Verizon‘s video project secured a key piece of programming real estate this week after the telco inked a carriage agreement with Turner Broadcasting System Inc. The deal gives Verzion access to a raft of “must-have” popular networks, including TBS, TNT, CNN, Headline News and Cartoon Network. The agreement will also ensure that Turner Classic Movies, […]

The customer management sector underwent a spell of consolidation Tuesday as Amdocs announced a deal to acquire billing and customer care specialist DST Innovis for $238 million. With DST Innovis in the fold, Amdocs will add several cable and satellite service providers to its customer base, including DirecTV, Comcast Cable and Cablevision Systems Corp. Amdocs […]

Cablevision Systems Corp. is using out-of-band overlay technology from Narad Networks to deliver dedicated data services starting at 50 Mbps to commercial customers. Initially, Cablevision has Narad-enabled two nodes serving customers in Oyster Bay, N.Y. Narad’s overlay technology lives on the existing HFC plant, but taps into spectrum above 860 MHz and below 1.1 GHz. […]

Jupiter Telecommunications Co. Ltd. (J:COM), the largest cable operator in Japan, is set to roll out a symmetrical 100 Mbps data service next month to multi-dwelling unit (MDU) customers. J:COM said it will offer the service by extending its legacy fiber-rich cable network to the outside wall of participating MDUs. From there, the service will […]

Harmonic Inc. has named Patrick Harshman president of its Convergent Systems Division (CSD), a unit that designs, manufactures and markets digital headend gear. He replaces Yaron Simler, who had held the post since 2001. Harmonic said Simler will depart the company effective July 1, to relocate his family to the east coast and for personal […]

Startup Whaleback Systems hopes to make a big splash with a PBX system specifically outfitted to handle IP-based voice services. The company, founded by Mark Galvin, who also founded Cedar Point Communications, built its PBX platform from the ground up to support IP, whereas many other circuit-based PBX systems have to be hacked or altered […]

CED magazine has announced the winners of its second-annual Pacesetter Awards, which are bestowed on individuals at cable and other broadband service providers who have taken leading positions or have taken innovative “first steps” with advanced services, applications or technologies. Now in its second year, The Pacesetters are awarded in five distinct categories: Digital Video, […]

GPON specialist Alloptic has partnered with Coaxsys Inc. as part of a plan to pipe IP-based services in the customer’s home via existing coaxial cables. The partnership will solve the so-called “last foot” issue of IP-based services, as most homes are not wired with Ethernet cables. Although Alloptic’s platform delivers fiber-to-the-home services, “there is still […]

Scientific-Atlanta further extended itself beyond its cable roots with a string of announcements linked to IP-based video technology. For starters, S-A inked a deal with Microsoft TV whereby the companies will develop advanced encoders that interoperate with Microsoft’s IPTV Edition software platform. The resulting encoders will support both MPEG-4 part 10 and VC-1 (Windows Media […]

Qwest Communications is throwing the book at UTOPIA (Utah Telecommunications Open Infrastructure Agency), charging the muni-run agency of anti-competitive practices. According to the Deseret Morning News, Qwest is alleging that the agency is allowing UTOPIA contractors, including AT&T, to sell services at below market prices. The paper noted that 11 of 14 UTOPIA member cities […]