Michael's Insight

TiVo announces new integration for Comcast customers

Comcast On Demand TiVo Integration Weeks Away [Zatz Not Funny!]

Comcast's partnership with TiVo is a mere weeks away from coming to market, according to TiVo's quarterly earnings call. The partnership will first be unveiled in the San Francisco area with plans for a wider distribution later this year.

These two companies have a history of working together, but the partnership has been limited to integrating TiVo's software into Comcast's set-top boxes in their New England markets.

This time the two companies have collaborated on a "hybrid" approach, according to TiVo CEO Tom Rogers. The same TiVo DVR hardware customers can get at various retail stores will also be sold by Comcast. In addition, in Comcast's service area TiVo Premiere users will gain access to Xfinity On Demand that offers both free and pay-per-view on demand content. The Xfinity On Demand features will be fully integrated into TiVo's search functionality. Plus, because cable operators aren't subjected to the new release waiting periods that other video on demand services are, Xfinity On Demand will be able to offer TiVo customers new releases much earlier than competitors.

Google files for permission to offer TV service

Google Seeks Approval for Kansas City Video Service [All Things D]

Google tipped its hand earlier this month that it was making plans to provide a video product for its Kansas City fiber project with an FCC application for a satellite facility to be located in Iowa. Now, it's confirming those plans by a filing with the Missouri Public Service Commission asking for an authorization to provide video service.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the search giant will be officially rolling out its TV service in the next couple of months, according to a source involved in the licesning of channels for the service. The Journal's story indicates that there is an expectation that the video service will cover live television, on demand offerings and online access to streaming content.

Currently, Google only plans to build a fiber network in the Kansas City area and it is unclear when the company will finish construction of that network and begin offering service to customers.

Startup plans to stream broadcast television channels

'Aereo' To Test Copyright Law With Internet-Streaming TV Service [Multichannel News]

A new startup company backed by Barry Diller has launched in the New York City area and proposes to offer a novel way to watch broadcast television. Aereo will give customers access to live programming from FOX, ABC, NBC, and CBS over the Internet.

The service also includes Internet-based DVR functionality and a guide. It will be available for viewing on phones, tablets, and connected TVs, as well as a few devices like Roku and Apple TV. It will also involve a monthly subscription that costs a bit more than Netflix.

But how is Aereo getting around the legal challenges that are sure to start popping up for offering this type of broadcast programming over the Internet? Other startups have attempted to stream over-the-air television, only to find themselves on themselves on the losing side of lawsuits launched by broadcasters.  

Aereo's headquarters is currently housing thousands of thumb-sized TV antennae – one for each Aereo subscriber. The company, with full expectation that broadcasters won't be happy about having their channels streamed over the Internet outside the retransmission consent process, plans to argue that because customers are technically watching TV via their own over-the-air antenna there is no difference whether they're streaming the channels or watching them on their own TV.

If Aereo's strategy is successful against an expected challenge, one wonders whether traditional multichanel providers could do the same thing.

Time Warner Cable brings live TV to the computer screen

Now Launching TWC TV for PC – in Beta [TWC Untangled]

Time Warner Cable has added yet another way to watch live television on something other than a TV screen. This week the nation's second largest cable provider announced the release of TWC TV for PC, allowing TWC customers to watch television on their computer (PC or Mac) via a Microsoft Silverlight powered web site. 

The site supports all recent version of major web browsers and is similar in functionality to the company's already released TV viewing apps for iOS and Android.

Customers can watch TV, control their DVR, view up to 7 days of guide information and search for specific shows. 

TWC is releasing the site as a public beta, which means there may be some issues in the early release that will be smoothed out over time. 

Google applies for satellite downlink license near Kansas City

Is Google planning to offer IP video to Kansas City? [Ars Technica] 

A recent FCC filing suggests that Google's Kansas City fiber project could include an IP-based video service.

The FCC recently reviewed an application from the company's Google Fiber subsidiary that proposed the installation of a fixed, C-band, receive-only satellite station to be placed about 200 miles northwest of Kansas City in the town of Council Bluffs, Iowa. The application states that the station would be used to provide analog and digital audio, data, and video services. The bands that the application proposed to operate within are used for satellite TV downlinks, which would be a necessary component of a IP-based video service.

The FCC has partially approved Google's application for the satellite station.

It's been ten months since Google announced Kansas City as the location of its fiber buildout project.

So far Google has not announced an interest in providing a video in Kansas City, but has admitted that they are continuing to explore the product offerings that will be made available via their fiber network there.

