September 2006 Archives

Now that fall has officially arrived, many homeowners may be considering new plantings around their property. ComEd has some tips on helping customers pick the right tree for the right location at your home.

Annually, the company spends more than $43 million on tree clearance to reduce tree-related outages and promote safety around its distribution lines. ComEd receives more than 18,000 customer requests for tree maintenance, typically with trees considered incompatible around power lines such as silver maples, sycamores and white pines.

Whether customers are property owners, part of a community group or a developer, ComEd urges people to plant trees that will stay clear of overhead power lines. Tall growing trees should be planted at least 45 feet away from lines to avoid regular pruning.

"Take the time to do your research," suggested Doreen Masalta, ComEd's manager of vegetation management. "Ask the nursery how tall and wide the tree will be when it is fully grown and make sure there will be adequate space around overhead power lines."

ComEd encourages the planting of flowering trees that grow to heights less than 20 feet, such as dogwoods and crabapples, near the street. Trees that grow to more than 30 feet high should never be planted under power lines. At full height, these trees may grow into the lines and cause outages or pose a safety hazard. They will need to be trimmed regularly to safely coexist with the aerial power lines and may not look as originally desired.

Planting the right tree in the right place also can be energy efficient. Evergreens planted along a property's northern side serve as a "windbreaker," making it easier to heat the property during the harsher winter months.

Large trees that shed their leaves in the autumn, such as maple or oak, should be planted on the south and west side of a building to allow winter sunshine and provide summer shade. Also, thick shrubbery can be planted around air conditioners to shade the unit from the hot summer sun, as long as the shrubbery does not impede the compressor's operation.

"By reinforcing the importance of planting the right trees and shrubs under or near energized facilities, we can prevent future vegetation-related power outages and increase our ability to provide safe and reliable electric service," Masalta said.

ComEd maintains more than 2.5 million trees on a four-year cycle along more than 43,000 miles of power line right-of-ways. The company's vegetation management department consists of professional foresters who manage contractor performance, address dozens of community groups, and provide utility tree care information and consulting services for municipalities and customers.

Fallen tree limbs and trees growing into above ground power lines are one of the most common causes of power outages. ComEd's routine line clearance work plays a vital part in the company's efforts to prevent power outages and reduce the length of outages when they do occur.

Intel and DIRECTV recently released details for what they are calling the world's first digital set-top box. With integrated digital media adapter (DMA) functionality verified to work with Intel® Viiv™ technology, the DIRECTV digital set-top box will allow customers to access and enjoy their pictures and music on their TVs directly from Intel Viiv technology-based PCs.

In a keynote at the Intel Developer Forum, Intel President and CEO Paul Otellini detailed plans for DIRECTV's new set-top box, the DIRECTV Plus® HD DVR, which marks the first time a major service provider has endorsed an integrated DMA deployment in the home through a set-top box, which could be deployed to customers virtually overnight via a software download starting in December. Otellini reinforced that the DIRECTV Plus® HD DVR is in the final stages of Intel Viiv technology testing and verification.

Delivering the ability to record and view 200 hours of standard definition content or 50 hours of MPEG 4 high-definition programming, the new DIRECTV Plus® HD DVR receiver verified with Intel Viiv technology will allow consumers to enjoy new experiences that combine the best of the TV with the best of the PC.

"With a simple software download, DIRECTV Plus® HD DVR customers nationwide can enjoy on their TV favorite photos and music albums that have been tucked away on their PCs," said Kevin Corbett, vice president of Intel's Digital Home Group and general manager of the company's Content Services Group. "Having the nation's leading satellite television service provider with a 15 million and growing customer base introduce the world's first Intel Viiv technology-verified set-top box is a significant milestone, accelerating the number of connected digital homes."

"Intel Viiv technology delivers the power, simplicity and functionality to connect these products in an easy and seamless fashion so DIRECTV customers can enjoy their favorite digital content in the living room," said Romulo Pontual, chief technology officer at DIRECTV. "Our strategic relationship with Intel, and joint commitment to an industry standards-based approach for securely delivering a premium TV experience on multiple devices, will ensure that DIRECTV customers have the flexibility to view content when, where and how they want it."

The two companies expect this capability to accelerate the adoption of connected digital homes by providing a substantial footprint of interoperable set-top boxes and PCs.

Read more in the Intel press release Home ???Intel, DIRECTV Poised to Connect PCs and TVs in U.S..

StarTek, a provider of Business Process Outsourcing and Optimization (BPO) services for outsourced customer interactions, recently announced that Comcast has selected them to support Comcast Digital Voice® IP-enabled phone service,  StarTek will provide provisioning services and additional back-office operations activities to support Comcast Digital Voice® service.

"Comcast has selected StarTek because of the company's demonstrated leadership in managing a variety of back-office solutions for voice service products," said Cathy Avgiris, SVP and GM, Voice Services, Comcast Cable. "Their proven provisioning expertise and national presence will help support the continued rollout of Comcast Digital Voice® service."

"StarTek is committed to supporting Comcast's voice services with the additional efficiencies that our StarTek Intelligent Enterprise suite of services delivers," said Steve Butler, CEO of StarTek. "Our process management solutions—which consist of telephony services and local number portability—will provide additional back-office support for Comcast's rapid rollout of Comcast Digital Voice®."

Check out the Comcast page for more information on Comcast Digital Voice®.

Since I posted earlier this month about Charter's participation in the Worldwide Day of Play, I wanted to update that Multichannel News is reporting that Cox is joining in on the program urging children to get up from in front of their PCs and TVs in favor of physical activity.

According to MN, Lara Salamano, senior director of affiliate marketing for the Nickelodeon and MTVN Kids and Family Group, said the company is very excited about Cox's support of the program. Part of Cox's participation includes its Orange County, Calif., cluster hosting an event in San Juan Capistrano, with an estimated 2,500 children expected to attend. The event will include stations focusing on characters created for Nickelodeon's Go Healthy Challenge.

In addition to the Worldwide Day of Play campaign, Nickelodeon sponsored the Let's Just Play Giveaway where children can log on to Nick.com and describe why play is important in their community and to nominate a local program that needs funding. The network has provided $1.4 million to local schools and other community organizations since August 2005, and it plans to award another $400,000 to 70 recipients in the next three months.

"Kids are really aware of this issue and they take advantage of the money for ways to play," Salamano said, noting that kids have asked everything for sports balls for physical-education classes to the construction of local bike paths.

Read more in the Multichannel News article Cox to Help Nick Play.

Starz Entertainment and Sony Pictures Television have signed an exclusive agreement that provides Starz Entertainment with the rights to more than 500 movie titles from the Sony library. The company will be able to offer the content on multiple distribution platforms, including its 16 linear channels, subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) offerings and the broadband video download service, Vongo.

The library deal runs from 2008 to 2014 and provides Starz Entertainment's flagship Starz and Encore channels exclusive rights to a selection of Sony's library films, however the VOD deal for Vongo will be begin next month. Starz and Encore deliver programming to 15.1 million and 27.1 million homes respectively through cable, satellite and telco providers and its other advanced services. This new deal broadens the already-established relationship that gives them exclusive first-run premium cable channel outlet for all of Sony Pictures Entertainment's films.

"This partnership with Sony Pictures Television validates our position as a leader in movie entertainment and demonstrates our strategy to make a whole range of recent and beloved content available to our subscribers on all of our platforms," said Stephan Shelanski, Starz senior vice president, programming. "We are pleased to offer our subscribers access to Sony's extensive library of theatrical films that includes content from 'Gandhi' to 'Ghostbusters' to 'Godzilla,' via cable, or satellite, VOD and over broadband."

For more information, check out the press release.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Mobile ESPN, a start-up cellphone company backed by Walt Disney Co., will announce as soon as today that it is closing down operations.

Launched at this year's Super Bowl, the company developed cellphones that feature a variety of sports-centric content and features. According to the WSJ, however, it has struggled to build a customer base in a fiercely competitive cellular industry.

Mobile ESPN operates through an agreement with Sprint Nextel Corp., paying for wholesale access to the carrier's network and then reselling service to its own subscribers. THe WSJ says that the company is now expected to shift its strategy significantly, getting out of the phone business to focus on its content.

For more information, check out the WSJ.com article Mobile ESPN Is to End Venture, Seek New Strategy.

Time Warner Cable's Road Runner Service is celebrating its ten year anniversary this month. The service was officially launched in a high-profile event on Sept. 10, 1996 in Akron, Ohio.  Time Warner Cable had initially tested the service in 1995 in Elmira, New York, and after the formal launch, rolled out the service to its customers nationwide over the next two years.

Since 1996, Road Runner has grown into an award-winning broadband service used by millions of people while the cost for the service has remained as low as $39.95. Features now include remote access, multiple e-mail accounts, free broadband content, security software, parental controls, instant messaging, video mail, PhotoShow Deluxe, personal Web space and optional wireless service. Download speeds have grown from approximately 1-1.5 mbps to 5-10 mbps, varying by location.  While Road Runner customers have always had access to local content, users can now also customize the site to meet their needs.

To see if Road Runner High Speed Online™ service is available near you, visit Time Warner Cable page at WhiteFence.

SIRIUS Satellite Radio has announced the availability of Stiletto 100, the company's first live portable radio, featuring WiFi, Yahoo!™ music purchasing software, and the ability to save music subscribers love for playback later.

Available this month, Stiletto 100 lets users listen to live SIRIUS programming almost anywhere in a small, stylish package, as well as store up to 100 hours of SIRIUS content. The device features WiFi capability for connection to SIRIUS' Internet radio services that allows for listening anywhere an accessible WiFi network is available.

User's own MP3/WMA files can also be stored on the Stiletto 100 and managed with the included My SIRIUS Studio™ software for Windows™ PCs. Stiletto 100 is compatible with most Windows-based Internet music providers' download and subscription services.

The Yahoo! Music Jukebox™ software will be included with the device, allowing users to bookmark individual songs into a favorites list, which can be accessed by a PC application when the unit is connected to user's computer. The application allows users to look up and purchase songs, full albums, or explore artists' other offerings through the Yahoo! Music Jukebox ™ software or other compatible online music download or subscription services. Once the song is purchased or rented, it can be transferred onto the Stiletto 100.

Measuring 4.7" x 2.0" x 1", Stiletto 100 stores up to 100 hours of live SIRIUS Satellite Radio programming (2 GB), has a large 2.2" bright display, Aurora graphic user interface and a six-way navigation control that provides easy one handed access to all features and content.

Other features include 30 channel presets; SIRIUS Replay™, which allows users to pause, rewind and replay 60 minutes of live radio; Game Alert™, which prompts the listener when favorite games are being broadcast and alerts when scores change; Game Zone™, listing all of the users favorite teams in one virtual category; and parental controls and channel lockout.

Read more about it in the press release SIRIUS Introduces the Stiletto 100, Its First Live Portable Satellite Radio. 

DIRECTV recently announced that that it will be the first to take the MySpace experience and bring it to life as a television show when its show Project MyWorld debuts Oct. 2 at 6:00 p.m. ET on DIRECTV's Channel 101. The show will follow three friends as they travel the world in search of love, adventure, independent bands and the real people around the world who have become their MySpace friends. DIRECTV's fourth original series is part documentary, part international odyssey and part Internet experience come to life.

DIRECTV will give the three women a voice to create, develop and produce Project MyWorld according to their own unique personalities for the ultimate in viewer-generated content. The three women will also serve as executive producers and maintain the show's Web site on MySpace at www.myspace.com/projectmyworld.

The program will introduce viewers to three friends: Shaina Fewell, Renee Intlekofer and Taryn Southern, and follow them as they traverse the globe in search of their MySpace friends worldwide and set out to fulfill their own personal missions. Shaina is on the hunt for the best indie band in each city, Renee is searching for international love and the feisty Taryn is looking for adventure.

"This is such a great concept and the fact that it's totally homegrown by Shaina, Taryn and Renee really drew us to the project," said Eric Shanks, executive vice president of entertainment at DIRECTV. "Project MyWorld is a completely new kind of show where everything from the music to the characters have a connection between the online world and real-life."

The women will begin their journey in Los Angeles and then continue on to such exotic locales such as Croatia, Spain, Italy, Germany, France and other countries in their worldwide tour. Their adventures will be shot documentary style in High-Definition and presented to viewers in a weekly half-hour television show.

For more information, check out the DIRECTV press release DIRECTV's New Original Series Project MyWorld Sends Three Friends to Conquer the World with Their MySpace Friends.

TXU Corp. recently announced that it has been honored as the leading independent power producer by the 2006 Platts Top 250 Global Energy Companies survey, which recognizes the energy industry's top-performing companies around the world. The Platts Top 250 measured financial performance by examining each company's 2005 assets, revenues, profits and return on invested capital. TXU ranked 44th, up from 158th last year. In addition to ranking the top 250 companies, the Platts survey also distinguishes best performance in nine industry subcategories. TXU led the independent power producers subcategory this year, moving from seventh place in the 2005 rankings.

"Being awarded a ranking in the Platts Top 250 is a great accomplishment in itself," said C. John Wilder, chairman and CEO of TXU Corp. "And being at the top of a subcategory is an even greater achievement. It really speaks to the outstanding performance of TXU's team."

Through application of the TXU Operating System, with its program of lean concepts and continuous improvement, the progress TXU's solid-fuel power generation fleet has made to achieve operational excellence is the best in the industry. TXU's 5,800-megawatt coal-fired generation fleet is consistently producing at an industry-leading capacity factor that is almost 10 percent above the top-decile capacity factor for U.S. coal-fired generation plants. TXU's coal-fired power plants are also on a trajectory to achieve top-performing cost management. Its 2,300-MW Comanche Peak nuclear plant achieved its third-best annual production in 2005 in spite of refueling both units, and its cost performance is trending to top levels.

TXU has also launched its Power the Future of Texas program to ensure a reliable supply of electricity and reduce wholesale power costs by $1.7 billion annually for a state with the nation's highest electricity demand, an expanding economy and a growing population. TXU's plan to invest more than $10 billion will bring nine gigawatts (GW) of new low-cost, efficient power generation to Texas. Without massive new supply, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas warns that reserve margins will be unreliable by 2008. TXU's plan will also mean cleaner air for Texans. The combination of investment in the newest emissions control technology and the largest voluntary emissions reduction program ever will create the nation's cleanest large-scale coal fleet, and independent air modeling analysis has determined that TXU's environmental commitments will improve the state's air quality. TXU is using its TXU Operating System, the large scale of its program, a proprietary standard plant design and existing infrastructure to build its plants faster and more economically than the typical developer.

