten Network spokespersons expressed optimism that an agreement will be reached soon, there are still several issues that must be resolved first including where the Big Ten Network will fit into Charter's channel lineup and how much Charter will pay Big Ten Network for their programming. Big Ten Network Covers Every Big Ten Conference Sport Big Ten Network sports coverage includes every men's and women's sport played at the Big Ten Conference schools. The network covers the Conference and its 11 member institutions while providing access to conference sports events and shows, original programs, and more - including live sports coverage, news, highlights, and analysis. The Big Ten Network is a joint venture of subsidiaries of the Big Ten Conference and Fox Cable Networks. Charter Communications Provides Service to 29 States Charter Communications is the third-largest publicly traded cable operator in the nation and serves 29 states. The Fortune 500 company is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/charter-communications-and-big-ten-network-in-negotiations-342.html 241B2D39-76E5-497C-8FFE-1FB5E20F0611 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:29:23 -0500 Dick Ebersol, chairman, NBC Universal Sports & Oympics and executive producer of NBCU's Olympic coverage announced that NBCU will present an unprecedented 3,600 hours of Beijing Olympic Games across many platforms including online at NBCOlympics.com. NBCU's Olympics coverage will be seen on seven NBC Universal networks: NBC, USA, MSNBC, CNBC, Oxygen, Telemundo, and Universal HD, as well as the NBCOlympics.com website which will feature approximately 2,200 total hours of live streaming Olympic broadband video coverage, the first live online Olympic coverage in the U.S. "For the first time, the average American will be able to create their own unique Olympic experience whether at home, at the office, or on-the-go," said Ebersol. "With 25 sports streamed live at NBCOlympics.com and significant live coverage on our cable platforms and NBC, highlighted by all swimming finals, the biggest nights of gymnastics, and beach volleyball live in primetime, the viewer has plenty of options for live coverage. 212 Hours per Day of NBCU Summer Olympics Coverage Over the 17 days of the Beijing Games, August 8-24, NBCU's coverage will average more than 212 hours per day. And approximately 75 percent of the Olympics programming will be broadcast live, despite a 12-hour time difference between the U.S. Eastern time zone and Beijing. Complete day-by-day Olympics listings will be available soon at NBCOlympics.com or a PDF is available immediately at NBC Universal Media Village, the company's media specific website, NBCMV.com. Olympics Coverage Divided Between Seven Networks and NBCOlympics.com NBC will feature live coverage of all 32 swimming gold medal finals; four key nights of men's and women's gymnastics led by the women's and men's team gold medal finals, as well as the women's and men's individual gold medal finals; beach volleyball; and, for the first time ever, both men's and women's marathons. The first week of the Olympics features gymnastics and swimming. USA Network will feature live coverage of the U.S. men's and women's basketball and soccer teams as well as live coverage of tennis, volleyball, or water polo each day. MSNBC will provide live, weekday, long-form coverage of a full range of Olympic sports, including softball, soccer, beach volleyball, wrestling, basketball, volleyball and weightlifting. On each of the two days prior to the Opening Ceremony, August 6 and 7, MSNBC also will provide coverage of the opening soccer matches. CNBC will carry 95.5 hours of Olympic programming over 16 days including long-form coverage of Olympic boxing. CNBC will also have expanded, long-form coverage of a wide variety of Olympic sports such as softball, tennis, weightlifting, wrestling, and badminton. Oxygen will feature a daily look at gymnastics, recapping some of the most exciting moments in the popular competition. Equestrian events and tennis also will be featured on Oxygen's coverage. Telemundo, together with its Olympic website Telemundo.NBCOlympics.com, will provide more than 380 hours of Olympic coverage over 19 days, exclusively in Spanish. Telemundo will feature live men's and women's soccer, basketball, gymnastics, diving, volleyball, track and field, swimming, and baseball. Telemundo begins its competition coverage the day before the Opening Ceremony with two men's soccer matches. Telemundo.NBCOlympics.com will feature up-to-the-minute information and exclusive content. Photo galleries, videos, profiles of prominent Olympians, news, historic information, and images from Beijing will be available on the site. Users will also find more than 220 hours of broadband video of the Beijing Games and past Olympics. Universal HD will offer 24-hour HD simulcasts and re-airs of coverage on CNBC and MSNBC, 379 hours in all. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/nbc-universal-offers-unprecedented-olympics-online-coverage-348.html 0682808F-5B33-4619-909C-6C63E4DABD10 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:29:23 -0500 Comcast announced it has teamed up with Nintendo to offer a complimentary Wii system to new Comcast Triple Play customers who sign up for Preferred Plus or Premier Triple Play packages. The offer will be in effect until August 17, 2008. New Comcast Triple Play Customers Can Enjoy Free Wii Entertainment "By connecting to our High-Speed Internet, it will be easy for our customers to access all the content and features their Wii has to offer online," said Greg Butz, senior vice president of marketing and product development for Comcast. "Wii offers something for everyone, so pairing Comcast Triple Play with the Wii system provides great entertainment value for the entire family." Cammie Dunaway, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Nintendo of America, added "Comcast's high-speed Internet connects Wii owners with their friends all over the world. In addition to playing video games, people can surf the Internet, share family photos, and check the news or weather. The Wii is home to a multitude of Internet-based entertainment and informational options." Wii Entertainment on Comcast High-Speed Internet By hooking up Wii to Comcast High-Speed Internet, customers can enjoy a variety of Internet-based entertainment features: * Play friends over a Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection in games like Mario Kart Wii, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and more * Surf the Internet on a bigger screen by downloading the Wii Internet Channel from the Wii Shop Channel using Wii Points * Visit the Wii Shop Channel to download classic Nintendo games or discover new exciting titles made for Wii Comcast Preferred Plus and Premier Triple Play Package Features Comcast Preferred Plus and Premier Triple Play packages include: Comcast Digital Cable with On Demand and premium channels; Comcast Digital Voice, offering unlimited local and domestic long-distance calling and 12 popular calling features plus enhanced voicemail; and Comcast High-Speed Internet with PowerBoost for fast download speeds. To be eligible for a complimentary Wii system (a two-year contract is required). http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/comcast-offers-wii-systems-to-new-triple-play-customers-368.html 1846C24E-25C6-4540-B481-026F641AD781 Fri, 1 Aug 2008 13:29:14 -0500 FEARnet has announced a distribution deal with Time Warner Cable to bring its horror and thriller digital on demand network to the cable provider's channel lineup beginning in August. With the addition of Time Warner Cable, FEARnet will be available in more than 29 million digital cable households across the country and will significantly increase the network's presence in New York and Los Angeles. FEARnet and Time Warner Cable Deal Brings Horror Content to Fans "With this extensive distribution through Time Warner Cable, FEARnet's horror and thriller content will reach a large cross-section of the population in key major markets. We are consistently filling a niche in the marketplace and attracting an ever-growing, audience," said Diane Robina, president of FEARnet. FEARnet's successful first quarter this year pushed the company's video on demand channel and FEARnet.com website past the 160 million video views mark and increased the video on demand views by 40 percent. FEARnet Video on Demand and Website Offer Horror and Thriller Content FEARnet offers a mix of professionally produced original webisode series, and a library of feature-length horror and thriller favorites from Hollywood studios. The network's partnership with Ghost House Pictures - a venture between director Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert, and Mandate's Joe Drake and Nathan Kahane - has produced two heavily viewed mini-series: "Devil's Trade" and "30 Days of Night: Blood Trails." The series generated more than eight million views online and on demand. FEARnet's six-week daily interactive fall series "Buried Alive," produced by Sony Pictures Television, yielded a large fan base. FEARnet on Demand is available on Comcast, Cox Communications, Verizon FiOS, and Insight Communications and includes thriller, killer, and chiller horror titles from Sony Pictures and Lionsgate's film libraries. FEARnet.com users can explore the world of the macabre on a video-rich environment with movies, interactive community features, and fresh original content. The site features free streaming movies, download-to-own movies, social networks, news and reviews, and more. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/fearnet-signs-cable-distribution-deal-with-time-warner-367.html E5B9CD60-7F5D-401E-B5F4-8083C1C2BA5F Fri, 1 Aug 2008 13:29:02 -0500 Verizon has announced it will be upgrading the capabilities of its in-home network equipment to provide more capacity and higher speeds. The company said that new broadband routers, designed to Verizon's specifications by Actiontec and Westell, will boost in-home speeds over coaxial cable to up to 175 megabits per second (Mbps) from 75 Mbps. The new routers will be ready for deployment in the third quarter. Verizon's New Broadband Routers Reach Speeds up to 175 Mbps Verizon's new routers will allow operation of multiple simultaneous Wi-Fi networks so customers will be able to modify security settings on each network, allowing a Wi-Fi network for guests and visitors, one with parental controls for young users, one for computers holding secure documents, or one for teleworking only. "Verizon is already well into the second generation of technology for our fiber-to-the-home access network, and it's time to upgrade the home network technology as well, with broadband home routers that pack a speed and service punch," said Brian Whitton, executive director of access network design and integration for Verizon. "These routers will be the perfect complement to the access network. They go well beyond just allowing more speed or bandwidth - they upgrade every key aspect of the FiOS experience." Verizon 175 Mbps Routers Upgrade Every Aspect of FiOS Among the design features and benefits of the new routers are: * Higher bandwidth, offering 175 Mbps total data flow in the home * Support for up to four Wi-Fi networks, enabling more than one Wi-Fi network to operate simultaneously within the home * Quality of service controls to give traffic preference to critical services like voice or security devices * Remote management of Verizon devices and services beyond the router by Verizon technicians, improving the service and support experience for customers * Integrated dual-core processor to allow simultaneous networked data services, possibly including home security, home monitoring, network security and other applications * Support for media sharing between home devices, such as between TVs and PCs, media servers, and other consumer electronics, using DLNA and Universal Plug and Play standards now being adopted by hardware manufacturers to support connectivity and service integration * Enables modular expansion using a USB interface, so that shared storage servers, printers, peripherals, and other devices can be added when desired. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/verizon-announces-new-broadband-routers-366.html 5E625816-2D35-470D-9FB1-1E82E52F780A Fri, 1 Aug 2008 13:28:40 -0500 Verizon is taking steps to ensure that every FiOS TV customer will experience a smooth transition from the analog to digital television broadcasts that will take effect in February 2009. Since Verizon FiOS TV is already all-digital, most customers will not even notice a change, and the company is taking steps to eliminate any confusion as analog broadcasts are discontinued. Verizon to Provide a Free Digital Adaptor to FiOS TV Analog Subscribers Verizon has begun phasing out a small number of duplicate analog channels it has been broadcasting on its FiOS TV service. Until now, Verizon has provided these duplicate channels to allow digital subscribers to view some limited programming in an analog format without using a set-top box. The company also has a small number of customers who subscribe to a service that solely offers these duplicate analog channels. In order to make the digital transition easy for these customers Verizon will provide them with a free digital adapter. "As we phase out our local analog simulcasts this year, we want to make sure that our small number of affected customers can continue receiving this programming on sets they are using without a set-top box," said Michelle A. Robinson, Verizon's regional president for the Southeast region. "We're reaching out to those customers now to help them get their free digital adapter from us so they can enjoy high-quality digital programming on every set in their home." Verizon FiOS TV Upgrades Available to Analog Customers in Florida Customers also may choose to upgrade to a set-top box that lets them see more programming, including high-definition channels, and enables full-featured, interactive services, like extensive video-on-demand programming and Verizon's interactive media guide. Verizon is phasing out the analog channels on a regional basis. FiOS TV customers in Florida will see the transition starting August 18. Customers have been notified well in advance by letters, e-mails, and phone calls from Verizon. The company also has set up a dedicated Web site, www.verizon.com/godigital, to provide answers to common questions about all-digital service. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/verizon-offers-free-digital-tv-upgrade-to-florida-fiOS-customers-365.html 6ABBF59E-ADFC-4F0C-A16D-EEC000003F27 Fri, 1 Aug 2008 13:28:12 -0500 With the February 2009 deadline for the transition from analog to digital television less than eight months away, the Senate voted to allow additional funding to assist during the switch to digital broadcasting. Amendment to Deficit Reduction Act Allows More DTV Funds In an amendment to the Deficit Reduction Act, backed by Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Senator Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, additional funds left from the digital to analog converter box program may be used for two specific purposes: first, to educate elderly, minority, and rural television viewers who may not yet be aware of what the transition entails and how they might be impacted by it; and