Is the TV economic model finally changing? Nielsen study reveals growing number of broadband video and broadcast TV watching households

Nielsen: Cord Cutting And Internet TV Viewing On The Rise [TechCrunch] 

A new study from Nielsen suggests that cable and satellite consumers are starting to say no to hefty rate increases.

According to this study the number of homes that rely solely on free, broadcast TV and broadband Internet has increased 22.8% over the past year, though the category still only represents 4.5% of all households. It's still a meaningful increase.

Frankly, this comes as no surprise to me.  Whether you get your television from a cable, satellite or phone provider, the video product is getting more and more expensive.  Ironically, it is getting more expensive primarily because of the soaring cost of programming while that same programming finds its way onto Internet delivery platforms such as Hulu Plus and Netflix.  No wonder some consumers are seeking alternatives.

In particular, local broadcasters that are affiliated with the four major broadcast networks and sports content are the primary drivers in making TV so much more expensive.  It has been reported that some of these stations have demanded up to 300% increases in their price to cable and satellite distributors upon renews of their contracts.  Something has to give.  

To be clear, Nielsen stops short of declaring all the households in the "Broadcast Only/Broadband" category "cord-cutters." Some growth could simply be former "Broadcast Only/No Broadband" households which have since upgraded to broadband Internet. Still, the growth of this group and its higher than average streaming video minutes is very real and should not go unnoticed by content owners.

Apple reportedly testing HDTV with Canadian companies

Why Telcos Would Be Testing an Apple iTV Prototype [Wired] 

It seems a few research labs in Canada received a prototype of Apple's new HDTV set – the iTV.

The news was shared by The Globe and Mail, a Canadian newspaper, who reported that the labs are owned by Canadian telecom companies Rogers and Bell. This would seem to suggest that Apple was at least considering taking a route similar to the one taken by Microsoft when it teamed up with Comcast and other providers to have TV services added to the Xbox, as opposed to Apple offering its own form of subscription video service.

The Globe and Mail went on to say that Apple was actively looking for a partner on the project with wireless and broadband capabilities. IHS analyst Jordan Selburn suggested to Wired that Apple would be more likely to reach out to a broadband and video company that had the most customers, given how Apple likes to make a big splash with its new products.

In addition to the report from Canada, a Best Buy survey leaked on Monday that asked buyers whether they would be interested in an Apple-branded television. Further, Apple was reported last week to be reaching out to suppliers for a display and other television set parts.

 

 

Internet traffic dropped by 20 percent during Super Bowl

Super Bowl XLVI Drove Internet Traffic Down As Much As 20% [Multichannel News]

Network management firm Sandvine has crunched the numbers during last Sunday's Super Bowl broadcast, finding that Internet usage dropped as much as 20 percent during the game compared to the average Sunday evening. More than 111 million Americans were watching the game on television, with the interest in the game action and halftime show trumping Internet usage. The game was the 6th highest rated Super Bowl ever.

Sandvine found that NBC's first time streaming of the game online accounted for 6.2 percent of all downstream broadband consumption during the 9pm Eastern hour on Sunday. NBC has announced that 2.1 million watched some portion of the game online.

Netflix usage was one of the top victims of the game, with downstream traffic attributed to the streaming service dropping by as much as 40 percent during the game.

While it's clear from Sandvine's broadband traffic count that Americans still prefer watching the game on traditional television, the most important number resulting from the game, at least for this avid New York Giants fan, was the final score. Giants 21 Patriots 17.

Pew study finds that cable TV is now top source for campaign news

Pew: Cable is Top Source of Campaign News [Multichannel News]

Over the past four elections, cable news has grown in reach and now sits alone as the top source for campaign news for Americans.

According to a Pew Research study, 36% of people regularly tune in to cable news as their source for campaign news. While it's a slight drop from 38% during the 2008 elections, local broadcast TV news has dropped drastically from 40% in 2008 to 32% now.

Pew found that network TV news was the top source for 26% of Americans, with the Internet at closely behind at 25%. Newspapers continue to decline as a source for campaign news. Today, only 20% of Americans cite newspapers as the top source for campaign news. 

I wonder if Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert count in this.

CableLabs looking to develop 3DTV interoperability

CableLabs sets interop for 3-D TVs, set-tops [CED Magazine] 

CableLabs, the research and development consortium of the nation's cable providers, is set to provide manufacturers of various 3DTV sets and devices with its OpenCable 3DTV specifications.