TXU's power generation expansion program also includes plans to develop three to five GW of power generation in the Eastern U.S. and plans to file license applications for two to six GW of nuclear-fueled generation.

For more information, check out the  Platts Top 250 Global Energy Company Rankings

According to a new economic study commissioned by the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) and conducted by Microeconomic Consulting and Research Associates (MiCRA), consumers and small businesses could save a total of $101.5 billion on their phone bills over the next five years as a result of competition from facilities-based providers of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service. Residential cable telephony consumers could save an average of $135 each year or more by using a cable provider's telephone service, the study finds.

"Robust facilities-based phone competition is a huge win for American consumers," said Dr. Michael Pelcovits, Principal at MiCRA and lead author of the study. "This study shows that preventing a phone company lock on the market provides residential and small business customers innovative new services at enormous savings.  The economic impact of $100 billion of phone savings is truly dramatic."

The study found that by 2011, nearly 24 million Americans are likely to purchase phone service from their cable companies. The study concludes that the traditional phone companies are compelled to respond to competition by cutting prices—creating yet additional savings for the customers that the incumbent phone companies retain.

Other findings include:

• Comprehensive cable telephony services are priced as low as $34.95 per month, plus approximately $6.00 in taxes and other fees.  Comparable services from AT&T and BellSouth cost approximately $50.00 per month, plus fees and taxes.
• Residential users of cable telephone services are estimated to grow from 10.0 million in 2007 to 23.7 million by 2011.
• Residential customers of incumbent telephone companies could save $70 billion over five years if incumbent telephone companies are forced to respond to the competitive challenge by facilities-based VoIP providers.

For more details on the survey's findings, check out the NCTA press release New economic study shows substantial economic benefit of facilities-based phone competition.

Harpo Radio Inc. and XM Satellite Radio announced the highly anticipated "Oprah & Friends" channel debut this week on XM Satellite Radio (XM 156). The new channel features a broad range of caller-driven, original talk programming created and produced by Harpo Radio exclusively for XM Satellite Radio.

With a variety of daily and weekly shows hosted by popular personalities from "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and O, The Oprah Magazine, "Oprah & Friends" features programming on topics ranging from nutrition, fitness and health to self improvement, home decor and current events. Show hosts include poet and bestselling author Dr. Maya Angelou; interior design expert Nate Berkus; financial coach and money expert Jean Chatzky; renowned exercise physiologist and fitness expert Bob Greene; O, The Oprah Magazine Editor-At-Large Gayle King; noted cardiologist and award- winning author Dr. Mehmet Oz; distinguished psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Robin Smith; and spiritual teacher and internationally acclaimed author and lecturer Marianne Williamson.

"For me, being a part of XM Radio is a full-circle moment because I started out in radio when I was 16 years old and now I'm able to share the airwaves with my friends," said Oprah.

The original programming on "Oprah & Friends" features a mix of celebrities and everyday people in conversation with the shows' hosts, as well as listeners, through call-ins and e-mails. Donald Trump, Julia Louis- Dreyfus, Annette Bening, Jon Bon Jovi, Nora Ephron, Carnie Wilson, Norman Lear, The New York Times' columnist Thomas Friedman, former presidential candidate Sen. Dennis Kucinich, and others are among those scheduled to appear on "Oprah & Friends" during the first few weeks of broadcast.

"XM's more than seven million subscribers will now benefit from Oprah Winfrey's unparalleled track record of creating programming that entertains, informs and inspires," said Hugh Panero, CEO, XM Satellite Radio. "The shows heard on the 'Oprah & Friends' channel reflect XM and Harpo's shared commitment to engaging audiences by creating personal connections with listeners."

To learn more about this new channel, check out the press release 'Oprah & Friends' Debuts Today on XM Satellite Radio.

To celebrate the new seasons of some of ABC's most popular shows, DISH Network satellite TV service will feature half-hour promotional specials of "Grey's Anatomy," "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives" on its Video On Demand platform, DISH On Demand.

Designed to help viewers follow storylines, the free-of-charge specials began airing on Thursday, Sept. 21, and will be available through Wednesday, Oct. 4, for DISH Network customers with a 622 or 625 receiver.To order any of these shows, customers simply need to press the "DVR" button on their remote and select "TV Entertainment" from the menu screen, select the program they watch from the menu, and select "Start" to begin viewing.

"Providing DISH Network with this special content for their On Demand service is a perfect example of our desire to find new ways we can work together with our distribution partners," said Ben Pyne, president, Disney and ESPN Networks Affiliate Sales and Marketing. "This also marks an opportunity for both new viewers and returning fans to get caught up with ABC's biggest hit series before their new seasons begin."

"We strongly feel that the addition of content featuring ABC's popular hits such as 'Lost' and 'Desperate Housewives' further strengthens our DISH On Demand service," said Susan Arnold, vice president of Programming for DISH Network. "This is a great example of our commitment to provide our DISH On Demand customers with the best programming available."

For more details, check out the DISH Network press release DISH Network Video On Demand Platform to Feature Special ABC Programs; Overview Specials Recapping 'Grey's Anatomy,' 'Lost' and 'Desperate Housewives' Available for Free on DISH On Demand.

AT&T recently announced that approximately 2,000 previously outsourced technical support jobs will be added to the AT&T payroll. The jobs—which have been outsourced both domestically and overseas—are related to supporting AT&T's DSL customers who self-install their service or have other basic questions about the service.

"This is one more example of how we're working together with our union to add jobs in growing parts of our company," said Bill Blase, executive vice president-Labor Relations. "We're pleased that the Communications Workers of America has recognized the mutual importance of creating these jobs with competitive wages and benefits that enhance the company's ability to compete while creating good jobs."

The DSL jobs are the second group of jobs that the company and the union have agreed to create in recent months. Previously the company and most regions of the CWA agreed on a contract covering premises technicians who will perform installation work at customer homes for AT&T's new U-verse^SM video service. Hiring of those workers is under way as the product is rolled out. The company is currently assessing where to locate the DSL jobs, which will be added to the AT&T payroll by the end of 2008.

For more information, check out the San Antonio Business Journal article AT&T plans tohire 2,000 DSL jobs.

EMBARQ recently announced it will be providing its high speed Internet customers two new free services—network storage capacity and on-demand video—as enhancements to their broadband services.

"We believe we offer the most reliable form of broadband connectivity, at very competitive prices," said Kirk Porteous, director-product development for the Embarq Consumer Markets organization. "EMBARQ Media Safe offers secure online storage and provides our customers with user-friendly automated backup of their computer files and data while allowing them to access, store, organize and share those files from any secure web browser. Through EMBARQ Video Clicks we provide convenient access to a multitude of high-quality videos containing music, news, weather sports and other entertainment."

EMBARQ Media Safe offers 25 gigabytes of secure online storage at no additional charge for all EMBARQ high speed Internet customers, potentially providing enough storage for 8,000 high-quality pictures or 6,000 songs. For high-end users, packages offering up to 1,000 gigabytes (1 terabyte) of storage are available for purchase.

In addition, EMBARQ Video Clicks will allow customers to instantly access music videos; regional, national and international news and weather; sports highlights from their favorite teams; and other entertainment such as short videos and movie trailers.

Read more about these new services in the press release EMBARQ Offers Two Free High-Speed Internet Enhancements.

BellSouth recently announced that it has earned a perfect score of 100 percent on the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) 2006 Corporate Equality Index.

The nation's largest lesbian and gay political organization, the HRC conducted its 2006 Equality Index that rated 446 companies on a scale of 0 percent to 100 percent on several factors, including whether they have a written non-discrimination policy covering sexual orientation; support transgender employees with written non-discrimination policies and benefits; offer inclusive health insurance, bereavement and family leave policies to employees with same-sex partners; offer diversity training; have Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) employee groups; engage in appropriate and respectful advertising to the GLBT community; contribute to GLBT community organizations; and decline to engage in any activities that would undermine the goal of equal rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

"At an ever increasing pace, corporate executives understand that supporting their gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees is not only the right thing to do but it is also good for business," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese.

BellSouth has participated in all of the HRC's five annual surveys. This is the highest score the company has received surpassing previous years' scores in the mid-80s. "We are very pleased to receive a perfect score for our efforts in this area," said BellSouth Chief Diversity Officer Valencia Adams. "The GLBT market is one that continues to contribute to the success of our bottom line, and it is our plan to continue to build relationships that benefit our company and our customer."

Buckeye CableSystem and Everyone.net, a provider of private-label hosted e-mail services, recently announced that Buckeye will offer an upgraded set of e-mail solutions to its subscribers, based on a custom version of the Everyone.net e-mail platform. The companies say that the new solution will provide users with a highly reliable feature-rich experience and a significant reduction in spam and junk e-mail, while saving e-mail infrastructure costs and resources for Buckeye.

"Buckeye is committed to delivering the most advanced services to our subscribers," said W.H. Carstensen, president and general manager of Buckeye. "Because e-mail is one of the most popular services among our customer base, we wanted to offer the best. After evaluating vendors, it was clear that Everyone.net's e-mail solution enables us to significantly evolve our offerings to include better quality of e-mail service, greater flexibility, and enhanced features."

According to Everyone.net, Buckeye CableSystem is joining a growing list of service providers who trust the company to manage e-mail services. Everyone.net's private-label solution is designed to alleviate the rising cost of e-mail maintenance, such as hardware and software investments, while significantly improving reliability. The company says that service providers such as Buckeye will be able offer subscribers cost-effective e-mail services without sacrificing the flexibility and control of an in-house e-mail system.

"We have been impressed with the constant innovation and services that Buckeye delivers to its customers," said Michael Rose, chief executive officer of Everyone.net. "We are confident that our e-mail services will help support their strategy of offering value-added services to differentiate themselves in a crowded market."

For more information, check out the press release Buckeye CableSystem Customers to Benefit from Secure, Reliable E-mail Services from Everyone.net.

According to a recent USA Today article, the average American home now has more television sets than people. The article states that the threshold was crossed within the past two years, according to Nielsen Media Research, with an average of 2.73 TV sets in the typical home and 2.55 people.

In addition, the article quotes other interesting Nielsen findings:

• Half of American homes have three or more TVs, and only 19 percent have just one. In 1975, 57 percent of homes had only a single set and 11 percent had three or more.
• In the average home, a television set is turned on for more than a third of the day—eight hours, 14 minutes, an hour more than it was a decade ago.
• The average person watches four hours, 35 minutes of television each day.

Read more in the USA Today article Average home has more TVs than people.

New insights into the performance of leading VoIP providers were recently released by Keynote Systems, a company that specializes in Internet and mobile test and measurement services. Keynote's third VoIP competitive intelligence study revealed that overall VoIP quality has improved across the board since Keynote's last study in December 2005 and that the leading VoIP providers have actually surpassed PSTN (traditional phone service) in overall audio quality, but still lag behind PSTN in audio delay.

Twelve leading VoIP providers were part of the benchmark study, including AT&T, Comcast Time Warner Cable, and Verizon. Keynote measured the relative performance of the leading VoIP providers in the New York and San Francisco markets, including digital cable, adapter-based VoIP (hard phone) and PC-based software (soft phone) services, as well as the performance of leading VoIP providers against PSTN service in those cities. Keynote then rated the leading VoIP service providers on critical performance factors that influence the end-user experience using Keynote Voice Perspective®, which is Keynote's VoIP quality test and measurement product.

The company found that overall reliability among the various competing VoIP providers had improved across the board and that the leading digital cable providers had in fact outperformed PSTN in overall reliability. Overall reliability is a computed index score based on performance measurements in three performance factors: service availability, average number of dial attempts and dropped calls.

Leading digital cable VoIP providers were also found to deliver better audio quality than the competition, with the leading cable providers achieving excellent audio responsiveness (a measure of audio delay) and audio clarity (measured by Mean Opinion Score, or MOS), two key contributors to overall audio quality.

Improved VoIP quality is more important than ever, as analysts estimate that residential adoption of VoIP service will grow to more than 26 million homes in 2008 in the United States, up from 6.5 Million in 2004. "As VoIP continues to move into the mainstream and challenge the incumbent carriers in major markets nationwide, consumers have started focusing on two important differentiators, audio quality and pricing," said Vik Chaudhary, vice president of marketing and product management at Keynote. "As the results of the Keynote study indicate, VoIP providers have overcome a major hurdle in the past seven months by addressing concerns about overall audio quality, but they still have work to do to improve the consistency of their service levels during peak versus non-peak hours and to decrease the variation in performance levels between the top performers and the rest of the pack."

Read more about the study in the press release Leading VoIP Providers Outperform Regular Phone Carriers in Overall Audio Quality, Keynote Reports.

Verizon celebrates the first anniversary of its fiber-optic FiOS TV service this week. Citing Verizon research that shows the majority of FiOS TV subscribers were previously cable subscribers, Marilyn O'Connell, Verizon's senior vice president - video solutions, said, "Customers have spoken loudly about the quality and value of FiOS TV as they've moved from cable to Verizon.  We think 2007 will be an even bigger year for FiOS TV and our subscribers as we add advanced services and new markets."

Verizon launched the fiber-optic FiOS TV service in Keller, Texas, on Sept. 22, 2005, and now serves more than 80 communities in North Texas, California, Florida, Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts and New York.  Verizon is making FiOS TV available to more customers weekly, as it continues to build its industry-leading fiber-to-the-home network and open new video-serving facilities. Verizon expects to begin providing FiOS TV service in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey in the coming months, and it will expand deployment in the states where FiOS TV already is available.

AT&T and Comcast recently announced a distribution agreement to deliver Comcast linear and on-demand programming as part of the AT&T U-verse(SM) TV programming lineup.

Under the agreement, Comcast will offer the following programming to AT&T U-verse TV customers: E! Entertainment Television, The Golf Channel, OLN (soon to be Versus), AZN Television, PBS KIDS Sprout, Style Network, G4, Comcast SportsNet Chicago, Comcast SportsNet West and SportsNet New York.

"We are pleased to be able to offer the numerous networks and on-demand content from Comcast Networks to customers of AT&T U-verse TV, which is designed to deliver a truly revolutionary entertainment experience," said Dan York, head of programming, AT&T Operations, Inc.

"Comcast's networks engage viewers in some of the most attractive and targeted demographics with top-quality programming. From E! Entertainment to the Golf Channel, we offer something for everyone and are pleased that AT&T sees the high value that these networks have in reaching TV viewers," said Bill Bridgen, executive vice president for distribution and development, Comcast Networks.