second, to make funds available to low-power television broadcasters to help them make the transition. Additional DTV Funds Relieve Concerns of Low-Power Broadcasters Concerns of low-power broadcasters that they would not be ready when the transition takes effect and that their signals would be un-viewable should be alleviated by the amendment which supersedes the original wording preventing these stations from receiving funding until October 2010. Consumer Choices in Switch from Analog to Digital Television Consumers who currently watch analog television have three options to upgrade their current television sets in order to be able view the new signals that will begin on February 17, 2009. They may purchase a digital-to-analog converter box which has analog pass-through capability; or purchase a digital-to-analog converter box without analog pass-through, and then add a splitter or A/B switch to receive both analog and digital signals; or subscribe to cable, satellite, or other pay television service For more information about the analog-to-digital converter box coupon program visit the NTIA website or call the coupon program 24-hotline at 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009). http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/senate-approves-additional-dtv-funds-341.html C1325D57-21E5-4895-89EB-3C49458D105F Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:34:03 -0500 Cox Communications and Crown Media Holdings, Inc., owner and operator of the Hallmark Channel and the Hallmark Movie Channel, have announced a multi-year agreement granting Cox Communications the right to carry the high definition version of the Hallmark Movie Channel that was launched in April. Cox currently distributes the Hallmark Channel as well as the standard definition version of the Hallmark Movie Channel. Cox Communications to Offer Hallmark Movie Channel in High Definition Henry Schleiff, president and CEO of Crown Media Holdings, Inc., said, "We are pleased to announce this new agreement with Cox, one of Crown Media's most important partners. The Hallmark Movie Channel offers our audience family movies and we are happy to be presenting them in HD format at a time when there is a growing demand for family-friendly programming. Most importantly, we are excited to be able to join with our distribution partners to offer this opportunity to our viewers." Hallmark Movie Channel Owned by Crown Media Holdings Crown Media Holdings currently operates and distributes Hallmark Channel to subscribers in the U.S. Crown Media also operates a second 24-hour linear channel, Hallmark Movie Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel HD. Significant investors in Crown Media Holdings include: Hallmark Entertainment Holdings, Inc., a subsidiary of Hallmark Cards, Incorporated, Liberty Media Corp., and J.P. Morgan Partners (BHCA), LP, each through their investments in Hallmark Entertainment Investments Co.; VISN Management Corp., a for-profit subsidiary of the National Interfaith Cable Coalition; and The DIRECTV Group, Inc. Cox Communications Offers Cable Television, Phone, and High-Speed Internet Cox Communications is a multi-service broadband communications and entertainment company providing cable television, phone service, and high-speed Internet to its residential and business customers. Cox is an investor in programming networks including Discovery Channel. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/cox-communications-to-carry-hd-hallmark-movie-channel-340.html E4907595-1B50-486A-9ECF-47E1E38E93E2 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:33:32 -0500 According to a Congressionally-mandated five-year strategic plan issued last week, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is expecting to receive an increase in complaints related to the digital television transition. The plan states that the FCC expects additional media consolidation due to the costs of the conversion to digital transmissions next year. Lawsuits Against the FCC May Result from DTV Conversion The FCC is also preparing for lawsuits as a result of the DTV (digital television) conversion next year. As stated in the plan, "Congress has mandated a transition to DTV that will require coordination with all aspects of the distribution system. Court challenges of FCC rules and polices to advance the DTV transition may also result." The FCC's last round of media-ownership rules have resulted in court challenges and additional legal costs for the agency. Congress's ruling to continue to review the FCC's rules in this area may result in additional legal challenges. FCC Cites Need for Sufficient Staff to Handle Complaints The FCC also cites the need for sufficient staff, including attorneys and mediation specialists, to handle any increase in complaints and lawsuits. "The digital transition requires continuing education of FCC technical staff to maintain an up-to-date understanding of developments in communications technology," the agency stated in the five-year plan. It continues, "Moreover, to the extent the number of consumer complaints against broadcast stations continues to grow, the FCC must have