This is an initiative CableLabs has been working on for close to two years to ensure that both older and newer set-tops are able to support as high resolution 3D as possible. In fact, the CableLabs 3-D TV Lab was established in 2010 to test prototypes for the purpose of ensuring interoperability with the various 3DTV technologies and services available.

Manufacturers of 3DTV devices have been invited to a meeting, which will be held February 13 through 17, to show off the lab and the interoperability that has been achieved using the newly developed OpenCable 3DTV specifications.

 

Time Warner Cable releases iPhone app

Time Warner Cable Brings Live TV To iPhone [Multichannel News]

Time Warner Cable has begun streaming its content to another wireless device – the iPhone.

A new app on the Apple iTunes Store allows iPhone users to watch live TV from roughly 200 channels on their devices over their home wireless networks. Time Warner Cable is hoping to have an Android version of the app that works with Android 4.0 ready to launch later this year.

Time Warner Cable's iPad app was released in March of 2011 and was met with resistance from many programmers – none more so than Viacom, which sued the cable provider within the first month of the app's release. The legal action is on hold but the two companies have still not reached an agreement and Viacom's content is currently not available on either the iPad or iPhone apps.

Much like the iPad app, the iPhone app includes a detailed, interactive guide, set-top remote control features, and DVR management – in addition to the live streaming.

For a full list of available programming, head over to TWC's "Untangled" blog.

 

Comcast connected cable box shows up for FCC review

Comcast's connected cable box making a run at the FCC? [EngadgetHD]

Comcast hasn't kept its broadband connected set-top box project a secret, but the latest developments show that the cable provider is taking some more aggressive steps toward making its connected box a reality. The box will integrate Comcast's video product with its broadband.

The FCC web site for review of new electronic devices now has a user guide, labels and a diagram of Comcast's boxes, signifying that Comcast is already working toward FCC approval of the connected box.

Reports of Comcast's test programs for the device referred to a box named "Xcalibur," but the boxes shown in the FCC filings have been manufactured by Pace and have been labeled "Parker" boxes. They contain the regular inputs of all set-top boxes with an added SD Card Slot and eSATA port. The diagrammed unit has an Ethernet port but no Wi-Fi connectivity.

Two-thirds of U.S. households have at least one HDTV

New study says more than 2/3 of U.S. Households have at least 1 HDTV set [Jake's DTV Blog]

Over the past 5 years HDTV ownership in the U.S. Has jumped 52 percent. Now, 69 percent of U.S. households have at least one HDTV set, according to new research from Leichtman Research Group.

Higher income households have higher percentages of HDTV ownership, as 85% of families with an income over $75,000 per year have at least one HDTV. While households with incomes under $30,000 a year have significantly lower HDTV ownership, there still is at least one HDTV in 48 percent of those homes. 

While HDTV's have grown so impressively, older sets are still being used. Of all the TV sets in use in the U.S., about 60% are not HDTVs. Understandably, more households seem to have moved to HDTVs in their primary viewing areas, while using their older sets elsewhere in the house. 

3DTV has not seen nearly as much growth as HDTV has over the past few years. In fact, the numbers for 3DTVs were downright abysmal. Eighty percent of respondents knew about 3DTV but only 5 percent even expressed interest in owning a 3DTV. Even worse, of the 3 percent of households that own a 3DTV, fewer than half of those households even make use of the 3D capability.

TWC set to unveil app for Panasonic televisions

Time Warner Cable building an app for Panasonic TVs [GigaOM]

Broadband connected TV apps have become very popular over the past couple years with apps for virtually every online video service popping up on sets from nearly every major manufacturer.

Despite the progress connected TV apps have made, there has not yet been an app from a major cable or satellite provider available on connected television. That could be changing this year.

Time Warner Cable has developed a streaming video app for Panasonic Viera TV's. Tha TWC connected TV app demoed at the Panasonic booth at CES.

It's unclear when the app will actually make its way to market, but a representative from Time Warner Cable told GigaOM that they would like to launch this year – across multiple platforms.

Google TV Ads now available on Cox and Suddenlink

Cox, Suddenlink Join Google TV Ad Network [Multichannel News]

Google TV Ads is a service that was launched in 2008 to allow advertisers to buy TV ad availability from cable and satellite providers and then target ads based on the viewing data it collects. 

It's a new way of handling television ad buys. For example, companies looking to advertise on television can go through Google TV Ads and pay strictly based on the number of impressions that a particular ad receives.