For more information, check out the press release AT&T U-verse TV to Include Comcast Networks' Content.

DISH Network™ satellite TV service will be featuring the series premiere of NBC's new fall series "Friday Night Lights" on its Video On Demand platform, DISH On Demand, before the show's network debut on NBC on Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 8:00 p.m. ET.

The "Friday Night Lights" series centers on the small rural town of Dillon, Texas, where the coveted state football championship rings are held in the highest regard. Dillon's promising high school team, its star quarterback, and newly appointed head coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler, "King Kong," "Grey's Anatomy") feel the mounting pressure of the town's pride and honor riding on their shoulders as a new football season kicks off.

"Friday Night Lights" will be available on DISH On Demand on Saturday, Sept. 23 through Monday, Oct. 2 for DISH Network customers with a 622 or 625 receiver. Customers simply need to press the "DVR" button on their remote and select "TV Entertainment" from the menu screen, select "Friday Night Lights" from the menu, and select "Start" to begin viewing. DISH Network's DISH On Demand service gives customers immediate access to the latest movies and television programs, allowing them to enjoy movies and other programs whenever they want. Additionally, DISH Network's DVRs enable subscribers to further customize their viewing experience by taking advantage of popular features such as pause, fast forward, and rewind.

"We're delighted that we have this opportunity to showcase a drama of this caliber to the DISH Network audience," said John Miller, chief marketing officer, NBC Universal Television Group. "We're proud of the quality of 'Friday Night Lights' and we look forward to having viewers see the show in advance and encourage others to watch this exciting new series."

"We are very excited that DISH On Demand customers will get a sneak preview of 'Friday Night Lights' before it premieres on NBC," said Susan Arnold, vice president of Programming for DISH Network. "By combining the latest and most popular programming on DISH On Demand with the functionality and technology of our industry-leading DVRs, DISH Network customers will find multiple ways to enhance their viewing experience."

For more information on the new series, check out the show's official site or the DISH Network press release.
 

RCN is teaming up with iSorpresa!, America's first Hispanic kids network, during Hispanic Heritage Month to sponsor a company-wide children's essay-writing contest about the importance of heritage.

In partnership with iSorpresa!, RCN is sponsoring a children's essay writing contest to increase awareness about the importance of heritage and how it's infused in today's culture. The contest, also intended to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, began with the airing of cable television commercials in RCN's Boston, Chicago, New York, metro DC, and Eastern, Pennsylvania markets that invite children, ages 14 and under, of all heritages to write and submit an essay describing what their heritage means to them.

One essay will be chosen based on creativity, spelling, grammar and content, with the winner and their classroom receiving a pizza party and prizes. The contest is open to all children, including RCN customers.

John Baker, RCN's vice president, marketing and sales management, explained, "RCN recognizes the important part that heritage plays in our customer's lives. Hispanic Heritage Month is the perfect time for us to focus more attention on the benefits that heritage brings to our culture, and the children's essay contest is a fun way to increase that awareness.

Baker added that RCN has taken the lead in designing and launching a comprehensive and unique offering addressing its customer's diverse Hispanic culture: "Our recently launched countries package of cable TV networks, Paquete de Paises, which is included in our new Hispanic MiVision programming, connects many of our customers back to their countries of origin."

Contest entries should be forwarded by October 20, 2006, by e-mail to pizzaparty@sorpresatv.com or by mail to RCN/Sorpresa! Hispanic Heritage Contest, c/o Firestone Communications, 6125 Airport Freeway, Fort Worth, TX 76117. Additional details can be found at the official RCN Heritage Contest site.

The historic Ryder Cup golf tournament will air live across the continental U.S. on XM Satellite Radio channel 146 from the tournament at K Club in Kildare, Ireland, Sept. 22-24, 2006. The broadcast will mark the first time that the Ryder Cup will be carried on satellite radio.

Jointly administered by the PGA of America and the PGA European Tour, the biannual event will pit the best golfers of the United States against the best players of Europe. The U.S. Ryder team will be led by the world's top ranked players Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk and team captain Tom Lehman.

"The Ryder Cup is one of the most popular and prestigious sporting events in the world," said Kevin Straley, vice president, talk programming, XM Satellite Radio. "You can hear the entire tournament on XM Radio from coast to coast. The Ryder Cup is one of more than five thousand sporting events broadcast live and nationwide on XM this year."

According to ESPN, the network's last Monday night NFL game was watched by more viewers than any show in cable TV history except a 1993 debate between Al Gore and Ross Perot.

Jacksonville's victory over Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh posted a rating of 10.6 and was seen in 9.81 million homes, topping the network's Monday Night Football debut from the previous week that had been the most-watched program in the network's history. The Gore-Perot debate on NAFTA on CNN was watched in 11.174 million households.

The first game of the Monday Night Football doubleheader last week between Minnesota and Washington drew a 9.9 rating, representing an average of between nearly 9.2 million and 12.57 million households, the network said. The previous record was 8.9 million households on Christmas Day 1994 for a game between Detroit and Miami.

ESPN's second Monday night game, San Diego's 27-0 victory at Oakland, received a rating of 8.5 and was seen in an average of 7.87 million households. Through two weeks of its new deal with the NFL, ESPN is averaging a 9.7 rating and viewership in 8.99 million homes. During ESPN's final season of Sunday night telecasts, the network's averages were an 8.8 rating and 7.89 million homes.

For more information, check out the Bloomberg.com article ESPN's NFL Broadcast Is Second-Most Watched in Cable History .

Qwest recently launched a football-themed Web site to help customers stay even more connected to the sport of football through its communications services. The new site's (www.morefootball.com) interactive features helps put fans at the center of football action.

With a basic digital camera, even amateurs can create and post personal videos. On morefootball.com, fans can upload their own video clips and watch others' video clips, post comments and rant, rave and rehash each play of the season. Fans can also track their favorite teams, make weekly "Fan Picks" and even find the recipes for their own football parties.

"Qwest's morefootball.com brings football fans together and gives them the chance to immerse themselves in the sport in a fan-friendly, easy way," said Laura Sankey, Qwest vice president of corporate marketing and advertising. "Customers tell us they want a fast, interactive connection to football, and Qwest's morefootball.com makes that possible."

The new Web site builds on the Qwest Football Bundles the company launched in August that include high-speed Internet service, digital voice and DIRECTV® service, as well as the opportunity to add exclusive services and features, such as DIRECTV's subscription football packages and Qwest Wireless.

Check out the Qwest services page to see if bundles are available in your area.

The Metropolitan Opera and SIRIUS Satellite Radio recently announced a multi-year agreement to create Metropolitan Opera Radio. The channel will debut on SIRIUS this Monday, September 25, with a live broadcast of the Met's opening night gala performance of Puccini's Madama Butterfly, conducted by Music Director James Levine and directed by Anthony Minghella.

The exclusive new SIRIUS satellite radio music channel will broadcast live Metropolitan Opera performances each week throughout the Met's entire season, in addition to hundreds of archival performances from throughout the Met's 75-year history. Metropolitan Opera Radio will be heard on SIRIUS channel 85.

"This is a significant step in our plans to use digital technology to relay our extraordinary content," said Peter Gelb, the Met's new General Manager. "I look forward to working with SIRIUS to expand their listenership to include opera lovers throughout the US and Canada."

"With Metropolitan Opera Radio, we will bring opera lovers the best performances of our day and an unparalleled and definitive collection of historic broadcasts," said Scott Greenstein, SIRIUS President, Entertainment and Sports. "SIRIUS' broad reach and superb digital quality sound make us the perfect vehicle to help Peter Gelb and the Met fulfill their mission to both superserve existing opera lovers and create new opera fans nationwide."

The full-time channel will feature an average of four live broadcasts each week throughout the Met's 2006-07 performance season, with Saturday matinee performances enhanced with live interviews and  intermission programs. The channel will also feature hundreds of re-mastered broadcasts culled from the Met's 75-year history. Additional vocal content will complement the Metropolitan Opera broadcasts.

For more information on this new channel, check out the SIRIUS press release.

Yahoo! and Current TV, a pioneer in "viewer created content" (VC2) for television and the Web, have partnered to deliver high-quality video content to one of the largest audience on the Web. The launch of the Yahoo! Current Network combines the best in user submitted videos plus professional, studio-produced content to air side by side in a co-branded environment, leveraging the highly customizable Yahoo! Video platform.

"Current TV empowers young adults to actively participate in creating the television they want to watch, but in a broader sense, we're about giving young adults a voice," states Current TV co-founder and chairman Al Gore. "Current's mission has always been to spark a global conversation among young adults. Partnering with Yahoo! helps us advance this mission."

Yahoo! Current Network's daily video offerings blend pop culture awareness with journalistic sensibilities to offer a smart, irreverent take on trends, news and personalities. Videos created and submitted by users will be featured alongside professionally produced segments narrated by Yahoo! Current Network hosts to inform and entertain enthusiast and mainstream audiences. All Yahoo! Current Network content can be easily found, via a search shortcut, by going to Yahoo.com and searching for "Current."

"Current TV's strengths in producing and programming some of the most creative video content available, combined with Yahoo!'s leadership in online video and user-centered communities creates a unique experience. The new Yahoo! Current Network helps publishers find an audience and be discovered on the biggest network on the planet," said Dan Rosensweig, chief operating officer for Yahoo!. "In addition, the Yahoo! Current Network allows advertisers to reach highly targeted audiences in an engaging environment."

The Yahoo! Current Network debuts with four channels on Yahoo! Video that allow users to view and upload videos, participate in rich communities and share their passions. Each channel will feature a daily selection of the best viewer created video submissions and professionally produced Buzz videos. These featured videos will be programmed into a set of custom branded channels with all content discoverable through Yahoo! Video.

Through user participation features found on Yahoo! Video, including the ability to rate, review and share videos, all viewers can voice their opinions and share their favorite content. Users can personalize their experience by subscribing to channels, grouping videos related by source or topic and making videos viewable from their blogs or Web sites.

Current TV, which launched August 1, 2005, is the first national network created by, for and with an 18-34 year-old audience. The network shows young adults what's going on in their world, in their voice. Current is available in 30 million U.S. homes via Comcast (channel 107 nationwide), Time Warner Cable, and DIRECTV (channel 366 nationwide). For more information, check out www.current.tv.

Comcast has added more than one million Comcast Digital Voice customers in less than two years.  This milestone underscores the record growth Comcast continues to experience across all cable products as it aggressively rolls out its $33 per product first-year bundle of phone, high-speed and video services.  Comcast also recently became the first broadband provider to cross the 10 million high-speed Internet customer threshold, following several high-growth quarters and the close of the Adelphia transaction, and is the nation's largest video provider with 23.3 million cable customers.

To keep pace with the growing popularity and increasing demand of the Triple Play, Comcast also announced that it now expects to add more than 4,000 jobs nationwide this year, a significant increase from its previously announced plans of 3,000 new customer-facing positions.

"Comcast Digital Voice and the Triple Play bundle continue to exceed our expectations. Customers are attracted to the convenience of the service and the value of the $33x3 offer," said Steve Burke, chief operating officer of Comcast Corporation.  "We're increasing our job growth projections this year to meet the accelerating customer demand for the bundle and our Comcast Digital Voice service."

The 4,000 new employees will join Comcast's current 66,000-member cable division workforce in helping connect customers to Comcast Digital Voice and other cutting-edge cable, entertainment and communications products and services.  These new jobs include 3,000 front-line technicians and 1,000 customer care representatives who will install, maintain and provide support for the company's services, as well as managerial and sales positions.  As a result of its commitment to employees, Comcast is regularly recognized by local publications as a top employer, receiving 25 awards for being a "Best Employer" in states and cities around the country.

You can read more about Comcast and its services from this Comcast press release. If you are interested in getting Comcast services, you can go to the WhiteFence Comcast page.

As the cost of high-speed Internet service declines and connection speeds become more important, high-speed service overtakes dial-up in market share for the first time, according to the recently-released J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Internet Service Provider (ISP) Residential Customer Satisfaction Study(SM).

The study found that 56 percent of residential ISP customers subscribe to high-speed Internet service-an increase of 11 percentage points from 2005. Correspondingly, market share of dial-up service has dropped from 55 percent in 2005 to 44 percent in 2006. This trend is expected to continue, as the intent to switch service providers among dial-up customers has increased by 3 percentage points from 2005 to 21 percent in 2006, while switching intent among high-speed customers has essentially remained flat since 2003 at 11 percent.

The average amount subscribers report spending per month for high-speed Internet service has steadily decreased since 2004—down by $1.99 to $42.13 in 2006. During the same time period, the average amount dial-up service subscribers report spending has also declined; however, the drop is less significant—falling $0.69 from 2004 to $18.45 per month in 2006.

"Although high-speed Internet service is still considerably more expensive than dial-up, bundling high-speed with other products, such as telephone and video service, has made it an increasingly attractive option for many customers," said Steve Kirkeby, executive director of telecommunications and technology research at J.D. Power and Associates.

"This is not to say that dial-up services are completely out of the picture, as dial-up still holds a significant portion of the market. More specifically, customers are often willing to pay more for faster Internet speeds, provided they are getting other services for less. Our research shows that customers are increasingly expecting offerings and incentives that recognize their loyalty, and high-speed Internet is a critical piece of the most attractive bundled offers."

For more information on this new study, check out the press release J.D. Power and Associates Reports: High-Speed Internet Overtakes Dial-Up in Market Share as Bundling Makes Services More Affordable.    

AT&T Inc. has entered a new contract with Sur La Table, a premium-quality culinary tools supplier with 56 stores throughout the United States. Under the terms of the contract, AT&T will be the primary voice and data services provider, delivering Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) Private Network Transport (PNT) services to the company's headquarters in Seattle.

The solution provided by AT&T is designed to improve communication between Sur La Table's retail locations and the company's headquarters and distribution centers. Sur La Table's network will rely on AT&T's advanced call-processing capabilities to instantly route inventory information, customer information, and billing information to the appropriate distribution channels, speeding up the fulfillment of customer orders and improving customer satisfaction.

AT&T MPLS PNT will replace Sur La Table's current wide area network (WAN) structure with a cost-effective, consolidated network infrastructure with greater reliability and increased flexibility to support high-bandwidth store-level applications. Specifically, store inventory, online gift registry and transaction information will all move seamlessly across the converged network.

