* Verizon’s FiOS expands in N.J., wins in N.Y.
By Traci Patterson
Verizon has expanded its FiOS TV service in New Jersey, and the telco’s video service has inked two more franchise agreements in New York State.
In New Jersey, FiOS TV is now available in parts of Mount Holly, Westampton, Helmetta, Jamesburg, Spotswood and Pallisades Park. The service is currently offered in more than 280 New Jersey communities, with many more to come later this year, Verizon said.
In New York, the communities of Stony Point and Wappingers have recently granted a video franchise to Verizon. The votes make 106 the total number of New York communities that have approved Verizon’s FiOS TV service. This week, Verizon was also granted a video franchise in Roslyn Estates, N.Y. (story here).
* RCN extends technical support offering for business subs
By Traci Patterson
RCN Corp. is now offering its RCN Business Services customers extended technical support.
With the RCN solution, Enhanced Care Technicians work with customers over the phone; with a customer’s permission, they connect to the customer’s computer to remotely operate their system and resolve problems, the MSO said.
Enhanced Care experts are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The service costs $30 for the first half hour and $20 for each subsequent half hour. The service is charged to the customer’s monthly RCN bill for service – but only when the customer’s issue is resolved.
* ICTV names Dawson VP of programming services for ActiveMedia
By Traci Patterson
ICTV has named Mark Dawson as the company’s VP of programming services for ICTV’s ActiveMedia Group.
Dawson joins the company from Gemstar-TV Guide International, where he served as director of cross-platform TV guidance product management. Dawson was responsible for the launch of the My TV Guide suite of services.
With ActiveMedia Group, he will be responsible for driving the creation and launch of ActiveVideo programming.
ActiveVideo Channels, delivered via ICTV’s ActiveVideo Distribution Network, mix linear and on-demand programming with broadband content to form personalized MPEG video streams that can be sent to any cable or IPTV STB. The channels offer network operators and programmers access to video libraries, navigational elements, channel branding, targeted and interactive banner ads, and links to ad showcases.
* Appear TV adds redundancy to IP headends
By Brian Santo
Appear TV has introduced a software module that the company says improves system reliability by providing for system redundancy in its IP headends.
The software module is designed to reside in Appear TV’s existing IP cards and complements and enhances the company’s IP headends.
More Broadband Direct:
• N.Y. Post: TWC offering TV Caller ID to NYC-area subs
• Verizon takes umbrage at TWC ads
• SCTE announces board election results for 2008
• Arris 1 GHz multiplexer buys fiber bandwidth
• JDSU to demo new digital video test solution at NAB
• Yahoo deals with Google, maybe AOL, to fend off Microsoft
• Scopus incorporates Ambarella processors into UE-9000 series