Technology

CEA Ponders Challenge to Charter Waiver

Critics of the Move Have Until the End of the Week to Petition for Review
By: John Eggerton (Broadcasting & Cable) May 16 2013 - 3:11pm
Critics of the Move Have Until the End of the Week to Petition for Review

Opponents of the FCC's conditional waiver to Charter Communications for set-tops with downloadable security, which includes notably the Consumer Electronics Association, have until end of day Monday (May 20) to appeal that decision to the full commission, according to an FCC spokesperson. A spokesperson for CEA said it was "considering all options," but FCC staffers are anticipating that it will appeal the Media Bureau-level decision.

Cisco Video Revenues Surge 30%

NDS Acquisition Leads the Way in Q3
By: Jeff Baumgartner May 16 2013 - 11:40am
NDS Acquisition Leads the Way in Q3

Cisco’s $5 billion acquisition of NDS paid dividends in the vendor’s third quarter as service provider video revenues hit $1.29 billion, up 30% year-over-year, and represented a 10.6% slice of Cisco’s revenue pie.

The quarterly surge was “driven largely by NDS,” Cisco chairman and CEO said on Wednesday’s earnings call. He said the integration of NDS, a company that specializes in video software, security, and product integration services, “continues to go well.”

TiVo Gets Personal with the iPad

‘Watch to Watch Now’ Feeds Link Personal Preferences to a Recommendation Engine
By: Jeff Baumgartner May 16 2013 - 9:40am
‘Watch to Watch Now’ Feeds Link Personal Preferences to a Recommendation Engine

TiVo, the DVR pioneer that helps users record their favorite shows, is about to help them find something good to watch on live TV, as well.

TiVo has added a “What to Watch Now” dashboard to its iPad app that combines recommendations with personal preferences to create a handful of customizable, finely-filtered "feeds" to help viewers find that video needle in the haystack without exploring the vastness of the program guide.

TW Cable Weighs Stake in Hulu: Report

UPDATED: Out-of-Market TV Rights Viewed as a Driver
By: Jeff Baumgartner May 16 2013 - 8:10am
UPDATED: Out-of-Market TV Rights Viewed as a Driver

Time Warner Cable and at least one other MSO is in talks about taking an equity stake in the Hulu video hub, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.

Arris CEO: M&A ‘Distractions’ Took Toll on Motorola Home

Says Q2 Revenues Will Be Light, but Expects Sales to Accelerate in the Second Half of 2013
By: Jeff Baumgartner May 16 2013 - 5:55am
Says Q2 Revenues Will Be Light, but Expects Sales to Accelerate in the Second Half of 2013

The distractions and uncertainties that surrounded the sales process of Motorola Home division will show up in lower than expected sales in the second quarter of 2013, Arris chairman and CEO Bob Stanzione said Wednesday night during a guidance call coming about a month after Arris closed its acquisition of the set-top and broadband gear supplier.

Cox Dedicates Solar Installations

Cable Company’s Rhode Island Generators Part Of ‘Cox Conserves’ Effort
By: MCN Staff May 15 2013 - 5:42pm
Cable Company’s Rhode Island Generators Part Of ‘Cox Conserves’ Effort
Cox Communications rooftop solar installation in Warwick, R.I.

At local dedication events held Monday in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Cox Enterprises announced the completion of solar projects at its Manheim and Cox Communications subsidiaries. Combined, the Manheim and Cox Communications solar installations annually prevent nearly 3,600 tons of carbon from entering the environment. The projects are part of Cox Conserves, the company's national sustainability program. Nationwide, Cox Enterprises' alternative energy projects annually prevent more than 21,000 tons of carbon from entering the environment.

AG Holder: DOJ Generally Supports Warrant for Info from Service Providers

Says Must Be a Balance of Privacy Expectations, Law Enforcement Needs
By: John Eggerton May 15 2013 - 4:31pm
Says Must Be a Balance of Privacy Expectations, Law Enforcement Needs
 

Attorney general Eric Holder said Wednesday that, as a general matter, his department supports having to get a warrant to access electronic communications from a service provider.

He did not exactly answer whether Justice thought it needed a warrant to get emails from a third party like Yahoo, but he did say that there should be certain limited circumstances when Justice would need to acquire info at the speed at which communications now move.

Comcast Tees Up Upgrades, New Services for Jersey Shore Subs

Verizon Confirms It's Pushing a Voice-Only, Wireless Product in Areas Washed-Out By Superstorm Sandy
By: Jeff Baumgartner May 15 2013 - 2:56pm
Verizon Confirms It's Pushing a Voice-Only, Wireless Product in Areas Washed-Out By Superstorm Sandy

As part of a campaign to “Welcome Back” customers to the Jersey Shore, Comcast said Wednesday that it has upgraded 144 miles of plant that was hardest hit by Superstorm Sandy last October and is bulking up staffing levels and preparing to launch a new set of services there as customers return to the area this summer.

Viggle Hires a CTO

Christopher Traynor Also to Oversee Viggle LABS Unit as Social TV Specialist Expands Engineering Team
By: Jeff Baumgartner May 15 2013 - 11:05am
Christopher Traynor Also to Oversee Viggle LABS Unit as Social TV Specialist Expands Engineering Team

Viggle, a company that has developed a second-screen platform that offers rewards for watching TV shows, has appointed Christopher Traynor to chief technology officer amid a broader expansion of Viggle’s engineering team.

In addition to overseeing Viggle’s technology strategy and managing the company’s relationships with vendors, Traynor is also tasked with heading up Viggle LABS, a second-screen initiative that is responsible for the company’s AppJam Challenge, a competition aimed at creating TV companion apps for the Viggle platform.

Dyle Adds Belkin to Device Lineup

Specialized $129.99 Receiver Snaps into iPhones and iPads to Capture Dyle's Mobile TV Broadcasts
By: Jeff Baumgartner May 15 2013 - 9:36am
Specialized $129.99 Receiver Snaps into iPhones and iPads to Capture Dyle's Mobile TV Broadcasts

Belkin is the latest CE company to launch a specialized antenna/receiver that supports a mobile television platform from Dyle that’s being increasingly viewed as a competitive hedge against Aereo.

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