AT&T will also deliver local access services and advanced toll-free services for reliable communications that easily integrate with the company's internal processes. The toll-free services will allow Sur La Table to seamlessly transfer calls for reduced customer wait time and improved customer service and satisfaction.

Sur La Table needed a service provider with a broad national footprint, such as the AT&T local services footprint, according to Vince Barriero, chief information officer of Sur La Table.

Finding your Blackberry to be a bit outdated? Then maybe the new Blackberry 8703e is for you. Sprint and Research In Motion (RIM) recently introduced the BlackBerry® 8703e from Sprint with updated features, including EV-DO support and Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) capability in a sleek and light design.

The BlackBerry 8703e is the latest BlackBerry handset offered by Sprint that is capable of taking advantage of broadband-like speeds provided by the Sprint Power Vision(SM) Network(1) - the nation's largest mobile broadband network covering more than 157 million people in 216 major metropolitan areas as well as 486 airports across the nation. The BlackBerry 8703e enhances productivity, extends the workplace, and provides Sprint customers flexibility for managing life on the go.The BlackBerry 8703e provides complete BlackBerry functionality at broadband-like speeds (average download speeds of 400-700kpbs and up to 2Mbps peak speeds(2)) to deliver a dynamic, highly responsive experience when downloading attachments and graphics, browsing the Web and running wireless applications. It can also be used as a tethered modem in conjunction with a laptop for high-speed Internet and data application access anywhere Sprint has Power Vision Network coverage.

The BlackBerry 8703e includes integrated GPS (assisted-GPS) enabled through Sprint to deliver support for popular location-based services to mobile users, such as turn-by-turn driving directions to any address, anywhere on the Nationwide Sprint PCS Network.

With additional key features like email, phone, browser, organizer, Bluetooth® wireless technology, speakerphone, high-resolution color display and full QWERTY keyboard the BlackBerry 8703e is designed to provide customers with a rich phone and messaging experience in an all-in-one, stylish device.

Key features include:

• Sprint Mobile Broadband enabled on the Sprint Power Vision Network, the nation's largest mobile broadband network
• Fast Web browsing, application performance and attachment viewing
• GPS-enabled to support location-based services
• BlackBerry "push" technology
• Phone-as-modem capability
• Bluetooth® wireless technology headset and car kit support
• High-resolution color LCD screen, automatically adjusts lighting for indoor and outdoor viewing
• Complete, high-end phone features including speakerphone, dedicated "send," "end" and "mute" keys, plus user-definable "convenience" keys
• Bluetooth® 2.0 to support wireless headsets and car kits
• 64MB of flash memory to store and run powerful enterprise, personal productivity and game applications
• Integrated attachment viewing for popular file formats

Suddenlink, formerly Cebridge and Cox Mid America, is now offering digital phone service through WhiteFence in Arkansas and Missouri. You can choose to include long distance with your phone service as well as many popular phone features. All packages include unlimited local calling, call waiting, three-way calling, voice mail, auto redial, call return, standard call forwarding, remote access to call forwarding, caller ID, incoming call block and caller ID block. Additionally, Suddenlink offers a 30-day money back guarantee.

Selling a home can be stressful as well as exciting. Don't get discouraged if it doesn't happen right away--it may take a few months or more. To get good tips from people who know, you should go to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Developement. They have great resources and tips for those of us who do not have much experience selling homes.

While Time Warner Cable officially removed NFL Network last week, Broadcasting & Cable is reporting that the cable system is still negotiating with the network to carry the 24-hour sports channel on the Adelphia markets Time Warner Cable aquired.

According to B&C, Time Warner spokesman Mark Harrad says the two sides are still talking, reports otherwise notwithstanding. "Fred Dressler, our lead negotiator, reports having had conversations last week. We continue to talk to the NFL," says Harrad, who added that he was surprised that the NFL Network described the talks as having broken off. He called that characterization "inaccurate."

Read more in the Broadcasting & Cable article Time Warner Still in Talks with NFL Net.

Apparently, AOL's free services are paying off. Time Warner Inc. said this week that the company's strategy to offer most of AOL's services for free was making faster-than-expected progress in attracting new Internet users and cutting costs.

Jeffrey Bewkes, Time Warner's chief operating officer, told investors that its strategy had attracted new users beyond those who were once paying customers of the online service. He reported around 40 percent of new users were not former subscribers. In addition, subscribers who formerly paid for AOL services were moving to its free services at a quicker rate than originally predicted by AOL management.

"People weren't leaving AOL because they didn't like it," Bewkes said. "They were leaving because they wanted to go to [high-speed] broadband."

For more information, check out the Yahoo! News article AOL gains more new customers after going free.

Samsung Electronics recently introduced the future of versatile multimedia entertainment for the entire home with its FlipTop design, featuring an integrated 10.2-inch LCD screen. This latest addition to Samsung's award-winning family of LCD display panels is the first-of-its-kind: a DIRECTV receiver that features a unique swivel design with a backlit control panel. This allows the unit to be mounted under a cabinet or on a table-top with the TV image and control panel icons always illuminated right side up.

"Samsung is once again at the forefront of a rapidly-evolving market," said Frank Romeo, vice president of marketing, Digital Set Top Box Products. "DIRECTV's 15 million subscribers and new customers are seeking compact, versatile flat panel displays as additional sets for rooms outside the traditional home theater space. The FlipTop combines Samsung's tradition of design innovation and technical leadership to offer an advanced all-in-one entertainment solution for any room in the home."

The Samsung DIRECTV FlipTop offers a clear and bright LCD picture with a 16:9, aspect ratio. The folding configuration allows users to tilt or flip the screen for convenient positioning and viewing from any direction, while the front panel buttons are back-lit and can flip based on the TV's placement. "The FlipTop allows consumers to bring DIRECTV programming and XM Satellite radio anywhere in their home," said Richard Long, senior product marketing manager Digital Set Top Box Products, Samsung Electronics America.

With its space-saving 10.2-inch profile, built-in DIRECTV receiver and 10 watts of stereo audio, the FlipTop allows consumers to experience the full range of entertainment media without the need for a separate set top box. Subscribers can easily enjoy over 250 available channels of DIRECTV programming with digital picture quality and sound, as well as up to 72 channels of music, news, sports and entertainment through XM Satellite Radio.

Additional features include a built-in AV input that allows users to connect additional entertainment devices, bilingual user interface (English and Spanish), three device universal remote and three-day Advanced Program Guide.

For more information and to find a retailer that carries the Samsung FlipTop Powered by DIRECTV, visit Samsung.com.

Would you like to get high-speed Internet for only $12.99 a month? You can, if you order AT&T Yahoo! DSL Internet from WhiteFence. This special deal is ending on September 30, so you need to hurry up. Just go to WhiteFence and enter your address to find out if AT&T Yahoo! is available in your area.

Comcast recently announced that it has received the "People's Choice Award" for The Fan™ media player at the 16th Flashforward Conference and Film Festival held in Austin, Texas, from September 11-14, 2006. The Fan competed against 60 other Internet sites and applications for the coveted award.

The Fan streams video clips on Comcast's portal Comcast.net to the company's 10 million high-speed Internet subscribers and provides an easy way to find, search, watch, organize and save favorite video content. The Fan streams hundreds of thousands of short-form video clips related to entertainment, games, shopping, travel and other content that consumers want to view online, averaging about 3 million video downloads a day.

The Flashforward conference is the largest international Flash-related film festival in the world. Every year the top sites on the Web that use Flash technology are entered as contestants in the festival. People's Choice award is the only award judged by actual Internet users, rather than a panel of experts.

For more information, visit the Flashforward Conference site.

The Better Business Bureau recently awarded Knology the Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics in the category of more than 100 employees. The first annual Torch Awards were held at the Augusta Towers in Augusta on September 7.

The coveted award for marketplace ethics attracts over a thousand entries for businesses of all sizes throughout North America. This year, the competition included Knology, Comcast, LazyBoy and Electrolux in the Augusta area. The award is presented to companies in recognition of their outstanding commitment to exceptional standards in relationships with their customers, employees, suppliers, competitors, shareholders and surrounding communities.

"We are incredibly proud to receive this award," said Mike Adams, Knology General Manager. "It goes to show how much of an impact our value system, and the ethics it instills in each and every one of us, has on the way we do business. It also speaks to the strong partnerships we have made with organizations in our community. From MCG Children's Hospital to the Make Kids Count Campaign, Knology understands how important it is to sponsor local programs."

Knology attributes this recognition in part to its dedication to customer service and support. In the Augusta Division, Knology has nearly 400 employees that concentrate their efforts on customer care. The Value System also plays a major role in the way that Knology does business. With points that target honesty, respect, teamwork and responsiveness, each employee in the Augusta Division is encouraged to live and work by these values. As a constant reminder, Augusta employees open and close every meeting and conference call with a discussion of values.

Winners of the local competitions will move on for consideration in the International Torch Award. For more information, please visit www.bbb.com.

DIRECTV is giving everyone a chance to go backstage with the world's top artists as they begin airing behind-the-scenes podcasts from their popular original concert series, CD USA. Beginning Saturday, September 16th, these unique podcasts will be available on a biweekly basis through directv.feedroom.com and the iTunes Store. Links to the podcasts will also be available on cdusa.com, myspace.com/cdusa and IGN.com.

The downloaded videos will include material from "CD USA" and will be distributed every other Saturday corresponding to the premiere of new "CD USA" televised episodes. Each 2-3 minute podcast will provide viewers with total backstage access to artists like Natasha Bedingfield, Goo Goo Dolls and Ne-Yo.

The first of the podcasts will be a three-part series titled "How To Get Your Demo Heard" featuring advice from Timbaland, Young Joc and DMC. Next, Rob Zombie will enlist the aid of fellow musicians Nine Black Alps, Head Automatica and Damone for "Ask Rob Zombie." Hot new acts such as Ok Go, Flipsyde, Hot Hot Heat and The Lashes will provide advice for aspiring musicians in "How To Start A Band" and the Ying Yang twins will educate viewers with "The Definition of Crunk." Other podcast guests will include T.I., Soul Asylum, and Hawthorne Heights. DIRECTV also has plans to create podcasts surrounding its other original programs debuting this fall.

"'CD USA' is fast becoming a global music phenomenon and as such has created a tremendous appetite for content connected to today's hottest bands," said David Hill, president of DIRECTV Entertainment. "The addition of these entertaining and original podcasts will enable viewers to see a different side of their favorite bands off-stage and strengthen their connection to the show."

"CD USA" currently entertains over 15 million DIRECTV customers in the United States with its weekly hour-long showcase of up to six live performances. The acclaimed music series is also a world-wide industry leader, broadcasting to 97 countries across 6 continents, and regularly boasts top acts like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nelly Furtado, Rihanna, Kelly Clarkson and Busta Rhymes. Hosts Becky Baeling and John Wynn, along with correspondent Malikha Mallette report on the latest music news, exclusive interviews and gossip.

Vectren Source offers competitively priced natural gas plans to nearly 150,000 residential customers. Deregulation means that now in select areas across Indiana, New York, Ohio and Georgia, customers can now choose Vectren Source for natural gas service. Within Georgia, an completely unbundled market, consumers can sign up directly with their choice of gas supplier. The local distribution company continues to provide local transportation and distribution services. However, in partially unbundled markets like Ohio, New York and Indiana, customers must first establish service with the incumbent gas provider before they can select the gas supplier of their choice. Vectren Source is available to customers through WhiteFence in both types of markets.

AT&T Inc. and TVG Network, a leading interactive horse-racing network owned by Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc., recently announced a distribution agreement to deliver TVG's horse-racing programming as part of the AT&T U-verse (SM) TV channel lineup.

Under the agreement, AT&T U-verse TV customers will have access to TVG's full programming lineup, including up to eight live races an hour from more than 60 of America's premier thoroughbred race tracks, as well as TVG's expert race analysis, interviews and original programming.

"AT&T U-verse is dedicated to delivering a variety of original sports entertainment to our diversified customer base," said Chris Lauricella, vice president of programming, AT&T Operations, Inc. "The TVG Network will be a wonderful addition to our robust channel lineup and sports programming, offering horse-racing aficionados an excellent source of live race coverage."

"TVG offers horse-racing fans the excitement of live races and the convenience of at-home wagering," said David Nathanson, president of TVG. "We are thrilled to make TVG part of AT&T's comprehensive sports programming lineup."

To read more about U-Verse, you can read this AT&T press release.

For more than five years, Sprint has helped towPartners, an industry association that provides a variety of value-added services for tow companies, and its more than 11,000 member companies and state associations realize the power of mobility solutions. The towing industry has benefited from using rugged devices that operate on the Nextel National Network with GPS services to efficiently manage fleets and walkie-talkie solutions for easy communications between drivers and dispatch. Now more advanced technology allows them to wirelessly process credit card payments, track inventory and reroute trucks as needed to help towing companies further experience increased revenue and productivity.

Building on this long-term relationship, towPartners recently signed a contract with Sprint to allow its member companies to take advantage of Sprint Custom Network Solutions (CNS). Depending upon the location of a tow company or the way in which their facility is constructed, they may need enhanced in-building coverage so employees can easily access wireless voice and data services within the facility. This contract provides a turnkey process for tow companies to easily request and receive in-building solutions, which is critical since their primary means of communication is through wireless devices.

towPartners offers members discounts on the best products and services used by towing and road services. "The walkie-talkie, ruggedized handsets are popular with our members," said Jeffrey Godwin, vice president, towPartners. "In our field, data accuracy and bar coding (for automobile identification and storage-yard inventory control) in real time is crucial. Credit card swiping is gaining acceptance as towing companies are trying to make it easier for their customers to pay, as well as method to reduce bad debt."

Sprint also helped towPartners arrange a new discount program for members for Xora GPS applications. Xora and other GPS solutions enable towing companies to manage their fleets more efficiently through dispatching, asset tracking and routing a truck to a particular location. Tow companies also benefit from SMS/2way messaging which is often utilized for electronic dispatching through an application developed by towPartners parent company, towXchange. The TOPS dispatch and towing company management product from towXchange includes several data offerings designed for the Sprint Nextel network.

Comcast and CBS announced that they will make eight of the CBS Television Network's primetime entertainment series available to viewers at no cost through the cable operator's digital cable ON DEMAND service. Included in the video-on-demand (VOD) offerings will be the network's three CSI shows, Survivor, NCIS, Numb3rs, Jericho and Big Brother.

