The Gadgetress ~ TV, mobile and Internet: Covering technology's monthly bill
« Previous Post
Next Post »

Cox rolls out new On-Demand software, features

September 24th, 2009, 7:02 am · 27 Comments · posted by

Cox cable customers should soon notice that watching TV shows or movies on demand looks a bit different. It’s “easier to navigate and control,” says the company.

The Rancho Santa Margarita cable provider began rolling out a software upgrade called “ShowRunner” this week. The upgrade updates only Cox’s video-on-demand offering.

The noticeable feature updates to the On Demand service include:

  • Instant replay button to rewind 10 seconds.
  • Movies and shows now organized by categories and accessed using the remote control’s arrow keys.
  • An “Info” button to see more details about free previews or the show itself.

New Cox On-Demand software is Rovi Corp.'s ShowRunner.

ShowRunner  is part of the existing “Passport” software used by Cox to power the on-screen TV guide. It was developed by Rovi Corp., previously known as Macrovision. Interestingly, the company has also revamped its guide technology with “Liquid,” which comes out next year. It looks really cool offering a 3D-ish look at what’s on TV.

But  Cox has “no plans right now to roll out the (Liquid) Rovi guide,” according to spokeswoman Lana Ong.

Cox, however, is bracing itself right now in case customers have trouble with the new ShowRunner system. I haven’t received any complaints about it, unlike when Time Warner Cable introduced new software in July. Cox says that if any customer is having issues to please call 949-240-1212.

Cox offers a ShowRunner video tutorial online at this link. More tutorials on the new system are available on Cox Oklahoma site, at this link.

Recent Cox cable news:

ADVERTISEMENT

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

Reader Comments
Comments are encouraged, but you must follow our User Agreement.
  1. Keep it civil and stay on topic.
  2. No profanity, vulgarity, racial slurs or personal attacks.
  3. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked.

 27 Comments

  • Martin says:
    September 24, 2009 at 8:24 am

    Any word on SDV Tuning Adapter roll out?

  • TheJekyl says:
    September 24, 2009 at 9:37 am

    Too little too late. Cox service is the worse I’ve ever experienced, the value for the products delivered at their prices is ridiculous – and they put a lock on my cable box (outside the house) to make it a pain to switch vendors. Switching to ATT as soon as they unlock the box (so far it’s ‘only’ taken two calls for nothing to happen).

  • LGT says:
    September 24, 2009 at 10:46 am

    Who cares, roll out better features, like, umm, stop disabling the eSATA/USB ports so I can add a DVR expander.

  • rednail64 says:
    September 24, 2009 at 10:55 am

    Hopefully this upgrade will fix the issue in loading time. I sometimes have to wait 3 to 4 minutes for On-Demand to fully load.

    When you are trying to get an on-demand show for the kids that is an eternity!

  • BK says:
    September 24, 2009 at 11:01 am

    Can you pause, rewind, and fast forward shows using On Demand? They had specific shows that they eliminated the ability to use these features, that’s why I don’t use it.

    Cox had a survey about this maybe 6 months ago. Is this all we get from them getting our feedback?

    It’s seems rather pathetic while other companies are rolling out fiber optic cable, multi-room DVR’s, and other cool features not available from Cox. Such a disappointment.

  • bobbyc says:
    September 24, 2009 at 11:11 am

    That would be really great, especially if they can make it so their regular TV service didn’t BREAK UP SO MUCH, and the DVR didn’t DROP OUT during important TV shows! %$#@!&%!!!

    But hey, don’t sweat the BIG problems when, you can spend a LOT of monrey advertising the insignificant ones ;-(

  • Catlee says:
    September 24, 2009 at 11:25 am

    I’ll have to check it out! I maybe use On Demand from Cox once every few months because it always took forever to load and most shows you could not pause or rewind.

    What I want to know is………When will Cox upgrade their HD DVR box to record more than 1 show at one time while you watch another show and MOST IMPORTANTLY ~ add more hard drive space so you can record HD shows and not have it fill up so fast???

    Cox has told me I can buy an external hard drive to hook up to my HD DVR for more storage, but why do that when I already pay per month for thier box? Shouldn’t Cox provide adequate storage on their box given that most shows are in HD now?

  • BR says:
    September 24, 2009 at 11:31 am

    Would not use COX ever again!

    It took them almost 2 months to send my refund after closing the account because of their ever increasing prices, and my mail box is STILL stuffed with there propaganda almost daily.

    NEVER AGAIN COX!

  • LGT says:
    September 24, 2009 at 11:32 am

    Catlee – Cox disables the ports on their DVRs, so you unfortunately cannot expand them. Total BS, as a 1 TB (internal drives are usually 120-160 GB) drive only costs $90 or so.

  • LGT says:
    September 24, 2009 at 11:37 am

    Tamara, can you set up an e-petition for Cox users to sign to get them to unblock their ports on DVR boxes so we can get expanders? I bet there are tens of thousands of Cox users who would love this.

  • cox_sux says:
    September 24, 2009 at 11:49 am

    Cox’s real reason for the upgrade, as a tech employee at Cox told me a few minutes ago, is to close the “loophole” that allowed basic cable customers to access all of the channels in the free zone that are not part of the basic subscription. If you can’t watch it “live,” you can’t watch it for free in On Demand. This incentivizes me not to upgrade to the full cable package (which is exorbitantly priced) but to cancel altogether and watch everything online. Because Hulu doesn’t suck ;)

  • LGT says:
    September 24, 2009 at 12:38 pm

    Thanks Tamara – if they give you that BS that the networks make them do it, let them know that Dish allows it, and it’s perfectly legal to do so.

  • m says:
    September 24, 2009 at 7:27 pm

    The “new” Cox On Demand stinks, the font looks so cheap. It was easier to use the old version. More downgraded service from Cox…no wonder you hear so many people dropping Cox. Maybe, it’s time to look elsewhere as well.

    The other thing from Cox:-Quote:”Effective Oct. 4, Cox is no longer offering its Digital Tiers – Sports and Information, Family and Variety and the Movie Tier – to customers without Expanded Basic Service.” Not only is this a stupid business move by Cox for people who don’t want to watch or pay for expanded basic & will decide not to choose Cox, but this may be ILLEGAL as per the FCC:

    http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/cablechannels.html

    • m says:
      September 24, 2009 at 7:34 pm

      FYI…the font on the “screenshot” example they have provided on their website is touched up. The actual font doesn’t look that clean and sharp.

  • m says:
    September 24, 2009 at 8:32 pm

    The new Cox On Demand is less user friendly…so many screens to go thru and “recently viewed” is harder to get to.

    Also coming to Cox:…Quote:”Effective Oct. 4, Cox is no longer offering its Digital Tiers – Sports and Information, Family and Variety and the Movie Tier – to customers without Expanded Basic Service.”

    This is just another bad business move for potential customers or current customers who want a cheaper bill & don’t want to pay for expanded basic. Also this possibly against FCC rules:

    http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/cablechannels.html

  • Jim says:
    September 25, 2009 at 12:09 pm

    Finally – something good coming from Cox … ESPN360!!!

    http://ww2.cox.com/myconnection/orangecounty/surf/espn360.cox

SEO Powered by Platinum SEO from Techblissonline