Industry

Google Makes Amends

After taking heat for insufficient reparations in killing paid video downloads, Google’s reconsidered: We’re giving a full refund — as a credit card refund — to everyone who ever bought a video. You can still keep the Google Checkout credit that you’ve received already. We’re going to continue to support playing your videos for another … Read more

SDV Keeps On Rollin’

In the next month, Cox will deploy SDV in neighboring Fairfax (VA) county. Multichannel News writes: In Northern Virginia, where Cox has about 240,000 subscribers, the SDV system will go live systemwide in about 30 days, according to Kelso. Later this year, Cox plans to roll out the system in its Phoenix and Orange County, … Read more

…And a DVR in Every Home

I remember when Motorola (yes, my employer) rolled out its first HD DVR years after TiVo and ReplayTV first hit the market. There was some general concern about Motorola being late to the game, but the truth was that DVRs hadn’t really made a splash yet, at least in terms of mass adoption. Today, Leightman … Read more

Video Rentals

Unless we’re talking about a classic like the first season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I’m really not interested in shelling out money to purchase video content. And apparently I’m not alone. The Diffusion Group reports that roughly 90% of US broadband households rent movies on a regular basis. (ZDNet picked up the stats last … Read more

FiOS Doesn’t Cause Fires

Yes, we’re all pyromaniacs at heart. First there were the exclusive new pics of AT&T’s fiber node blow-up, and now there’s a Verizon story of a FiOS installer possibly starting a fire when he drilled through an electrical main. Fire or no, Verizon has a great post up on its policy blog addressing the issue … Read more

More Time Warner DVR Fakery

Last year, Time Warner Cable brought us “Start Over” which allows one to start a television show from the beginning (while it’s still being broadcast) if, say, you’re running late. I guess Start Over is such a success (available in 23 states, 8 more by the end of the year) that TWC is expanding their … Read more

Light Reading’s Exclusive Fire-to-the-Node Coverage

How often does Light Reading get to strut its stuff with exclusive photos? Not often. (It’s a telecom rag!) So enjoy the slide show Phil Harvey has put up showing a blown-up, AT&T fiber-to-the-node (FTTN) cabinet. This thing was charred to smithereens. And Light Reading has the before and after evidence – a full 18 … Read more