The new deal replaces the previous agreement between the two companies to offer CBS programming for 99 cents per episode only in markets served by CBS owned and operated stations. Now, each of the CBS series, which will include paid commercial spots sold by CBS, will be available for free to Comcast digital cable customers with ON DEMAND throughout the country. Episodes of the shows will be available for on-demand viewing starting on the day after their network airing and will remain available for four weeks.

"Video on demand has fundamentally changed the way people watch TV. Our customers have watched more than three billion ON DEMAND programs in addition to their regular linear TV viewing since 2004," said Brian Roberts, Chairman and CEO of Comcast Corporation. "CBS took a giant step forward in experimenting with prime-time video on demand last season, and we're pleased to partner with them to make their most popular prime-time programming available for free on VOD, which continues to provide a great value for all of our digital cable customers."

Exelon announced this week that it has abandoned plans to acquire Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG), a deal worth nearly $17 billion that would have created the nation's largest utility company.

New Jersey regulators recently raised concerns that the combined company would have too much market power, and should provide greater rate relief in New Jersey, where a PSEG subsidiary is the state's largest utility.

Talks between Chicago-based Exelon, Newark-based PSEG and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities did not produce agreement, said BPU executive director Victor Fortkiewicz. "A conclusion was reached that that gap could not be bridged," he stated after the companies announced the merger was off.

Consumer groups in New Jersey had opposed the deal as it was structured. "We did not believe the companies offered enough direct and real rate relief for New Jersey families and businesses," said New Jersey Public Advocate, Ronald K. Chen. "Perhaps most significantly, the companies also would not agree to measures that our experts, and the Board of Public Utilities staff, believed were necessary to ensure that the merged company could not manipulate regional energy markets and drive up statewide energy costs."

The plan, announced in December 2004, would have created Exelon Electric & Gas and provided electricity or gas to 18 million people in Illinois, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

"The merger would have provided strategic benefits for PSEG and real benefits for New Jersey," said PSEG chairman and CEO E. James Ferland. "It is unfortunate that our intense effort to reach a comprehensive settlement with the state's Board of Public Utilities was not successful. We simply could not achieve agreement on issues ranging from market power mitigation to electric and gas rate concessions."

Read more in the article Exelon Scraps Plan to Acquire PSEG.

While Time Warner Cable and Common Sense Media are focusing on helping parents making better viewing choices for their children, the U.S. Senate focused on passing a bill to mandate a study examining the effects such exposure has on the cognitive development of children.

The Children and Media Research Advancement Act, sponsored by Senators Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., and Sam Brownback, R-Kan., among others, will establish a research program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC, working with the National Academy of Sciences, will examine existing research and set new research priorities regarding how screen media—including television, computers and video games— effects children. It will also issue grants over six years to researchers to examine the impact of media on a child's social, cognitive and physical development.

Read more about the new bill in the AdWeek article Senate Calls for Media Study.

A recent Investor's Business Daily article posted on Investors.com gives an in-depth profile of BellSouth's plans to upgrade its broadband service. According to the article, BellSouth plans to upgrade about 10 percent of the households it serves to 50 megabits per second Internet access, nearly 10 times faster than its current service, starting in the second half of 2007.

Targeting more than 1.3 million homes, the upgrade would effect subdivisions and house complexes where the company has already installed the fiber-optic wiring required for the service within 250 feet of homes. Focusing mostly on suburban areas of the Southwest, the upgrade will use a technology known as VDSL2, a faster version of the DSL technology used by phone companies.

The article also quotes a Bernstein Research report that shows BellSouth in fifth place among U.S. broadband Internet providers with 2.6 million subscribers, behind Comcast's industry-leading 9.34 million, as well as AT&T, Verizon and Time Warner Cable.

Read more about BellSouth's plans in the article BellSouth To Give A Boost To Its Broadband Services.

Several news organizations are speculating that cable, telephone and Internet service provider RCN has hired The Blackstone Group to look into a possible sale of the company. According to a Bloomberg.com source, the Herndon, Virginia-based company is struggling to compete against rivals such as Comcast and Time Warner, the two largest U.S. cable companies, in part because they have more leverage with cable networks.

Representatives from The Blackstone Group and RCN declined to comment to the media about the rumors.

For more information, check out the article Struggling RCN Considers Putting Itself Up for Sale.

While Comcast is apparently ready to deal with the NFL, according to a recent article in Buffalo Business First, Time Warner Cable has confirmed that it will remove The NFL Network from the company's channel lineup by Sept. 15, affecting more than 1 million subscribers in the Time Warner/Adelphia markets, including those in NFL hotbeds such as Buffalo, Cleveland and Dallas.

I posted about this last month when the FCC forced Time Warner Cable to reinstate the network. The company responded by threatening court action to overturn the FCC mandate.

Since that time, no progress has been made on by either side. In an e-mailed statement to several news organizations, Time Warner Cable spokesperson Keith Cocozza said that the company alerted affected customers of the pending move and will delete the programming by Sept. 15 if a new carriage agreement with the network isn't reached.

Football fans in the affected areas can check out the NFL Network FAQ for tips on how to get access. The FAQ does note that the network is available on both DIRECTV and DISH Network, if NFL football programming is important enough to you to make the switch from cable to satellite.

Charter Communications is inviting children, teachers, parents and their communities to participate in Nickelodeon's annual Worldwide Day of Play celebration.

As part of the celebration, Nickelodeon, the most popular basic cable network over the past ten years, will "go dark" from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Central Time on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2006.

The third annual Worldwide Day of Play invites kids across the country to take an afternoon to focus on healthy and fun activities. The event is part of Nickelodeon's multi-media and grassroots pro-social initiative that encourages kids to engage in active, healthy lifestyles. By evolving into a health and wellness movement, the initiative empowers kids to lead the way to making healthy lifestyle changes and to be agents of change in their communities.

The Worldwide Day of Play inspires kids to be active, stay healthy and eat right. Healthy activities help young people learn about the importance of being physically fit at a time when many children are not active enough.

Parents and kids can get ideas about what to do in their own neighborhoods and learn more about the event by going to the Worldwide Day of Play section of Nickelodeon's "Let's Just Play" site.

Nickelodeon's Worldwide Day of Play is part of a partnership with the Let's Just Play Go Healthy Challenge, a joint partnership between Nickelodeon and The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, an initiative of the William J. Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association.

BellSouth recently announced that it is trialing an enhanced business category search service as part of its Operator Services portfolio. BellSouth® EasyBusinessFinder(SM) service allows landline callers to initiate detailed, keyword searches for local businesses with the convenience of dialing 411.

The trial will run in the Atlanta 678 area code for 90 days and will allow detailed searches similar to the yellow pages via a live operator. For example, a customer who is looking for a pizza parlor that delivers, a tire dealer that sells a certain brand of tires or a florist that specializes in orchids can now search over the phone using these specific criteria. BellSouth EasyBusinessFinder service will deliver the business phone number to the customer based on his or her request.

"BellSouth EasyBusinessFinder takes directory assistance to the next level by combining the power of an Internet-type search with the clarity of a live operator," said Gloria Reese, president - Operator Services, BellSouth. "Customers can now search by business category over the phone, providing a fast, easy and convenient way to connect with the businesses they seek."

When customers dial 411 for Directory Assistance, BellSouth EasyBusinessFinder service will be listed as an optional feature on the system. After selecting BellSouth EasyBusinessFinder service, a live operator will greet the caller and assist in finding the name and phone number of the specific business type requested.

The service will be available 24/7 during the trial. BellSouth will evaluate customer feedback and statistics collected during the trial to determine future deployment plans for BellSouth EasyBusinessFinder service.

Comcast and The NFL Network have apparently cut a deal for the cable operator to carry the network's package of eight live football games on terms that are far weaker than what the league is currently seeking, according to a new article in Broadcasting & Cable.

The publication reports that, starting on Thanksgiving day, Comcast will air the network's new eight-game, Thursday-Saturday package on a digital tier available to fewer than one third of its subscribers. The league has been looking to be carried on basic cable, which would be available to nearly all of the operator's 23.3 million subscribers.

Comcast will pay a significantly lower rate under the fee arrangement than what the NFL is seeking with other cable providers. The deal seems to give the cable company more leverage, as it would have the right to put the network on a digital sports and entertainment tier that is available to a very small group of its subscribers.

The NFL does have some power over most cable companies, however, because it has the right to black out the games it features on The NFL Network on any cable carrier not paying an increased surcharge it is requiring.

For more information, check out the article NFL Network Cuts Comcast Deal.

Time Warner Cable and Common Sense Media recently announced a new partnership to provide Time Warner Cable customers with access to point of decision reviews, ratings and program information designed to help parents make informed viewing choices about TV, movies, music, books, websites and video games. Time Warner Cable will integrate Common Sense Media's extensive reviews, recommendations and media parent tips into its cable television and high-speed data services.

Time Warner Cable will launch a co-branded section on the Company's website and on Road Runner, its high-speed online service, that will present Common Sense Media's independent ratings information for television shows, movies, books, music and video games. Common Sense Media is also producing televised reviews and media information spots for Time Warner Cable's free video on demand service. Additionally, the companies plan to explore the integration of Common Sense Media reviews, recommendations and ratings into the Time Warner Cable interactive program guide and TV listings search functionality.

"We are pleased to partner with Common Sense Media in giving parents additional tools and information to help them make informed decisions for their families," said Time Warner Cable President and CEO Glenn Britt. "Our goal is to incorporate Common Sense Media assets and expertise across a wide variety of Time Warner Cable platforms making this information easy to access for interested customers. We believe Common Sense Media's extensive reviews will add another level of resources to the cable ratings system that has been operating since the mid 1990's."

Time Warner Cable says it is dedicated to providing customers with more control over their cable services. The new partnership should complement the company's Parental Controls which allow users to block specific channels and in many cases specific programs; as well as the Family Choice tier launched in December 2005 that provides customers with a package of programming they could reasonably assume would not contain any content that might be objectionable for younger viewers in the household.

"Time Warner Cable has taken a big step forward in empowering millions of parents by providing them with point of decision media and entertainment reviews and ratings that allow families to experience the best possible media viewing environment," said James P. Steyer, CEO and Founder of Common Sense Media. "Increasingly, parents need trustworthy information to help them navigate through a rapidly changing media world and make positive choices. We're pleased that Glenn Britt and Time Warner Cable are demonstrating such a strong commitment to kids and families by leading the industry in this way."

Read more about this new partnership in the press release Time Warner Cable and Common Sense Media Partner to Help Parents Make Informed Media Viewing Choices.

Comcast recently announced that beginning September 15, the company will offer 100 hours of high-definition video-on-demand (HD VOD) programs on its signature ON DEMAND service. As part of the initiative, Comcast and Starz Entertainment also announced that at least 20 high-definition movies from Starz Entertainment will be available each month. The debut of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe on September 15—more than one week before its scheduled airdate on the Starz HD cable channel— will kick off a series of HD VOD premieres on Comcast this fall.

Comcast's HD VOD rollout comes as video-on-demand usage is soaring, with customers viewing more than three billion ON DEMAND programs since 2004. In a recent survey of 200 cable customers with HD service conducted by ICR (International Communications Research) for Comcast, nearly 80 percent of respondents said they prefer to watch high-definition programs on their terms, not when the shows air on a traditional television schedule.

"Customers have clearly expressed their desire for more HD programming, and our fall HD VOD lineup will become the destination for HD movie fans," said Page Thompson, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Video Services for Comcast. "The addition of Starz HD to Comcast's growing HD VOD library and early premieres like The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe are helping to transform the HD viewing experience for our customers by giving them more programming on their schedules."

Like DIRECTV's planned preview, Comcast will also be offering a Starz Free Preview from September 15-17 for all of the Starz Entertainment services it offers, including the Starz suite of premium channels, HD, and the newly launched Starz HD ON DEMAND and Encore HD ON DEMAND.

For more information on the HD Initiative, check out the Comcast press release.

According to Verizon, Hispanic student success in the classroom depends more and more on broadband access for downloading classroom assignments, researching topics and interacting with teachers.

"In today's classroom, the Internet is no longer viewed as a luxury but more as a necessity to excel in academics," said Jeff McFarland, director of multicultural marketing for Verizon Communications. "Our goal at Verizon is to empower Hispanics by helping bridge the gap between education and technology."

For parents who want to be sure their children have a safe and enjoyable broadband experience, Verizon suggestions they follow these back-to-school tips:

Monitor the computer
Keep your computer in a common area of the house where adults can easily check on the child's online activity. Periodically review the browser's "history" feature to see a list of Web sites your child recently visited.

Talk to your child about the Internet
Discuss the information your child can find on the Internet that will help them with their homework or help them better understand a topic they are having problem with at school. Verizon also suggests helpful websites for academic research include: www.math-and-reading-help-for-kids.org, www.encarta.com and www.yourhomework.com.

Help with homework
Sit beside your young children during homework activities but let them attempt the work first. If you see that they're doing something inaccurately, ask them questions to help them think it through. For older children, parents should review assignments and papers both before they're turned in and after they're graded.

For more information, check out the Hispanic PRWire press release Verizon's Back-to-School Tip: Broadband Use Helps Children Succeed.

TiVo Inc. has announced the launch of their high end TiVo® Series3™ HD Digital Media Recorder. The first stand-alone TiVo product that is HD compatible, the new DVR will be available beginning mid-September. The TiVo Series3 HD box is the world's first THX®-certified, digital video recorder, delivering audio and video that maintains the fidelity of the original broadcast.

"TiVo continues to be the best way to watch television and we are very proud to extend the TiVo experience into the world of high definition with the release of the TiVo Series3 HD box," said Tom Rogers, CEO and President of TiVo.

The TiVo Series3 HD box allowis consumers to experience TiVo service features such as Season Pass™ recordings and WishList(c) searches in high-definition. The company says that extensive video analysis and performance testing by THX ensures content will always playback at the maximum quality and resolution.

Dual tuners gives subcribers the option to record two different shows in HD at the same time, while watching a third pre-recorded show. With the high quality OLED front-panel display, the TiVo Series3 HD box shows what is recording, even when the television is off. The box enables users to record up to 32 hours of HD programming, or up to 300 hours of standard definition recording.

The TiVo Series3 is designed to fit seamlessly into the most discerning home theater systems. It is compatible with digital cable, with the use of a CableCARD, analog cable and is the first TiVo to support over-the-air digital HD (ATSC). Later this year, the boxes will also support the TiVoCast service feature which allows users to access content directly through their broadband connection.

