TBS HD Plays Subscriber Gains
Service Adds Time Warner Cable, Bright House Carriage As MLB Playoffs Near
By R. Thomas Umstead -- Multichannel News, 9/28/2007 4:59:00 AM
Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks Friday joined Cablevision Systems and Comcast in launching TBS’ HD channel in time for the network’s Major League Baseball postseason coverage.
A Time Warner Cable spokesman said the operator will offer the HD simulcast of the TBS, beginning Oct. 1. The spokesman, however, would not say how many of the operators systems will actually launch the service in time for TBS’ exclusive coverage of baseball’s Divisional series, which are scheduled to begin Oct. 3.
TBS, which has a seven-year pact with MLB through 2013, will also televise the series determining baseball’s National League champions.
Bright House’s Tampa Bay Division has added TBS HD as part of a package of eight HD services that are expected to launch by mid-October. A Bright House spokeswoman, though, would not say whether any of the operator’s others systems will add those other HD services: Food Network, The History Channel, HGTV, Discovery Science Channel, The Learning Channel, Discovery HD and Animal Planet.
Comcast said it would launch TBS HD to about 65% to 70% of its systems by next week, while Cablevision announced it will roll out the service to its more than 800,000 customers
Additionally, DirecTV launched the enhanced version of TBS on Sept. 26 as part of its major HD foray.
Turner Sports spokesman Jeff Pomeroy said the network is prepared to offer any potential playoff “play-in” games in HD along with its postseason coverage. The possibility of a four-way tie among National League playoff contenders could produce several tie-breaking games, beginning Oct. 1.
Turner has exclusive TV rights to any of those play-in games.
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