Albany TWC to add channel(s) to HD Tier

[Skaggs]

Today, I sent an email to Albany TWC asking about the end of INHD2 and their intentions with the HD Tier:

I have learned that INHD2 will discontinue broadcasting on December 31, 2006. What channel will Albany TWC place into the HD Tier to replace INHD2? If there are no plans to add a new channel to the HD Tier, will you be reducing the cost of the HD Tier to compensate for the loss of programming?

Later in the day, I received this email from Albany TWC:

Mark,
I am currently looking into this for you I hope to have an answer soon. This is not something we have been notified of with them leaving.

Please let us know if we can be of any additional assistance.
Thank you for being a Time Warner Cable customer.
------
Michael
Customer Care Team
Time Warner Cable
Albany Division
1021 Highbridge Rd
Schenectady, NY 12303
1-866-321-2225

Just a few minutes ago, I received this response:

Mark,
In looking into your issue I have found that INHD has decided to Merge their 2 channels together into 1 channel. We will be adding new services to the HD tier but at the moment I do not have a confirmation as to what channels will be added. The cost of the tier will not change but some other services will be added to the tier by the end of the year.

Please let us know if we can be of any additional assistance.
Thank you for being a Time Warner Cable customer.
------
Michael
Customer Care Team
Time Warner Cable
Albany Division
1021 Highbridge Rd
Schenectady, NY 12303
1-866-321-2225

I read this two ways:
1. I find it hard to believe that they "...were not notified of..." INHD2 going off the air.
2. It is good to hear, "We will be adding new services to the HD tier..." and "...some other services will be added to the tier by the end of the year."

[Skaggs]

There is a scroll going across the screen for Columbia, SC Time Warner Cable subscribers that states:

Time Warner Cable will be adding MHD, A&EHD and TVone to the lineup before the 31st of December.

MHD = MTV HD www.mhd.tv

I have asked Albany TWC what their plans are and will post the results of my inquiry later today.

[dkennedy]

Time Warner to carry MHD

December 11, 2006

By Ben Drawbaugh, HD Beat Magazine

In a new deal between Time Warner Cable and Viacom, Time Warner and Bright House Networks cable companies will be adding MHD to their HD lineup.

While we are always happy to have another HD channel, many would prefer some other channel like National Geographic HD or even ESPN2 HD.

There is no word when we can expect to see the channel online and no doubt those local branches without enough bandwith will go without MHD despite the agreement.

[Skaggs]

Albany TWC to add MTV HD channel

From: [e-mail]
Sent: Tuesday, December 12, 2006 1:49 PM
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Response to your inquiry # 9913

Mark Pyskadlo,
I know that MTV is going to be added I am not aware of AE as of yet but we will be notified before this is added it may just not have been sent to us from corporate at this time.

Please let us know if we can be of any additional assistance.
Thank you for being a Time Warner Cable customer.
------
Michael
Customer Care Team
Time Warner Cable
Albany Division
1021 Highbridge Rd
Schenectady, NY 12303
1-866-321-2225

[dkennedy]

Today I received the following in an email from Time Warner Cable:

We'll be adding ESPN2HD to our lineup later this week. It will be assigned to digital cable channel 1870.

ESPN2 HD is another outlet in what has become a flourishing franchise for ESPN and provides sports fans with more HD programming. In addition to ESPN2HD, we're adding this week A&E HD to channel 1838 and MTV HD to channel 1840. Also, INHD2 is going away; its content is going to be shown on INHD, channel 1855.

[Skaggs]

ESPN2 HD (channel 1870), MTV HD (channel 1840), and A&E HD (channel 1840) are now on Albany Time Warner Cable.

[dkennedy]

'Tis the season to give, so Time Warner Cable is giving you more channels.

December 20, 2006

Time Warner Cable Email

This week we are launching the following channels:

LOGO (assigned to digital cable channel 447)
ESPN2HD (ch. 1870)
A&E HD (ch. 1838)
MTV HD (ch. 1840)
Free Movies On Demand (ch. 1011)
International Movies On Demand (ch. 1012)
In addition, PBS On Demand is moving from channel 1017 to channel 1007. HBO On Demand is moving from 1015 to 1019; HBO On Demand is also available on channel 700.

ESPN2 HD is another outlet in what has become a flourishing franchise for ESPN, what was in the 1980s a regional Connecticut cable network on a two-lane back road in Bristol, Ct.

ESPN2HD provides sports fans with even more HD sports programming.

LOGO is the first full-service 24/7 television entertainment channel for gays and lesbians. LOGO's innovative originals, movies, documentaries and specials reflect the diversity of the gay experience and appeal to a broad range of gay and non-gay viewers, friends and family.

[hurnik]

I don't know if "giving" you more channels is quite the term I'd use. Charging you for them, while adding more (at least on the HD Tier). Although with the $2.50/month rate increase I wonder how much is supplementing the HD tier.

[Skaggs]

Phil Swann didn't even give us any credit for breaking the story!

---

Time Warner Adding ESPN 2 HD
But the channel will only be available in two markets.
By Phillip Swann

Washington, D.C. (December 21, 2006) -- Time Warner Cable today said it's adding ESPN 2 HD in the next week.

However, the HD sports network will only be added in the Albany and Syracuse markets for now.

Justin Venech, a Time Warner spokesman, told TVPredictions.com that there are no immediate plans to add the channel in other TW cities.

The cable operator also recently added MHD, MTV Networks' high-def music channel and said it would add A&E HD in select markets on January 1.

BizJournals.com reported that A&E HD would be added in the TW market of Buffalo.

ESPN 2 HD, the sister network of ESPN HD, is a simulcast of the channel's analog feed. The channel broadcasts college basketball and Major League Baseball games in high-def.

[Skaggs]

I was over my parents' house this weekend who do not have the HD Tier.

MHD & ESPN2 HD were blocked, A&E HD was not.