Time Warner Cable Tees Up 'TV Everywhere' Shot
Operator Set to Launch 5,000-Home Web TV Trial
By Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 8/27/2009 7:57:29 AM
Time Warner Cable has lined up at least seven media company partners for its own test of a TV Everywhere service that will let cable TV subscribers access movies and full show episodes online.
The plans for the trial by the No. 2 cable operator, expected to include 5,000 homes, were reported by The Wall Street Journal. An announcement from Time Warner Cable with more details is expected later Thursday.
The test will follow Comcast's launch of a 5,000-subscriber trial last month of On Demand Online, its version of the TV Everywhere concept. Comcast has so far signed pacts to offer content from 24 networks, including HBO, Starz, CBS, TNT and Discovery Channel.
Time Warner Cable's Wisconsin division launched one of the first tests of a Web "authentication" system with HBO in January 2008.
Networks participating in Time Warner Cable's trial include NBC Universal's Syfy, Time Warner Inc.'s TNT, Rainbow Media's AMC, CBS and BBC America, the Journal reported. In addition, Discovery Communications and Viacom are expected to be in the mix, according to the newspaper.
Time Warner Inc.'s HBO and TBS are also set to be part of the TWC trial.
According to the Journal, TWC subscribers in the test will have to sign into Web sites and fill out a brief profile to prove they are Time Warner Cable subscribers.
