Time Warner Cable plans more channels in O.C. despite fines

October 17th, 2008, 4:30 am · 16 Comments · posted by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress

A federal agency wants to fine Time Warner Cable for withholding some channels to certain customers. But here in Orange County, the local cable service is moving ahead with plans to do just that.

Next year, the local Time Warner Cable wants to take its 50 least-watched channels, such as some international channels, and turn them into an on-demand service. That, in turn, opens up room to offer channels that more people want — such as HD versions of popular channels. The technology is called ‘Switched Digital.”

But in order to access those channels, subscribers would need a piece of equipment that can communicate back to the cable company and request the programs. In Hawaii, where the two Time Warner offices were cited, subscribers with a non company-issued digital video recorder or a cable card, could not access those channels because those are one-way communication devices. The FCC said that the cable companies should have sought a waiver to the rule, according to MultiChannel News.

According to a report by Dow Jones news service, the FCC ordered $40,000 and $20,000 fines against Time Warner in Hawaii and Cox in Virginia, respectively, for “preventing some subscribers from receiving certain channels.” Plus the cable companies needed to refund customers for the lost channels and any equipment they had to buy to access them.

The FCC also noted that the number of customers affected was a very small percentage of all subscribers. But, the FCC added, “we consider the consumer harm resulting from actions here, which frustrate the commission’s broader goal of achieving a competitive navigation device market, to be significant,” according to the report.

Fred Stefany, president of O.C.’s Time Warner Cable operations, said that his company doesn’t agree with the FCC’s action.

“It was more related to properly notifying (the FCC) what we are doing,” Stefany said.

“So we are moving full speed ahead (in Orange County) and in fact, as I mentioned we have it deployed in many systems already,” he added.

No Time Warner DVR is needed for the ‘Switch’ service. But customers will need one of the company’s digital boxes.

“A customer simply tunes to the channel they want to watch. The box sends a signal to initiate the channel and the video starts. You do not go to ‘On-Demand’ or anything special. It will be totally invisible to the customer. They will never be able to tell if it’s a ’switched channel’ or a regular one,” he said.

Consumers who do watch those other channels would be none the wiser because when they flip to them, the broadcast works just as before — maybe with a minor delay.

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Posted in: Video & TV • cable tv • Cox • FCC • hawaii • switched digital • switched digital video • switched video • Time Warner Cable

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LEXUSRY says:

October 17, 2008 at 7:38 am

nearly 80 percent of our neighbors cancel time warner cable service because most of the channels we got for free are the one people don:t really watch such as infomercial,foreigners, and religous.

Jimmy says:

October 17, 2008 at 9:22 am

Time Warner Cable is a dorky company…If DirectTV will offer their HD/DVR for free, I would gladly switch. That’s the only thing that is preventing me.

Balboa Girl says:

October 17, 2008 at 11:50 am

Time Warner is the worst. I’m still waiting for the rest of our HD channels. Channels other cable companies have been offering their customers for over a year! On Demand is not the same a a regular channel, on demand has slower DVR reaction time.

KC CROWDER says:

October 17, 2008 at 12:49 pm

FOR THE LAST WEEK I’VE SEEN THE SAME THINGS OVER AND OVER AGAIN,ARE THEY IDIOTS OR DO THEY JUST HAVE THINGS ON AUTO-PILOT,SO THEY HAVE MORE PEOPLE TO COUNT THERE STOLEN GAINS.TIME WARNER IS THE BIGGEST RIP OFF.IF I DID WHAT THEY DO TO THERE CUSTOMERS,I WOULD BE IN JAIL.NOW THEY ARE WORKING ON MORE CRAP TO RIP THE PUBLIC OFF.

Brian says:

October 17, 2008 at 12:52 pm

I have had nothing but trouble with time Warner since it came on line in Fullerton. They say one thing then do another all the time and the channel selection is horrible. They are just trying to squeeze out every cent they can from the customers. As soon as AT&T comes to our area we are switching, I hope it is soon.

Corinne says:

October 17, 2008 at 1:05 pm

Time Warner has the worst customer service I have ever sen and prices just seem to be getting higher and higher. I am goin to switch to AT & T.

Mike says:

October 17, 2008 at 2:02 pm

Time Warner has the worst customer service I have ever encountered. One time I called to ask a question because they had cut service to channels that I was paying for and I couldn’t even wait on hold for someone it just said to call back later and hung up on me. This happened for a week. Then when I moved they could find every address in my apartment complex but mine and they kept giving me the run around for 2 weeks. I finally had to go to Directv just so I could get television service. And when I called TW to cancel they offered no apologies or try to compensate me for my troubles and get me to stay the lady just said “ok” and canceled the service. A week later I got a call saying they had fixed the problem, I laughed and hung up.

Nancy Luna, Staff Writer and Blogger says:

October 17, 2008 at 2:06 pm

Tamara, I’m so glad you are keeping tabs on the cable companies for us…Living in Orange, I for one think the prices are way too high at TW. I get the bundled “triple” service (phone/wifi/cable) with HD and the DVR service…My total tab is $170 for all three, plus these extras..It’s outrageous.
I agree with some of the others here who say.many of the channels I pay for are useless…I wish I could get rid of them and pay a lower price for a group of “favorites”….

caseclosed says:

October 17, 2008 at 2:09 pm

Time Warner has no service and smart mouth people working for them. After having them for more then 10 years I switched to Direct TV and love it and I switched over to the AT&T high speed for the Internet. AT&T is slow and you get dropped off the Internet all the time There reg. speed Internet must really be a joke. I’m thinking about going over to Verizon or to satellite.

Scottie says:

October 17, 2008 at 3:01 pm

I recently switched to Time Warner Cable’s High-Speed internet and it is bad, very bad. With their service I am often losing my internet connection and the speeds are about half of the “up to” speed. Lost connection at least 10 times in 3 weeks compared to once in 3 years with DSL.

If you are still interested in signing up with TWC check out their Network Status page and you’ll quickly see an amazingly high amount of network problems. Here’s the link:
http://www.help.rr.com/HMSLogic/network_status.aspx
BTW, I have canceled my service with them and signed up with dslextreme and I’m much happier.

macy says:

October 17, 2008 at 3:08 pm

at least they are adding channels. I am sick of the gov interferring with everything.

for those haters, go to att, I guarantee you they are worse. try calling them at night or weekends. u can’t!

Time Warner Cable plans more channels in O.C. despite fines - CableTV.com Forums says:

October 17, 2008 at 4:32 pm

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anabanannas says:

October 17, 2008 at 4:51 pm

I think it is funny how all of you are complaining but how many of you actually cancelled your services and went elsewhere? Maybe out of 11 of you 1, there are over a million cable tv subscribers in orange county that have Time Warner and are very happy with the services, maybe some of you need a new hobby.

ihate lansner&bush says:

October 18, 2008 at 7:06 am

158 channels and nothing on!
Bruce.Springsting 1985

Phil says:

October 20, 2008 at 1:54 pm

I’m in Ohio and service here stinks too. Forget calling them, its easier for me to go to the office and complain rather than sit on hold all day. The other day the guy was to show up in 2 hours, never did.

I’m in a Hi-rise so I’m stuck with them, no Satellite allowed here.

Sandy says:

October 22, 2008 at 1:23 pm

Just an FYI Time warner cable doesnt do the programing the network stations do Time warner only gives you access to these channels. so you need to start calling NBC, CBS, ect and complain to them about the programs they have you watching and the ones you watched 20 years ago that you are still watching today. So stop complaining and call the networks and tell them what you want to watch … Sandy in California


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