"Our subscribers have eagerly anticipated the day they can use our services in high definition," said Jim Denney, Vice President of Product Marketing at TiVo. "The TiVo Series3 HD DVR gives our customers the best way to experience HDTV in visual and audio performance, an easy, intuitive way to find and record HD programming and a broad set of multimedia and networking capabilities that greatly exceed other generic offerings available allowing subscribers the freedom to enjoy their favorite programming whenever they chose to do so."

The TiVo Series3 HD box will join the existing TiVo product line, and will soon be available for $799.99 at retail stores including select Best Buy, Circuit City, Ultimate Electronics, Fry's and online at www.tivo.com. For more information, check out the TiVo press release.

AT&T Inc.and MobiTV Inc. recently announced an agreement to offer a mobile television service to broadband users in the United States, including AT&T Yahoo!® High Speed Internet and AT&T WorldNet subscribers. The browser-based service, which will be called AT&T Broadband TV, will enable subscribers to use a computer to access live programming while at home, at work, or on the go using wired and wireless broadband technologies.

The deal makes AT&T the first U.S. broadband provider to offer a live TV subscription service with MobiTV to consumers through any broadband connection. The service expands upon an earlier agreement that enables AT&T to offer MobiTV to customers who use thousands of AT&T Wi-Fi hot spots.

The service will initially have approximately 20 channels of live and made-for-broadband television content spanning national news, sports, entertainment and full-length music videos from top artists. Among the channels included in the initial channel lineup is Fox News,* Bloomberg, Oxygen, History Channel, Comedy Time, Toonworld, Maxx Sports and the Weather Channel.

With desktop integration for easy access, fast channel-changing, full-screen functionality and quality video playback, subscribers can quickly access AT&T Broadband TV through a hyperlink or desktop shortcut.

Users will have access to a comprehensive channel lineup for a flat monthly subscription of $19.99, with additional television channels planned to ensure that AT&T customers have access to the broadest range of entertainment content.

"The AT&T Broadband TV service offers our customers the ability to watch live television programming beyond the TV screen, increasing our capabilities to provide compelling content to consumers who are seeking information and entertainment when, where and on the device they desire," said Scott Helbing, executive vice president, AT&T Entertainment Services. "The deal helps further enhance AT&T's broadband service and three-screen initiative by offering differentiated broadband-enabled content that consumers are increasingly demanding."

"Television is officially available on the PC now and will reach television fans in their home, office, college dorm, at the airport or anywhere they happen to be," said Dr. Phillip Alvelda, CEO, chairman and co-founder of MobiTV. "MobiTV and AT&T will deliver premium quality content seamlessly across all broadband networks, making entertainment, wireless and technology history."

To test-drive and order the new service, visit att.mobitv.com.

Cox Communications announced that its high-speed Internet customers who use its newsgroup service will be able to experience a number of enhancements, including faster transfer speeds, longer storage of newsgroup posts and access to additional newsgroups. Newsgroups will continue to be available to all Cox High Speed Internet customers at no charge.

"Newsgroups are the original version of collaborative online communities," said Scott Hightower, Cox's vice president of data development and support. "Many of our customers remain loyal newsgroup users, and we are glad to expand our already comprehensive newsgroup service."

Cox is working with Highwinds, an industry leader in newsgroup management, to:

• Increase retention by at least 30 days: Retention time for binary newsgroups is being increased from an average of 3 days to at least 30 days. Text groups will have even longer retention.
• Boost transfer speeds by more than 30 percent: Each Newsgroup user can use up to four connections to the server, and transfer speeds for each connection have been increased from up to 384 Kbps each to up to 512 Kbps each.
• Add more newsgroups: Cox has traditionally offered access to over 55,000 newsgroups, and now thousands of additional newsgroups are available to Cox customers. Each newsgroup has a primary topic of discussion, and users can read and post messages on topics ranging from C++ programming to sports and jokes.

XM Satellite Radio and National Lampoon, the world's most recognized brand in comedy, announced the launch of "National Lampoon Comedy Radio," a 24-hour comedy channel debuting on XM's programming lineup in October.

With a stable of "comedy jocks" serving as on-air hosts, National Lampoon Comedy Radio (XM 154) will include a variety of original programming spanning from stand-up and satirical news and sports segments to parody songs and prank phone calls. The channel also will include character sketches regular interview features with comedian and celebrities.

"XM has been a champion of the comedy radio format, developing and growing our three existing comedy channels to become among the most popular on the platform. With the addition of National Lampoon Comedy Radio, we'll be able to reinforce XM's reputation as an innovator in comedy programming for a national radio audience," said Eric Logan, executive vice president of programming for XM Satellite Radio.

Martin Scorsese will take DIRECTV subscribers on a journey of cinematic discovery starting in September when he begins writing a monthly column exclusively for ON DIRECTV, the monthly magazine and program guide for DIRECTV customers. Only DIRECTV customers will have access to this unique offering and enjoy the benefit of Mr. Scorsese's detailed and intimate insight as he highlights, critiques and explores selected films that shaped the face of modern cinema as well as those that had an impact on his trademark style and vision.

Each month, Mr. Scorsese will get an advance look at DIRECTV's comprehensive offering of films and select those he feels are overlooked, underappreciated or simply in need of a fresh perspective. He will then provide detailed insight as to why these movies hold an important place in film history.

The idea for the monthly column came about when Mr. Scorsese wrote DIRECTV earlier this year, recommending enhancements to the movie review system so that viewers could get a better idea of the full range of choices available to them when looking for interesting films to watch. As there seemed to be no better person to take on that task than Mr. Scorsese himself, he was offered the opportunity to write the monthly column.

"As an early and enthusiastic supporter of DIRECTV, I'm very excited to be working with them on this column for ON DIRECTV," said Mr. Scorsese. "No one can know or even guess what movie will inspire a budding film director, writer, actor, novelist or painter. They have to find it for themselves. But they also have to know roughly what to look for and where to look for it. Through DIRECTV, we're fortunate to have a vast range of choices when it comes to watching films on television, from all places and time."

To read more about Scorsese's monthly column, you can read this DIRECTV press release.

According to a recent article in CNET, a California man got seven years in jail for software piracy, the longest sentence to be handed down as yet. The man, Nathan Peterson, had sold software at extremely discounted rates through his Web site iBackups.net. The site came under investigation by the FBI in 2003, but was not shut down until February 2005. The court found that Peterson had sold over $20 million dollars of software illegally.

Last week, Sprint launched Sprint Movies, the first "pay-per-view" service for mobile phones in the United States. The service streams full-length movies, including recent box-office hits and timeless favorites from Buena Vista VOD, Lionsgate, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and Universal Pictures. Sprint Movies offers a growing list of more than 45 titles, including National Treasure, Spider-Man 2 and Scarface. Sprint Movies is powered by mSpot, which is responsible for video production and ongoing operations of the service.

Sprint Movies features many of the same conveniences as a DVD player. A movie can be seen in its entirety all at once, or it can be divided into chapters and watched over time. Customers can play, pause and skip forward or backward to different chapters. They can also resume a movie at the exact point where it was last shut down.

"Sprint Movies allows our customers to be entertained on the one device that they always carry with them and during times when watching a movie at a theater or on a home entertainment system isn't possible," said Alana Muller, director, entertainment product marketing, Sprint. "For example, customers can take their mind off a busy day during a lunch break, breeze through a few minutes while waiting in the parking lot for a child's soccer practice to end, or make a two-hour delay at the airport much more bearable. And with child-friendly titles such as 'Herbie: Fully Loaded' and 'Babe,' Sprint Movies are also great to keep the kids busy in the backseat."

In December 2005, Sprint became the first carrier in the United States to offer any type of full-length movies on mobile phones with mSpot Movies. This service will continue to be available as another option to Sprint customers. Compared to Sprint Movies, which are pay-per-view by each title, mSpot Movies allow customers to watch a unique selection of unlimited movies, TV shows and concerts for a monthly subscription fee of $6.95. You can read more about Sprint Movies here.

Today, on the fifth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center Towers, AT&T Inc. announced that a recent study finds that 75 percent of Washington, D.C., organizations that were surveyed have business-continuity plans in place, preparing them to face a man-made or natural disaster.

In several areas of business-continuity planning that were explored through a survey that AT&T conducted of businesses in the private sector, Washington, D.C., ranked in line with or above its municipal peers. However, several findings indicate that business leaders in our nation's capital can do more to prepare.

• Only 44 percent of the companies that were surveyed in Washington, D.C., implement specific protective actions when the state or federal government issues an alert for an impending disaster. Compared with the other markets in the U.S. that were surveyed, this percentage is one of the lowest.
• Forty-five percent of the companies in Washington, D.C., have updated their business-continuity plan; this is slightly lower than the national average of 48 percent. Only 32 percent of executives tested their plan in the past six months, slightly lower than the national average of 34 percent.
• One-third (31 percent) of IT executives in Washington, D.C., say that business-continuity planning is NOT a priority, slightly higher than the national average of 28 percent.
• Of those IT executives who don't consider continuity planning to be a priority, 55 percent cite that "the probability of a disaster causing a business disruption is small." 

"It's evident that for some companies, various events have been a real wake-up call," said Mark Keiffer, chief marketing officer-Business, AT&T Operations Inc. "That's the good news. But it's surprising how many companies are still putting their businesses and future at risk by not adequately planning for a possible disaster."

AT&T offers services encompassing disaster planning, risk management, recovery preparedness and communications readiness to a wide array of Washington, D.C., businesses. The company also conducts Network Disaster Recovery (NDR) exercises several times a year. These exercises test, refine, and strengthen AT&T's business- continuity and disaster-response services in order to minimize network downtime. By simulating large-scale disasters and network service disruptions, AT&T can apply and refine best practices for rapidly restoring communications to government and business customers.

Throughout the past 10 years, AT&T has invested more than $300 million in its NDR program, which includes specially trained managers, engineers and technicians across the United States; and a fleet of more than 150 self-contained equipment trailers and support vehicles, which house the same equipment and components as an AT&T data-routing or voice-switching center.

TiVo and CBS SportsLine recently announced that CBS SportsLine Fantasy Football Companion can be accessed from any television connected to a broadband-enabled TiVo® Series2™ DVR. As part of the new form of interactive sports programming for subscribers, registered users of CBS SportsLine Fantasy Football can manage their leagues, check stats and scores, and watch highlights with their TiVo remote control.

The servive will offer subscribers features to help them play and follow fantasy football, including:

• Fantasy Scoreboard - Check live player and team scores on all league matchups.
• GameCenter - Get up-to-the-minute details and statistics on the current week's matchup.
• Standings - Monitor weekly changes to league standings throughout the season .
• Lineup - View active and reserve players, injury status, and make late changes as needed.
• MyPlayerNews - Read breaking headlines and player news that impact a team's lineup .
• Video - Watch short-form CBS SportsLine videos, including pre-game analysis, player interviews and special fantasy football content.

"CBS SportsLine Fantasy Football Companion adds tremendous programming value to TiVo subscribers by delivering with an industry-leading service and specialized CBS SportsLine video—with our sponsor's support, this service will drive additional interest in TiVo content partners," said Tara Maitra, TiVo's Vice President and General Manager, Programming. "The partnership demonstrates TiVo's commitment to building an expansive set of valued online services and elevating the home entertainment experience."

"We continually evaluate innovative offerings that enhance the fantasy football experience and TiVo gives our users highly coveted access to televisions in the living room, giving us the ability to reach fantasy football fans where they actually watch the games," said Steve Snyder, General Manager of CBS SportsLine . "TiVo-based connectivity, along with our PC and mobile products, creates an unrivaled multi-screen experience for CBS SportsLine Fantasy Football users."

Read more about the service in the TiVo press release or register online for CBS SportsLine Fantasy Football.

Comcast's recently announced that its video-on-demand service has now surpassed three billion program views since 2004. The company also set a new monthly record for July, with customers watching 180 million ON DEMAND shows.

As ON DEMAND tops three billion views—the equivalent of 10 programs watched by every person in the United States—Comcast customers have made music videos and programs (more than 540 million viewed), children's shows (more than 330 million viewed), free movies (more than 180 million viewed) and sports and fitness programs (more than 73 million viewed) some of the most popular programming categories.

"Customer response to ON DEMAND over the past few years has been extraordinary," said Page Thompson, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Video Services for Comcast. "ON DEMAND is the ultimate viewing experience, and as more customers try the service and we continue expanding our content library with viewers' favorite shows from top networks and VOD-exclusive programs, we expect ON DEMAND use to continue climbing."

Comcast's ON DEMAND service offers a growing library of more than 7,500 programs per month—available any time customers want to watch them, with the ability to fast forward, rewind and pause selections. Approximately 95% of ON DEMAND programs are available at no additional charge for Comcast Digital Cable customers based on their service levels.  Comcast also plans on introducing high-definition (HD) ON DEMAND programming.

Read more about Comcast's ON DEMAND programming choices in the press release Comcast ON DEMAND Tops Three Billion Views.

Verizon will soon be raising the speed limit in 48 rural communities throughout Illinois with the introduction of its super-fast digital subscriber line (DSL) Internet access service for consumers and businesses. The action is part of Verizon's initiative to deliver its fast, affordable DSL service to thousands more consumers and businesses in the state over the next year.    

Upgrades to Verizon's network have already begun, and the broadband service will be rolled out in stages to customers later this year and in 2007, allowing more people to take advantage of Verizon's affordable high-speed Internet access, as well as other great new offerings, said Philip Wood, vice president of public affairs, policy and communications in Illinois.

"Our DSL customers can experience the Internet fast lane to listen to music, play games, watch streaming video, shop and work from home," said Wood. "This expansion underscores Verizon's ongoing commitment to serve our rural Illinois markets."

See if Verizon DSL service is currently available in your area.

Last month, I posted about DISH Network parent company EchoStar losing a court ruling on some TV transmissions and then settling with the all of the parties involved except for stations owned and operated by News Corporation's Fox Network. Now the Frontiers of Freedom Institute, a public policy foundation dedicated to promoting free market principles and the ideals embodied in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, is urging Congress to investigate the News Corporation's refusal to contribute to the resolution.

After pulling out of the settlement discussions last week and stating that it has no intention of rejoining negotiations with EchoStar, Fox recently filed a motion with the Federal District Court in Miami relating to an earlier Court decision, requesting that the Court issue a nationwide, permanent injunction barring EchoStar from delivering any ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox distant network signals to nearly one million consumers. The Institute feels that Fox's action is designed to derail the settlement agreement that EchoStar entered into with the broadcast affiliates. They contend that such an aggressive legal filing does not make sense if Fox were legitimately concerned about retaining viewers in its own markets, rather than enabling its sister company, DirecTV, to benefit from an unfair monopoly. The Institute is calling on Congress to investigate whether the News Corporation's actions are in violation of anti-trust laws.

