* SCTE event targets OCAP The OpenCable Application Platform (OCAP) will be the subject of the Feb. 15 installment of The Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers‘ “Live Learning” series. The Web-based event, to be headed up by YAS Corp.’s Doug Jones, is free to SCTE members, and $29 for non-members. Registration information is available on the […]
Wire and Cable Tips
Broadband briefs for 1/31/06
* Cox adds to VOD menu Cox Communications has beefed up its VOD library, and now offers up to 1,300 hours of on-demand fare. Cox, which offers VOD in markets such as Las Vegas, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, and San Diego, has added “free” content from several networks, including MTV, PBS Kids Sprout, G4, National Geographic […]
Broadband briefs for 1/30/06
* School’s in session for Cedar Point The University of Massachusetts has agreed to trial VoIP services powered by the Cedar Point Communications‘ SAFARI C³ Multimedia Switching System. Under the deal, UMass will use the PacketCable-qualified platform to provide VoIP to more than 30,000 on-campus users. If it all works out, UMass said it could eventually replace […]
Broadband briefs for 1/27/06
* Danish op picks Alcatel/Microsoft combo TDC, Denmark’s largest telco/cable operator, is powering its IPTV deployment with heavy help from Alcatel and Microsoft TV. The ADSL-centric video deployment will feature Microsoft’s IPTV Edition software, with services integration from Alcatel. TDC also expects to use elements of the backend systems and middleware for apps tied to […]
Broadband briefs for 1/26/06
* Comcast joins Movaz investment roundOptical networking gear supplier Movaz Networks has closed a $20 million round in equity funding, and secured an additional line of credit for $12 million. Leading the round were Anschutz Investment, Comcast Interactive Capital, Menlo Ventures, Oak Investment Partners, Meritech Capital Partners and Worldview Technology Partners. * Wade gains Lindsay manufacturing rights […]
Charter expects improved Q4 sub numbers
Charter Communications issued preliminary earnings results for the fourth quarter late Tues., saying that it expects to reduce its basic subscriber losses while boosting its digital cable, high-speed data and telephony customers by healthy amounts. In a report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission after the stock market closed yesterday, Charter said it lost […]
DirecTV confirms March price hike
Following in EchoStar’s footsteps, DirecTV plans to raise the prices of its three standard programming packages by an average of 4 percent on March 1. DirecTV confirmed reports Tues. that it intends to boost its monthly service rates for new subscribers by as much as 8.7 percent, depending upon which of the three packages they take. […]
CBS and Time Warner plan to merge TV networks
Throwing in the towel on their respective UPN and WB broadcast networks, CBS Corp. and Time Warner Inc. intend to combine the two separate entities into one over-the-air network next fall. CBS and Time Warner announced plans Tues. to create a jointly owned network, known as the CW, out of the remnants of the two struggling […]
BellSouth reports healthy DSL, DBS gains in Q4
Despite the huge task of cleaning up after Hurricane Katrina, BellSouth posted respectable increases in high-speed and satellite TV subscribers in the fourth quarter. Reporting Wedneday, BellSouth said it netted 204,000 new DSL customers in Q4, down slightly from 205,000 new subscribers in the third quarter and down a bit more from 224,000 in the […]
Broadbus opens European office
Seeking to foster its growing international presence, Broadbus Technologies has opened a new European office and named a new sales executive for Europe, the Middle East and India. Broadbus, which makes RAM-centric video-on-demand (VOD) servers, said it’s setting up regional headquarters in the U.K. in response to its customer success in Europe. The company boasts that […]