AT&T has filed an application with the FCC seeking to discontinue some of its legacy wireline services including collect calling, person-to-person calling, busy line interruption and international directory assistance. According to the filing, the carrier’s move to end the services comes as a result of steadily decreasing demand for operator services. AT&T said operator assistance […]
Pop Network Coming to Cablevision, U-Verse in Expansion Bid
Popular culture channel Pop will launch in Cablevision AT&T’s U-verse and Wide Open West this year in a bid to grow its subscriber base, Variety reported. According to Pop president Brad Schwartz, the channel is seeking to add around 8 million homes to its 80 million-home subscriber base over the next few months. On Thursday, […]
Canada’s Corus Entertainment To Buy Shaw Media in $1.9B Deal
Canadian media and broadcasting company Corus Entertainment announced Wednesday it will purchase Shaw Media, the programming division of Shaw Communications, in a deal valued at $1.9 billion (2.65 Canadian dollars). The deal, which is expected to close in the third quarter of 2016, will allow Corus to boost its offering for women, children and families […]
As Auction Application Deadline Passes, NAB Looks Forward to “Robust” Participation
With the deadline for auction participation applications behind them, the National Association of Broadcasters looked forward on Tuesday to a hearty reverse auction in March. “The FCC’s staff has done a remarkable amount of work to get us to this point,” NAB Executive Vice President of Communications Dennis Wharton said in a statement. “NAB expects […]
Midcontinent Rebrands, Aims for 2017 Completion of Gigabit Roll Out
Midcontinent Communications, a cable TV and Internet provider serving Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota or Wisconsin, launched a rebranding effort Tuesday. As part of the effort, the company will now be known by its nickname, Midco, effective immediately. Midco said the change will help the company align itself with its colloquial moniker for better brand […]
Comcast Pushes Modem Upgrade in User’s Browser
Comcast is once again jumping into its customers’ browser space to display messages, this time pushing for a modem upgrade, a report from The Consumerist indicates. According to the report, a Comcast subscriber “BB” said he experienced an interruption in his web browsing experience when Comcast targeted him with a pop-up ad encouraging him to […]
CBS, Warner Bros. Mull New Paid Streaming Service for CW
Television broadcasters CBS and Warner Bros. are considering the creation of their own paid streaming service aimed at youthful subscribers, Bloomberg reported. According to the report, the service would include content from the broadcasters’ jointly-owned CW network and would be available for a low monthly fee of $2 to $4. The new service would allow […]
Time Warner Takes Aim at Netflix with Binge-Watching Strategy
Time Warner Inc. is working to make full seasons of more shows available on demand to its TV customers in an attempt to lure binge watchers away from Netflix, Bloomberg reported. According to Time Warner CFO Howard Averill, the move is part of a strategic shift to “provide the consumer what they’re looking for.” To further […]
Dish Announces New Hopper DVR, 4K Programming
Dish Network has unveiled a new Hopper DVR that can record up to 16 shows simultaneously and can split a users screen to display up to four shows at once in 1080p or six shows in 720p on a 4k screen. Unveiled last week at CES 2016, the Hopper 3 also includes Slingbox compatibility to […]
FCC: Internet Speeds Triple Over Three-and-a-Half-Year Period
The speed of the average fixed broadband Internet connection more than tripled in the three-and-a-half-year period from March 2011 to September 2014, according to new data from the FCC. In its latest “Measuring Broadband America” report, the FCC noted that actual average download speeds for fixed broadband service jumped from 10 Mbps in March 2011 […]