"Congress must step in quickly and investigate whether the News Corporation is acting in violation of anti-trust laws in order to protect the interests of hundreds of thousands of rural consumers. Without quick Congressional action, the News Corporation could put itself in the position of holding nearly a million consumers hostage," said George Landrith, president of Frontiers of Freedom. "One of the reasons this is so frustrating is that time and again rural consumers are treated unfairly, especially when it comes to their television viewing options. Now, hundreds of thousands of mostly rural Americans who have come to rely on distant network television signals will soon be deprived of these signals."

Read more about the issue in the press release News Corporation's Unfair Conduct is Holding Rural America Hostage: Innocent Rural Consumers Will Lose Their Distant Network Signals.

Comcast and Venevision International—a member of the Cisneros Group of Companies and the largest Spanish-language film distributor and producer in the world— announced that the VeneMovies channel has launched on Comcast cable systems.

As the first full-featured Spanish-language film channel ever offered in the United States, the new 24-hour, commercial-free, cable channel is aimed at serving the needs of the more than 40 million Hispanics living in the United States. Comcast will add VeneMovies to its CableLatino Hispanic programming package, currently offered in more than 15 markets across the country, including Miami, the San Francisco Bay area, central California, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, central and northern New Jersey and Albuquerque.

The target audience is U.S.-Hispanic households, both Spanish dominant and bi-cultural, as well as all lovers of great independent film. VeneMovies will add English subtitles for all of its movies in the coming weeks as well as 20 hours of video-on-demand programming a month to the Comcast ON DEMAND en español service.

According to Venevision International, U.S. Hispanics are the fastest-growing U.S. consumer market, attending film openings (17% of all tickets sold) and watching more movies, DVDs and rental movies per year than any other segment of the U.S. population.

"Comcast is excited to work with Venevision International to make this powerful and compelling film library available to U.S. Latinos for the first time with a brilliant new channel that fully exploits and develops this library's considerable riches," said David Jensen Vice President of Content Acquisition for Comcast. "We think VeneMovies will quickly find an enthusiastic and lasting audience for whom great Spanish-original, theatrically released films will complement the lineup of programming that tells their stories on today's television screens."

VeneMovies premiers on Comcast this week and will soon be offered by other major cable TV providers in selected markets throughout the country.

Read more about this new Comcast channel in the press release Cisneros Group's Venevision International Launches on Comcast 'VeneMovies': America's First Full-Featured U.S.-Hispanic Cable Movie Channel.

Amazon.com has launched Amazon Unbox™, a new digital video download service offering customers television shows, movies and other video content from more than 30 studio and network partners from Hollywood and around the world. The only video download service to offer DVD-quality picture, Unbox's RemoteLoad™ technology allows customers to buy from one PC (such as an office computer) and download to another (such as a home computer). As part of the launch, the site is inviting customers to visit www.amazon.com/unbox to try the Unbox service with a free TV show.

Amazon says that Unbox offers triple the video quality of the leading commercial Internet video services, delivering content encoded at 2,500 kilobits per second using the VC-1 Advanced Profile codec. Unbox also automatically includes a second file optimized for playback on any Windows Media-compatible portable device at no additional charge. The service uses progressive download, eliminating the need to wait for the entire video to download before watching. This means the typical cable high-speed Internet customer can start watching any Unbox TV show or movie within five minutes of ordering.

"Amazon Unbox offers TV and movie enthusiasts a fast, convenient way to watch thousands of their favorite videos from around the world," said Bill Carr, Amazon.com's vice president of digital media. "Now Amazon.com customers can choose to get videos delivered to their doorstep from Amazon's DVD store or choose Amazon Unbox and download DVD-quality picture movies or television shows to their PC."

Amazon Unbox customers will be able to access their videos in the Amazon Your Media Library, a personalized Web page that indexes and organizes their media purchases from Amazon.com, including books, CDs, DVDs and Unbox Videos. Your Media Library provides each Unbox customer a place to keep track of their Unbox video purchases, and the option to download them to an additional PC.

Customers can purchase television series episodes for $1.99 per episode and most movies for $7.99 to $14.99, or rent the latest movies for $3.99.

For more information on this new service, read the Amazon.com press release or visit www.amazon.com/ubox. 

AT&T recently announced a new addition to its AT&T Blue Room lineup. Beginning September 10, the service will offer an up-close and personal Elton John performance highlighting songs from the artist's upcoming new release, "The Captain and the Kid," as well as favorites from his greatest hits.

In recognition of its first anniversary, the company said that AT&T blue room will renew its commitment to being the online destination for exclusive Webcasts of the industry's hottest shows, allowing fans who can't attend in person the opportunity to see memorable performances in real time and at no charge.

Beginning Sunday, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. Eastern time, 4 p.m. Pacific time, the AT&T blue room give users access to footage from the official Fashion Rocks Elton John pre-party, which will take place in New York City on Sept. 6, in celebration of the highly anticipated Fashion Rocks concert the following night. The performance will be archived on the AT&T blue room, allowing fans to relive the experience for weeks to come.

"If you are a fan of Elton John, this concert is the show to watch," said Richard D. Beckman, president of Conde Nast Media Group. "We are proud to present this rare opportunity to see a musical icon debut a new body of work and provide visitors to the blue room with such an exciting and incomparable experience."

According to AT&T, the AT&T blue room is part of a strategic initiative to link the its brand to premier communications and entertainment experiences, as well as demonstrate how key products and services, such as AT&T Yahoo!® High Speed Internet and Cingular Wireless, meet the increasing consumer demands for value, choice and convenience.

The Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) recently announced that ComEd is joining IIT's Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) Project in collaboration with Chicago-based All Cell Technologies, LLC, the City of Chicago and other industrial and government partners in an effort to double the fuel efficiency and reduce emissions from the city's fleet of hybrid Ford Escape SUVs. The PHEV Project will use Lithium-ion batteries developed by All Cell.

ComEd will provide expertise by sharing its best practices from operating its hybrid vehicles. The utility owns 64 hybrid Ford Escapes and its SUV fleet will expand to 114 hybrid vehicles by the end of 2007. ComEd also will provide expertise in technical and regulatory matters related to charging the plug-in hybrid vehicles' electric drive systems from the utility's electrical power distribution system.

"We are pleased to contribute to the efforts of IIT and Chicago to improve the environment and the fuel efficiency of hybrid vehicles," said Anne Pramaggiore, senior vice president of ComEd Regulatory and External Affairs. "ComEd's commitment to hybrid vehicles is one of the elements of our voluntary efforts to reduce greenhouse gas. There also is real potential for this initiative to advance the opportunities to create plug-in hybrid electric vehicles on a significant scale."

All Cell, which is sponsoring the IIT PHEV Project, is an IIT-based technology transfer company formed in 2001 by Professors Said Al-Hallaj and J. Robert Selman to commercialize Lithium-ion batteries in military, medical, portable and transportation applications. The project will use IIT's patented thermal management technology with phase change material (PCM).

"There are few better validations for an emerging technology enterprise than partnership with one of the largest utility providers in the nation," said Bob Anderson, president of All Cell. "ComEd's involvement promises significant capacity to realize our vision and provide relief to consumers for the high economic and environmental cost of gasoline."

Read more about the project in the press release ComEd Joins Illinois Institute of Technology's Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) Project.

XM Satellite Radio and Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. announced yesterday that the Pioneer inno™ XM2go, the world's first portable player to combine XM's acclaimed content with the flexibility of MP3 playback, will be available for purchase in pink beginning September 10. For each pink inno sold and activated, a donation will be made to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

"XM, Circuit City Stores, Inc. and Pioneer are coming together with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation to deliver this pink Pioneer inno to market with the hope that we can help drive breast cancer awareness, an important issue to many of our existing subscribers and employees," said Dan Murphy, senior vice president, Retail Marketing Distribution for XM Satellite Radio. "Music lovers now have satellite radio and MP3 music in a single, sleek device, as well as the satisfaction of donating to a worthy cause."

The pink Pioneer inno [GEX-INNO-PK], has a suggested retail price of $349.99, and will be available for sale exclusively at Circuit City Stores or online starting September 10, before expanding to additional retailers. Pioneer, XM and Circuit City will make a combined $30 donation to the Komen Foundation for each pink inno sold and activated, up to a maximum of $150,000. In addition, XM Satellite Radio has committed airtime to the Komen Foundation and its executives to educate its subscribers about breast cancer.

For nearly 25 years, the Komen Foundation has been the largest private funder of breast cancer research, as well as outreach programs in 17,000 communities around the world.

"It provides a great sense of hope that Circuit City, Pioneer and XM Satellite Radio have joined to help us work toward a cure for breast cancer," said Cindy Schneible, vice president of Resource Development for the Komen Foundation. "We are proud to have the opportunity to partner with these three recognizable brands in an effort to increase the awareness of our cause and reach to music and entertainment lovers nationwide."

To read more about the pink Pionneer inno, you can read this XM press release.

WhiteFence users can now opt to get Comcast Bundles in New England. Comcast Corporation is the nation's leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services, with 21.7 million cable customers, 9 million high-speed Internet customers and 1.5 million voice customers. Comcast Bundles in this area can include digital cable, high-speed Internet and Comcast Digital Voice®.

Verizon recently released a checklist on how consumers prepare their home telecommunications for the hurricane and winter storm season, as well as the whirlwind of activities that autumn brings to family life. Verizon developed the checklist to showcase some of the ways Verizon can help families be prepared for any eventuality. Verizon's checklist includes:

• Corded Phone: Purchase an inexpensive phone with a cord that plugs into a wall jack. It's hurricane season, and winter storms are not far behind. Verizon's network is self-powered, so service stays on even during a power failure, provided the phone line itself is not down. Cordless phones won't work when the lights are out and neither will Internet calling services because the hardware requires power. Having a traditional corded phone available or always hooked up to an extension helps consumers stay in touch.
• Call Forwarding: Among the calling services Verizon offers is one that can be a lifesaver: Ultra Forward/Call Ability. The service, available in some areas, lets customers forward calls from their home line to any number, anyplace, and remotely change the destination. This service was a huge help for some Virginia customers when the state was pounded by Hurricane Isabel in 2003. Since Verizon's central offices were self-powered, the switches and the forwarding worked fine, and customers could have their calls come to them, wherever they went. Standard Call Forwarding, more widely available, must be programmed from home; so storm evacuees would need to set up the forwarding number before leaving the house.
• Good Calling Plan: Consumers sending someone off to college should be sure they have a good any-distance calling plan so they can communicate as often and as long as they like. Verizon Freedom Essentials provides unlimited domestic calling, including calls to Puerto Rico, and the top three calling features - Caller ID, Call Waiting and Home Voice Mail. Consider Verizon's Away From Home services as well; Personal Toll Free calling or calling cards can save money.
• Relocating: Moving season is almost over, but for customers who are moving into a new home now, Verizon can work with them to stop service at their old address and set up new services at their new home. Customers can duplicate what they have now or explore new options for calling plans, high-speed Internet and all-digital TV and music entertainment. Customers can call the service number on their bill or go online to their My Account page to work both ends of the move at once. Ordering online is easy and accurate. Customers can also temporarily suspend service in their vacation homes if they won't be there for a while. All they need to do is to make one call to get service turned back on.
• Communicating: Verizon's Home Voice mail is built into the company's switching systems, which run on multiple power supplies. As a result, the service works even when the lights go out, letting customers continue to send and receive messages during or after storms. Customers should get more than one password-protected mailbox to enable their families to easily sort messages. Home Voice Mail can be used to broadcast messages to lists of people, like pee wee football team parents. Customers can also use the service to communicate with family members in case of disaster by leaving and retrieving messages to each other. By activating wireless notification, customers can get a text message on their wireless phones each time a new message is left.

While some of these items only apply to consumers in Verizon's coverage area, the checklist does bring up several good points that consumers across the nation can check into to make sure they are prepared for the fall.

AT&T Inc. announced last week its season-long Game Day. Delivered. program enabling fans to create their own college football videos of their favorite team and enter for a chance to win tickets to upcoming games. In conjunction with the new program, the company also unveiled plans for its 2006 AT&T College Football Experience Tour.

Beginning this week through Dec. 1, 2006, fans can visit the Game Day. Delivered. Web site, www.attblueroom.com/sports, and enter for a chance to win prizes that include tickets to college football games, team jerseys and hats, MP3 players and tailgating gear.

While at the site, fans can share their passion for the game online by creating a customized video MASHup using exclusive team footage, school fight songs, team graphics and personal photos. Users become producers by dragging and dropping elements to create a video. Fans also can upload their own photos to personalize their videos. Cingular Wireless customers can text message their favorite team names to a short code using their Cingular phones and receive a password to "unlock" bonus team footage for their videos. Each week, AT&T will showcase new videos and recognize their "producers" on the Game Day. Delivered. Web site.

"College football Saturdays in America are unique for their tradition, pageantry and excitement," said Eric Fernandez, executive director, AT&T sponsorships and events. "Game Day. Delivered. and the AT&T College Football Experience Tour provide fans a fun way to support their favorite college teams while showcasing AT&T's comprehensive set of entertainment products and services."

College football programs involved in Game Day. Delivered. Include: 

• Arkansas
• California-Berkeley
• Connecticut
• Indiana
• Kansas
• Michigan
• Ohio State
• Oklahoma
• Oklahoma State
• Texas
• Texas Tech
• UCLA

According to Multichannel News, Comcast is planning to announce a Web-based service that will act as an electronic guide and search engine for computer users trying to sort through thousands of scheduled television shows, on-demand videos and high-definition programs.

Rumored to be called TV Planner, the service will be introduced along side Comcast first "fall lineup" launch of video-on-demand programming. The company plans on touting the Web service's ability to sort through large amounts of on-demand programming quickly.

Viewers will be able to click on a listing and instruct a digital recording machine to store a copy of a chosen program. Through a recommendation engine that will be eventually added to the service, users will also get suggestions about what other programs might interest them.

The TV Planner service will launch this fall and be exclusively for Comcast cable subscribers. The 10 million Comcast high-speed Internet customers will be able to reach the service through the company's Comcast.net portal, which provides a wide range of video and multimedia services. Comcast's other 12 million or so customers can also search for scheduled shows and on-demand programs by going directly to a Web site set up for providing the guide services.