Since it was launched Google has attempted to partner with the various cable and satellite providers so that its ad network would reach more and more viewers. When it began, Google was only working with Dish Networks, but it has since added DirecTV, Verizon FiOS and Viamedia. Each network that Google partners with means more inventory that it can sell on behalf of these providers to potential ad buyers. Until recently, Google had yet to ink a deal with a major cable provider.

Google TV Ads can now say they have cable providers on board, since they have added Cox Communications and Suddenlink Communications to its network – adding roughly 42 million new households in the U.S.

Peel releases second version of mobile app

Peel Launches New Social TV App For iOS [Tech Crunch]

Peel is the company that manufactures small pear-shaped devices that connect a cable set-top box to a smartphone via a broadband connection. Along with the device, Peel has a corresponding app that allows users to fully control their cable television.

The first version of the app was most useful for users with the Peel device. It would allow users to control their TV and also acted as a guide for their channel lineup. The new version (Peel 2.0) adds a number of features – primarily social features – that can be used even without the Peel device to see what others on social networks are watching.

With Peel 2.0 users can still use all the device-specific controls and organize the shows based on genre – a feature also available in the first version. However, users can also see Peel's "Top Picks" which offers personalized suggestions for TV viewing. Users can also connect your social networks – Facebook, Twitter, etc. – to see the shows friends are watching. Users can also recommend programs to their friends and contacts.

Peel 2.0 is available for free from the iTunes Store. The new version is not yet available on Android.

Nielsen study further illustrates gap between online video and traditional TV viewing

How People Watch TV Online And Off [Tech Crunch]

Although web video is growing, it still pales in comparison to the viewership numbers of traditional TV. Nielsen has released a study analyzing data from throughout 2011 that shows the average American watches 32 hours and 47 minutes of traditional TV each week. On the other hand, Americans spend under 4 hours a week online – and only about 27 minutes a week watching video online. Overall, only 1.4% of all video viewing is taking place online.

These numbers include all video sites. For instance, although it's not even in the top five video sites in terms of unique viewers, Netflix dominates online video in terms of time spent viewing content online with over 10 minutes per month, averaged across the entire U.S. population. The next closest video site is YouTube with 2:52 per month. Traditional TV gets roughly 130 hours per month, so while the gap between TV and Netflix is still fairly significant, it's nowhere near as wide as the gap between TV and overall online video viewing.

LG announces broadband connected refrigerator and vacuum cleaner at CES

Talking to the Television to Tune In a Show [New York Times]

Consumer electronics manufacturers are out in force at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, happening this week in Las Vegas. Among the myriad of new product announcements comes several new appliances and televisions from LG that leverage broaband connections in new features.

For starters, LG has a new TV with a remote that responds to spoken commands. There's a new LG refrigerator keeps track of what's inside and can let you know when you're out of milk, and there's a LG vacuum cleaner that can be controlled via a smartphone application. All of them make use of a broadband connection via wi-fi.

Stay tuned for updates as other companies annouce reveals of products for the upcoming year at CES.

HDTV prices hit new lows in 2011

HDTV Prices Drop To Record Lows: Analyst [Multichannel News]

Good news for consumers.  When the final numbers come in for the fourth quarter of 2011 the prices of HDTV's will have hit a new low, analysts from NPD DisplaySearch are estimating.

According to projections, all 32-inch sets will be below $500 and all LCD TV's under 46 inches will be under $1,000. These are record lows for HDTV prices.

These drastic price reductions were a common theme throughout all of 2011. Early in 2011 the increased investments of past years, coupled with a slowing demand from consumers, led to many manufacturers having HDTV surpluses. Companies began slashing prices to get their products off the shelves.

When the holiday season came around, consumers expected even greater price drops for holiday shopping specials. The result, according to NPD DisplaySearch, is record low prices.

According to the analysts 2012 will not see price drops as drastic as 2011. In fact, LCD and plasma sets may even gradually increase in price in the second half of the year as new models come to market. LED TV's are supposed to drop this year, but not as drastically as other HDTV's dropped in 2011.

Some Logitech Google TV set-tops shipping with corrupt firmware

Logitech Revue’s are coming out of the box with tainted Firmware [Andronica]

Add this to the list for the problem-plagued Logitech Revue set-top, the first set-top device to run Google TV. After poor sales of the device led to a decision to discount and discontinue it, it turns out that many of the devices sold at the reduced price had a problem with the firmware.

When a user starts up a Revue device with corrupted firmware, the device's setup routine refues to authenticate with Google's servers, rendering it inoperable.

