cable tv

With concerns both inside and outside Washington over Comcast's bid to take over NBC Universal, one congressman is proposing a set of conditions that the cable giant should first meet.

Rep. Rick Boucher, who heads the subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet, outlined his proposals in letters written on Monday to the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice. Boucher asked the agencies to approve the merger but under the stipulation that customers don't receive any less content than they do today.

Although the congressman is in favor of the deal, he did express concerns that … Read more

I've been cable-TV-free for the better part of a year and a half. First, the idea was to save money. Second, the idea of watching TV via the Internet and on my assorted devices--iPad, iPhone, PS3, laptop--is an appealing and, honestly, preferable way of dealing with content at this point, especially since the TV is usually out of bounds in our household, since our sleeping child dictates silence. Though I feel like my idea was personally motivated, it's increasingly becoming part of a cable-cutting trend that many are adopting. (For more advice, see Maggie Reardon's tips on cutting cable for online video.)

Admittedly, we're not really off-grid at all. We still use the cable provider's Internet service. We also subscribe to Netflix, a virtual necessity when off-grid. Hulu has always offered a good selection of current shows on many networks, acting as a decent stand-in for a DVR.

Hulu Plus, with its promise of a larger library and an ability to work on the iPad, iPhone, and game consoles, got my attention when it was launched. Its price--$9.99 a month--did, too, for all the wrong reasons. Still, when I received my e-mail inviting me to sign up for the "preview," I ponied up my credit card. Is it worth it? And can it really help fulfill my wishes to watch TV off the grid without spending a fortune in iTunes? Well, that depends.

Content surprises Hulu Plus offers no free trial period other than a few free shows on its app, unlike Netflix which gives new users 30 days to try the service. Users have to discover for themselves what Hulu Plus' library actually consists of, which at the moment has its ups and downs. Some people on forums I've read seem confused as to whether the "Hulu Plus Preview" is currently free, or costs money. Hulu doesn't make the distinction clear of what a "preview" really even means, since this looks like a final product. And, yes, it costs money right now.… Read more

Last week I asked if it was time to pull the plug on home phone service, and the response was through the roof! Thanks for all the great comments and suggestions. Much to think about.

Next up: cable, the white whale of monthly subscription services. I gotta have my Internet, obviously, but can I live without cable TV? That's an extra $70/month or so I wouldn't mind keeping. (Heck, it would pay for my iPhone!)

Obviously there are countless ways to watch TV that don't involve cable. Services like Fancast and Hulu stream all kinds of … Read more

Comcast can thank a rise in Internet and voice customers and a rebound in ad spending for helping sales and earnings grow higher than expected in the first quarter of 2010.

On Wednesday, the cable company reported a net profit of $866 million, or 31 cents a share, for the quarter ended March, a 12 percent rise from the $772 million earned in the year-ago quarter. Sales climbed 3.8 percent to reach $9.2 billion.

Results inched past the expectations of analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters, who were eyeing earnings per share of 30 cents on revenue of $9.… Read more

The Federal Communications Commission Wednesday voted to close a "loophole" that allowed cable operators to withhold local sports programming from competitors.

In a 4-1 vote, the commissioners ended the "terrestrial loophole," which prevents satellite TV providers and new TV providers, such as AT&T and Verizon Communications, from offering some live sports channels in certain areas of the country. These companies say they have had a competitive disadvantage, because they have not been able to offer this content.

Cable companies are required by federal law to offer access to channels that they own to competitors … Read more

One major obstacle seems to have been settled in Comcast's quest to buy NBC Universal from General Electric--how much to pay for it.

Both companies have reportedly agreed on a price of $30 billion for GE's movie and TV unit, according to sources cited Monday by Reuters and The Wall Street Journal (subscription required for full story).

The agreement on the worth of NBC Universal (NBCU) is a major step toward paving the way to create a new, privately held company that would combine NBC's TV stations and Universal Studios with Comcast's TV and cable stations. … Read more

The Comcast Mobile App offers a lot of what users have been clamoring for from the popular cable service, but falls just short of being great. You'll now be able to access Comcast e-mails and digital voice mails right from your iPhone, using a touch interface much like Apple's e-mail and voice mail experience, but in a unified in-box for both. An intuitive, tabbed interface lets you quickly switch between new e-mail and voice messages. A separate Digital Voice section offers more options, listing missed calls, outgoing calls, and voice mail. There is also an included address book … Read more

Comcast said Monday it will pay $570 million in cash to acquire stakes in two regional sports networks owned by Cablevision. The deal will give Comcast 100 percent ownership of Fox Sports Net New England and 60 percent of Fox Sports Net Bay Area. News Corp. owns the other 40 percent of the regional sports network near San Francisco.

Craig Moffet, a senior analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., said the deal makes sense for the cable operator since it's already the incumbent cable provider in both the San Francisco and Boston markets. The deal will give Comcast … Read more