Read more in the Multichannel News article Comcast Plans a 'TV Guide' on the Web.

According to Minacom's Standards-Based, North American and Global VoIP Testing Study, VoIP phone service is improving, and in many cases, sounds better and connects faster than public-switched phone network (PSTN). Results show that VoIP service quality increased steadily over the last year, with an average Mean Opinion Score (MOS) of 4.2, compared to 3.9 for the PSTN. MOS is a scale commonly used to describe speech quality, ranging from 1 (worst) to 5 (best).

Based on a MOS threshold of 3.6, only 1 out of 50 calls in North America were considered to be unacceptable–1 in 10 worldwide–while greater than 85 percent of VoIP calls exceeded average PSTN quality over the same period. Detailed results show that VoIP service bettered PSTN quality worldwide, and improved in all regions over the course of the survey. In addition to superior sound quality, calls over VoIP connected quicker overall–8.2 seconds on average, compared to 8.9 seconds for those placed over the PSTN. Regionally, the PSTN was faster to connect for calls placed to North America (4.3 seconds vs. 5.7 for VoIP), while international calls connected faster with VoIP (8.7 vs. 10.4 seconds for PSTN).

Minacom's tests were conducted over PSTN, managed broadband and cable VoIP lines, the same services offered to residential and enterprise customers by phone, cable and hosted VoIP providers. Each month, Minacom's PowerProbe® 6000 service level test probe places hundreds of calls from Minacom's QoS labs in Montreal, Canada, to public destinations worldwide over PSTN, broadband VoIP, cable VoIP, DSL, FTTP and wireless networks, publishing the results in the Minacom QoS Benchmark Reports, a free email newsletter now in its fourth year of circulation.

To find out more about the study, you can read Minacom's press release.

According to a new Palm Beach Post article, BellSouth has asked Florida utility regulators for permission to recover about $32 million in storm costs it incurred during the hurricanes of 2005.

If approved, BellSouth would be able to charge its customers 50 cents a month per telephone line for a year. The company said it wants to collect $32.3 million, or 16 percent, of the $202.4 million it spent on Tropical Storm Arlene and five hurricanes that hit the state in 2005.

Florida state law allows telephone companies to recover storm expenses but places several restrictions on what they can collect. Large phone companies such as BellSouth have to exhaust their storm funds as well as spend an additional $5 million before going to state regulators. Once there, they are allowed to charge only up to 50 cents a month per line for a year.

State officials say they are making sure the telecom company is complying with the law. But some consumer advocates find the charges troubling. "A competitive company should have to make do in a competitive market because none of their so-called competitors have a statutory right to charge their customers for damage," said Mike Twomey, a Tallahassee-based consumer attorney and head of Florida Utility Watch Inc. "They are asking to have its customers pay for damaged lines and poles without any regard for what its profit levels are."

Read more in the Palm Beach Post article BellSouth files for $32 million in storm relief.

Starz Entertainment and DIRECTV will offer an exclusive free preview weekend to all DIRECTV customers beginning Thursday, Sept. 14 through Sunday, Sept. 17. An added incentive running during the free preview weekend is "The Starz Walk with Santa Sweepstakes," promoted exclusively to DIRECTV customers. The sweepstakes features a grand prize trip for two to the Hollywood premiere of "The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause."

The free preview will highlight 12 channels in the Starz Super Pack including Starz East, Starz West, Starz InBlack, Starz Edge, Encore East, Encore West, Encore Love, Encore Westerns, Encore Mystery, Encore Wam, Encore Drama and Encore Action.

"The Starz Super Pack has a comprehensive movie offering and we are thrilled to give our customers a free weekend to enjoy and sample the great films," said Dan Ferguson, director, marketing, DIRECTV. "The Starz Super Pack is a perfect product for movie lovers and the 'The Starz Walk with Santa Sweepstakes' will provide early holiday presents for lucky DIRECTV subscribers."

"The Starz Super Pack consistently provides the best movie value on DIRECTV with an unparalleled library of hundreds of movies each month for the whole family," added Tom Wenzel, director of affiliate sales with Starz Entertainment. The free preview weekend introduces DIRECTV customers to big Hollywood blockbusters available exclusively on Starz

For more information, check out the Starz press release.

Anime Network has announced that additional cable service providers will bring the total penetration of the network to 40 million homes in the United States and Canada.

Anime Network has added Wide Open West and Harron Communications as new cable systems for its 24/7 linear service; and Service Electric Cablevision and Knology as new systems for subscriber-based video on demand service. The new systems bring Anime Network's total carriers to 17 cable service providers and 22 VOD service providers.

Check out the Anime Network site to learn more.

Looking to buy an HDTV but don't know where to go to find advice? There are tons of resources out there, but one in particular that I would suggest reviewing is the CNET HDTV World. Not only does the site help you purchase a HDTV, but it also has information on what exactly HDTV is and how you can optimize your HDTV once you purchase it. For those of us who are newbies in the world of HDTV, the section titled HDTV Boot Camp gives you the basics on HDTV. Once you have a good idea on what HDTV is, you can view the Editor's Top HDTV Picks before you start shopping. After you purchase your HDTV, you can check out their guide on the 10 Essential HDTV Accessories to make your HDTV viewing complete. As we know, buying an HDTV is a big investment, so having a resource like this at your fingertips is essential.

Throughout the 2006 season, NFL Network will feature weekly college football programming including College Scoreboard, a highlight show airing on Saturdays, and live press conferences from head coaches and star players weekdays on Point After.

"NFL Network will focus on tomorrow's NFL stars today," said executive producer Eric Weinberger. "With season-long college football programming, NFL Network brings our viewers a wider range of football programming."

College Scoreboard hits the air as the early afternoon games conclude Saturday at 4 p.m. ET, providing highlights, interviews and analysis from around the college gridiron. The studio-based show is hosted by Paul Burmeister with analysts Mike Mayock, Butch Davis and Charles Davis from a new state-of-the-art Los Angeles set equipped with the latest technological enhancements to provide viewers with up-to-the-minute information on the day in college football.

If you don't currently get NFL Network or in an area where Time Warner Cable plans on dropping the network on Sept. 3 when the FCC emergency order expires, you can check out the NFL Network FAQ for tips on how to get access.

Sony announced recently that they will expand their distribution of Blu-ray discs. Currently, Blu-rays are only available in United States and Canada, but come October, they will be making a splash in countries all over the world, including Australia, Japan, Korea, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Holland, the Nordic countries, Spain and the United Kingdom. The first set of Blu-ray releases available in October will be a mix of new release and catalogue titles. You can read more in this edition of SkyRETAILER.

Last week, Illinois state regulators approved a deal that will allow AT&T to increase residential phone rates in northern Illinois. The Illinois Commerce Commission agreed to reclassify local phone service in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs as "competitive," which exempts AT&T from complying with certain rate restrictions, said ICC spokeswoman Beth Bosch.

In exchange, AT&T voluntarily agreed to limit annual rate increases for four years. Monthly usage fees would not increase by more than a dollar each year and per-call fee increases would be capped at a half-cent, she said.

"This compromise provides AT&T with enough regulatory certainty and flexibility to compete with our unregulated rivals," Carrie Hightman, president of AT&T Illinois, said in a statement.

New rates can take effect beginning Jan. 1.

Everest has operated in the Kansas City, Mo., metropolitan area since 2001. Everest  offers competitive rates for digital cable, high-speed Internet, local phone service and bundles. Everest currently provides service to more than 34,000 customers in Overland Park, Lenexa, Shawnee and south Kansas City. They pride themselves on excellent technical support and customer service. You can go to WhiteFence and enter your address to find out if Everest is available in your area.

According to a recent article in SkyREPORT, the second half of 2006 may be even better for cable providers than the first half. Tom Eagen of Oppenheimer and Co. said he expects high subscriber growth over the last months of 2006. He also said that he believes Comcast to be in the best position for success among all MSOs (Multi System Operators). To find out more of Eagen's predictions, you can read the article Second Half 2006: Even Better for Cable?

According to a new RockyMountainNews.com, Xcel Energy is ramping up its green power. They report that Colorado's biggest utility announced this week new projects aimed at bolstering its renewable energy portfolio, including two wind farms.

With Xcel's previously announced two other wind farms, the company will add 775 megawatts of wind energy before the end of 2007, up from its current output of 282 megawatts.

The wind power initiative is part of Xcel's effort to be compliant with Colorado's new energy standards. Approved by voters in November 2004, the mandate requires Xcel to acquire 10 percent of its electric sales from renewable sources such as wind, sun, or plant and animal waste through 2015, with at least 4 percent of that coming from solar energy.

"I hope that Xcel doesn't consider this 775-megawatt of wind power as a ceiling, given the demonstrated benefit of wind energy," said Craig Cox of Interwest Energy Alliance, a trade group representing the wind power industry. "I hope to see more projects in the near future."

Read more in the RMN.com article Xcel reveals renewable energy plans.

California's legislature passed an amended bill this week, by a vote of 64 to 5, that aims to increase competition among cable television providers and make it easier for telephone companies to enter the market. The bill eliminates city-by-city franchises, which proponents said made it nearly impossible for rivals with new technologies to enter California's market for TV entertainment services.

The bill comes at an opportune time for the telephone and cable companies that are fighting to sign up as many customers as possible for a bundle of services including telephone, cable television and high-speed Internet access. AT&T and other telecom giants have been lobbing to eliminate similar laws requiring franchise deals with municipalities before they are allowed offer TV service.

"California has led the way in the evolution of new technology, and with this bill, our state's policy toward contemporary TV and entertainment technology is catching up to the times," said Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, a vocal supporter of the legislation.

In an analyses by the state Senate's Rules Committee, researchers found that more than 60 percent of the state's TV-watching households have cable reception, while 27 percent subscribe to satellite service and the rest use conventional antennae.

Read more about the bill in the CNET News.com article California passes bill easing cable rules.

Logitech recently announced the introduction the Logitech® EasyCall™ Desktop—the world's first combination of a mouse, keyboard, headset and speakerphone—to its family of Cordless Desktops®. The device includes advanced audio technology, integrated controls for placing and accepting calls, and easy-to-use software.

"For many years, Logitech has reduced the complexity of the PC by delivering controls on our peripherals that make the digital experience more intuitive and natural," said Denis Pavillard, Logitech's vice president of product marketing for keyboards and desktops. "The introduction of voice-over-IP services and the growth of broadband mark a revolutionary change in how people can communicate using the PC. Our new EasyCall Desktop combines the right features with advanced software that works invisibly to make the process of making, accepting and controlling Internet calls on the PC more like using a mobile or traditional phone."

Logitech is billing the EasyCall Desktop as a complete solution for Internet calling and navigating the PC. The device includes a full-duplex speakerphone with Logitech® RightSound™ Technology, said to eliminate echoes during headset-free Internet phone calls. The speakerphone acts as the control center, with volume up and down, mute, call pick-up, and call hang-up buttons. The product also comes with a stereo headset that can be plugged into a convenient port on the speakerphone for more privacy.

The cordless keyboard allows users to launch Internet communications applications, change their online status, and make and accept calls. The speed-dialing controls have one-touch calling buttons that can be used to store and dial either telephone numbers or IP addresses associated with user names.

Optimized for use with Internet calling applications, such as Yahoo!® Messenger with Voice and AOL's AIM® service in the U.S, the keyboard also offers one-touch access to applications such as e-mail and a Web browser. A media panel is included to control digital music in applications such as iTunes® and Windows Media® Player.

The Logitech EasyCall Desktop will be available in the United States and Europe beginning in mid-September, with a suggested $129.99 U.S. price tag.

For more information, see the Logitech press release On Call: New Logitech Desktop Makes Internet Calling Easy.

TXU Corp. announced this week that it plans to develop applications to file with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for combined Construction and Operating Licenses (COLs) for two to six gigawatts of new nuclear-fueled power generation capacity at one to three sites. TXU expects to submit the COL applications in 2008, which would facilitate bringing the new capacity on line between 2015 and 2020. The company says that, combined with its previously announced 9.1 GW of coal power generation capacity that is expected to be on line by 2010, the nuclear power generation capacity would allow it to continue to deliver the dependable energy supply, low prices and cleaner environment its Texas consumers demand.

"While new nuclear generation cannot come on line in time to meet the growing power needs of Texas for the next 10 years, TXU continues to aspire to be a leader in the commercialization of the next generation of low-cost, clean technology," said C. John Wilder, TXU Corp. chairman and CEO. "Nuclear generation offers the potential to deliver our customers lower, stable prices and continue to reduce Texas' over-reliance on natural gas. Based on top decile performance at our Comanche Peak nuclear power facility and strong knowledge of the Texas market and customers, TXU is uniquely positioned to commercialize this technology in Texas."

TXU Power's Comanche Peak is an industry leader in nuclear operations and is a recipient of the "Clean Texas, Cleaner World – National Leader Award" from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its efforts above and beyond compliance in environmental excellence and overall environmental stewardship.

As part of TXU's partnership plans for the initiative, the company has had preliminary discussions with the Lower Colorado River Authority and the City of San Antonio's CPS Energy, and will invite other electric cooperatives and municipalities to participate.

Verizon recently announced that its Verizon One high-tech phone, which integrates multiple functions, now has several new features at no additional cost to its users. These enhancements include e-mail access, enriched weather maps, the latest entertainment news, sneak peaks at upcoming movies, wireless home networking, the latest lottery results and the ability to transfer cell-phone photos to the Verizon One phone.

"These newest features enrich the Verizon One experience for our DSL customers," said Christopher Pizzirani, Verizon's vice president of broadband management and development, "and increase the value of this state-of-the-art information tool for the home."

The system is available to Verizon Online DSL customers nationwide and integrates a DSL modem, 802.11g wireless router, 5.8 Ghz cordless phone, wide color-touch screen, Verizon SuperPages features, family-event planner and reminder, and a one-touch access point for weather, news, sports, stocks and entertainment information. Up to four additional handsets can be added to each Verizon One phone at an additional cost. The device allows consumers to set up a wireless broadband network connecting computers within the home with straight-forward setup screens, and also features customized information services and a touch-screen display personalized with photos, including those downloaded from cell phones.

"Verizon One eliminates the need for multiple, costly devices," Pizzirani said, "including separate modems, phones and electronic organizers. The value of Verizon broadband is made even better with this communications command center."

Read more in the article Verizon to Sell Verizon One Wi-Fi Hotspot Phone Manufactured by Westell.