Apple on Monday unveiled its highly-anticipated video streaming service, Apple+, placing its original content creation efforts front and center with stars taking the stage to promote their projects and partnerships with the tech giant. Not completely surprising given Apple reportedly expects to spend $2 billion this year on original content. The ad-free subscription service […]
Comcast Targets Internet-Only Subs with New ‘Flex’ Streaming Service
Comcast is launching a new streaming service called Flex, which aggregates a variety of free content, along with paid subscriptions and will be available to Xfinity Internet customers next week for an extra $5 per month. As consumers ditch traditional TV subscriptions and are faced with a growing number of ways to watch content, Comcast […]
Charter Starts Crediting $62.5M to Spectrum Customers as Part of NY AG Settlement
Charter Communications on Tuesday started issuing credits to Spectrum internet customers in New York as part of a $174.2 million consumer fraud settlement reached in December with the state Attorney General. Under the agreement, made with former New York AG Barbara Underwood, Charter is doling out $62.5 million in direct bill credits and providing 2.2 […]
ACA Pivots Away from Cable with New Name
ACA has renamed itself to ‘ACA — America’s Communications Association,’ in a move that aligns with the industry trend of operators pivoting away from the traditional pay TV focus and positioning themselves as connectivity providers. Formerly the American Cable Association, the group represents more than 700 small and mid-sized independent communications service providers and announced […]
Ciena Talks Next-Gen Cable Applications and Reducing Network Complexity
CED chats with with Eli Cagiannos, MSO Practice Leader at Ciena, about what he’s seeing in the cable industry right now and how operators can ensure their networks are ready to reliably handle new and existing customers and services. Video by Jon Dipierro and Tim Morgan.
Analyst: AT&T’s DirecTV Now Price Changes Key to Building Sticky Customer Base
AT&T recently announced it’s slimming down its DirecTV Now video content offerings while rising prices on packages that are gaining HBO access, but shedding other popular channels. Prices are up $10 for the live TV streaming service, with the lower tier increasing to $50 per month and top tier costing $70 per month. Notably, both […]
Windstream Expanding Internet Access in Rural Nebraska with USF Support
Windstream, currently under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, announced plans to expand internet access to 13 local exchanges in rural Nebraska, while utilizing about $2.2 million in support from the state’s Universal Service Fund. Awarded by the Nebraska Public Service Commission, the USF funds, along with more than $590,000 in capital from Windstream, will bring faster […]
Roku Devices Now Compatible with Amazon Alexa
Roku streaming players and TVs can now be controlled via Amazon Alexa-enabled devices. The new Roku skill is available on devices running Roku OS8.1 or greater and extends to the Amazon Echo, Echo Show, Eco Dot, Echo Spot, and Echo Plus. Users can say Alexa voice commands to perform functions including to pause a show, […]
Industry Groups Urge ‘Light-touch’ Framework, as Dems Introduce Net Neutrality Legislation
Democratic Congressional leaders on Wednesday announced a bill to reinstate net neutrality regulations aimed at internet service providers that were put in place in 2015 and later repealed in 2017 by the FCC. Under the FCC’s 2017 Restoring Internet Freedom Order, ISPs like AT&T, Verizon, and Comcast were reclassified as non-common carriers and no longer […]
Industry Groups Urge ‘Light-touch’ Framework, as Dems Introduce Net Neutrality Legislation
Democratic Congressional leaders on Wednesday announced a bill to reinstate net neutrality regulations aimed at internet service providers that were put in place in 2015 and later repealed in 2017 by the FCC. Under the FCC’s 2017 Restoring Internet Freedom Order, ISPs like AT&T, Verizon, and Comcast were reclassified as non-common carriers and no longer […]