dslreports logo
 story category
Time Warner Cable Cripples TiVO, Gets FCC Fine
Switch to switched digital video trouble for CableCARD users...

A growing number of cable operators are deploying switched digital video (SDV) technology, which frees up bandwidth on cable systems by delivering fewer channels to the cable-box, keeping the rest waiting at the edge router. In current cable systems, all channels are consistently made available to the set-top box, using up valuable bandwidth even if your TV is off. In early trials, Time Warner Cable announced the bandwidth savings "exceeded 50%," so they've been aggressively deploying the technology. Perhaps a little too aggressively.

In Kansas City, the company began upgrading to SDV before the two-way technology was modified to work properly with one-way CableCARDs, so users of third party set-tops (like TiVo) were forced to downgrade to Time Warner Cable boxes. Now the FCC has fined Time Warner Cable's Hawaii division a not-so-whopping $7,500 for failing to properly inform the Local Franchising Authority in Hawaii about the upgrade. Consumers are obviously annoyed to find their TiVO suddenly not getting a wide swath of digital and high definition channels:

quote:
In November 2007, complaints came in to the Spectrum Enforcement Division of the FCC's Enforcement Bureau, as Time Warner cable had moved some "popular high definition sports and entertainment channels," to SDV, rendering them inaccessible by unidirectional, CableCARD-equipped TV sets.
Click for full size
The National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) announced last year that they'd be working with TiVO to develop an external adapter that would allow CableCARD users to access SDV channels. Initially promised to be ready by the second quarter of 2008, the devices (Motorola's version is pictured) just received certification from CableLabs but aren't yet available to the public.

I contacted Time Warner Cable for comment as was told that while consumers may not be happy, they were properly notified of the changes. "The FCC's fine pertains to notifying the Local Franchising Authority in Hawaii, specifically the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Cable Television Division," says Time Warner Cable spokesman Justin Venech. "Time Warner Cable did provide its customers with the necessary notification."

The company still isn't offering a solid date for when customers can expect to have the issue fixed, but Venech did say the company expects to begin testing the devices "in the next few weeks." "We currently plan to offer these adaptors free of charge," Venech says.

Most recommended from 123 comments



en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

2 recommendations

en102

Member

TiVO makes use of Time Warner's network

TiVO has little to stand on.
What's next... me suing TiVO for not working with analog after Feb 2009 or not working with OTA boxes ?