sufficient personnel (e.g., attorneys and consumer-advocacy and mediation specialists) and technological resources to efficiently process such complaints in a timely manner. The FCC will also need to maintain sufficient technical personnel (e.g., engineers) to enforce compliance with technical and operational rules." http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/fcc-expects-increase-in-dtv-complaints-339.html BF9C9C3B-264B-4BB5-A977-B1FFCB630A61 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:33:08 -0500 Verizon has announced it will be expanding its FiOS Internet speeds of up to 50 megabits per second (Mbps) for downloads and up to 20 Mbps for uploads to the company's entire FiOS Internet service footprint in 16 states. The expanded service will be available starting this week and will impact more than ten million homes and businesses. Verizon Expands its 50/20 Mbps FiOS Internet Service Verizon had already offered the 50/20 Mbps and 20/20 Mbps services in its FiOS markets in Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island. The company is now expanding those offerings to new Verizon FiOS customers in parts of California, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, replacing existing offerings of 30/15 Mbps and 15/15 Mbps services, respectively. The mid-tier connection speed in those markets for new customers is being increased from 15/2 Mbps to 20/5 Mbps, and the basic service tier is being increased from 5/2 Mbps to 10/2 Mbps. Verizon FiOS Internet Customers Receive 50 Mbps Download Speeds At 50 Mbps, downloading a 5 GB file, such as a 112-minute, high-definition movie purchased online, takes approximately 13.3 minutes, while a 50 MB, or 60-minute, Web video takes eight seconds, and a 5 MB MP3 music file takes less than eight-tenths of a second. Using a 20 Mbps upstream broadband connection, a consumer could upload a 250 megabyte (MB) file of 200 photos in about 90 seconds, instead of the roughly 47 minutes it takes over a 768 kilobit-per-second (Kbps) upstream connection. A 500 MB file, such as 400 digital photos or a medical imaging data file can be uploaded in less than four minutes, compared with about 90 minutes over a 768 Kbps connection. A 3 gigabyte (GB) file, such as a one-hour family video shot with a high-definition video camera, can be uploaded in around 20 minutes, compared with more than nine hours with 768 Kbps upstream. "The appetite for bandwidth shows no signs of slowing down. Neither will we," said Verizon president and chief operating office Denny Strigl. "We've already had successful trials of the 100-megabit home, which will be a reality faster than anybody thinks." http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/verizon-expands-5020-mbps-fios-internet-speed-to-16-states-338.html CE7FDA2E-CC34-4F9F-B24F-04315745D298 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:32:44 -0500 Twelve television stations located in Central Florida's Orlando market were among the first to test digital signals in preparation for next year's digital conversion. The participating television stations were WKMG-TV, WESH-TV, WFTV-TV, WCEU-TV, WKCF-TV, WMFE-TV, WVEN-TV, WRDQ-TV, WOTF-TV, WTGL-TV channel 45, WBCC-TV, and WOPX-TV. 60-Second Message Tests Viewers' Digital Reception At 7:59 p.m. on Wednesday, July 2, each station briefly disconnected its analog television signal and aired a 60-second message in digital format which reached more than 365,000 households. If viewers were able to see the message, the test confirmed that their television sets are ready for digital broadcasts. Viewers who did not see the message but only saw black screens on their television sets have analog sets and will need to take steps to prepare their televisions to receive digital signals. Orlando Television Stations Advertised Test in Advance In preparation for the test, the Orlando stations ran on-air television commercials asking viewers to participate in the test. The commercials appeared to be effective in that viewership increased by eight percent compared to the prior Wednesday on all of the 12 stations. Number of Viewers Not DTV-Compatible Low In the commercials and on their websites, the stations provided a special telephone number for viewers to call who were unable to see the digital message. Only 501 calls came in to the stations. About half of the phone calls came from viewers who have television sets which are more than a year old and have been receiving analog signals via antennas. The other half came from current cable television subscribers. http://www.broadbandinfo.com/news/orlando-television-stations-test-dtv-337.html 39FFFE0A-D2BE-41A1-A0A0-7DE08A792264 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:32:22 -0500 The Wi-Fi Alliance has announced the launch of a new certification program for voice-capable Wi-Fi devices. The Wi-Fi Certified Voice-Personal program will test the performance of voice-capable WI-Fi devices used in homes and small offices to determine that the products provide good voice quality over Wi-Fi links. Edgar Figueroa, executive director of the Wi-Fi Alliance said, "Wi-Fi enabled devices are increasingly used for data a