Logitech has acknowledged the problem, but the only solution for users with a problem Reveue is to return it for an exchange.

Due to poor sales of the Revue, Logitech has already announced it is getting out of the Google TV business.

Roku releases iPhone remote app

Roku's official iPhone remote app is available, has gesture control and channel selection for all [EngadgetHD]

Roku has launched an iPhone app to act as a companion to its streaming video set-tops, and it's more than just a remote control.

With the Roku app, users can add or delete video channels on their set-top devices. Channels like Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube, and Pandora can be added by simply tapping the option on the app.

In addition, the remote feature of the app includes gesture controls that viewers can use to easily swipe from one option or video to the next. Users can also rate any channel with a simple tap and can even control multiple devices (so long as they are all on the same network).

The Roku app is free at the Apple App Store and is compatible with all past and present models of the Roku set-top device. There are reports that an Android version is coming soon.

Nielsen finds decline in TV ownership

Nielsen report: TV ownership declines [Entertainment Weekly]

Nearly every year the Nielsen report on TV ownership shows that the number of sets in the U.S. has increased…that is, until 2012. For only the second time ever, Nielsen has projected a decline in U.S. TV ownership.

The only other time TV ownership has declined was in 1992, which occurred in large part because of adjustments to the 1990 census.

For the past several years, there has been a leveling off of TV ownership. From 2009 to 2010 the number stayed around 114.9 million and grew to only 115.9 million in 2011. According to Nielsen, the number is expected to drop to 114.7 million in 2012. Further, the percentage of homes without a TV grew to 3% - the highest its been since 1975.

The demographic of adults between 18 and 49 dropped even steeper than the overall report, falling 2.7%.

Samsung, Sony and Panasonic working on universal 3D glasses tech

3D TV Makers Finally Start Work on Standard 3D Glasses Format [Gizmodo] 

One of the current criticisms of 3DTV is that each TV manufacturer has a proprietary standard for 3D glasses, meaning that if you bought a Sony 3DTV and tried to use your glasses on a friend's Panasonic, you are out of luck.

The problem is so significant that many manufacturers tried switching to passive 3D glasses like the ones used in movie theaters because customers weren't happy about paying for expensive, active-shutter glasses that only worked for one screen.

Now, three 3DTV manufacturers are working together to develop a single standardized format for active-shutter glasses that will work across all screens. Sony, Samsung and Panasonic have teamed up with Xpand, a company that specializes in 3D technology, and have created a single website for customers to go to find the standardized glasses – www.fullhd3dglasses.com.  

The goal is for customers to have a single pair of glasses that they can use on their home TV screens, other TVs, computer screens, and even 3D screens at a movie theater. Several other manufacturers, including Mitsubishi, Hitachi, Sharp, Toshiba and Viewsonic, have been supportive of the initiative.

Information about Saturday's UofL and UK games

Saturday is going to be a busy day for the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville's football and men's basketball teams and their fans. 

UK's football team is set to square off against Georgia and its basketball team will play Penn State in the 2011 Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic. Both games begin during the noon hour (Eastern Time) on Saturday. While the football game will be on SEC Network broadcast affiliates, ESPN has decided to stream the basketball game on ESPN3 exclusively.

At the same time both of UK's teams are playing, UofL's football team will play Connecticut. That game will be broadcast on Big East Network affiliates. That's WHAS-TV in Louisville. The UofL men's basketball team will tip off against Butler at 2pm (Eastern Time). As with the UK game, the UofL vs. Butler game will be streamed exclusively on ESPN3.

Insight broadband customers have free access to ESPN3. Click here to go to the ESPN3 web site.

At Insight we want to be the choice for home-team sports. I want fans to know that we requested the rights to put the UK and UofL basketball games on a television channel, but were not able to due to a contractual obligation.

If you're a fan, there will be plenty of action on Saturday. I recommend turning on the TV to watch your favorite football team and firing up a laptop to watch some basketball at the same time.

 

Boxee adds over-the-air TV tuner

Boxee's Live TV Doesn't Go Far Enough [Zatz Not Funny!]

Boxee, the company that streams online video through the "Boxee Box" device and guide software, has developed a USB digital televion tuner for over-the-air broadcasts that is compatible with its software.

By plugging Boxee's Live TV USB Tuner into the provided antenna, users can access live broadcast television on a device running Boxee, combining that service with online video viewing options.

Boxee Live TV is a significant step for online streaming devices, considering no other box has incorporated over-the-air TV. However, the device doesn't include DVR capabilities for over-the-air television.