Washington, D.C.
(April 21, 2007) -- Time Warner Cable has converted its
Staten Island system from analog to digital, increasing its HDTV
capacity there to 100 channels.
That's according to an article in Multichannel News.
The publication reports that Time Warner made the disclosure in papers filed in its HDTV lawsuit against DIRECTV.
The cable operator has accused DIRECTV of falsely claiming it will soon have more HDTV channels than cable. DIRECTV has made the claim because it plans to launch two new satellites that will allow it to offer 100 national HD channels by year's end.
That's according to an article in Multichannel News.
The publication reports that Time Warner made the disclosure in papers filed in its HDTV lawsuit against DIRECTV.
The cable operator has accused DIRECTV of falsely claiming it will soon have more HDTV channels than cable. DIRECTV has made the claim because it plans to launch two new satellites that will allow it to offer 100 national HD channels by year's end.
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However, Time Warner told the court that its Staten Island conversion to digital demonstrates that it can match DIRECTV's high-def capacity.
"TWC is not limited to approximately 30 HD channels, even in the near-term, because it may readily redeploy some of its existing bandwidth to accommodate more HD channels," stated Time Warner senior network engineer Ron Boyer in the filings, according to Multichannel News.
Despite the contention, U.S. District Court Judge Laura Taylor Swain rejected Time Warner's injunction bid that would have forced DIRECTV to stop running a TV commercial containing the claim it will have more high-def channels than cable.
"TWC was unable to state affirmatively that the reclaimed bandwidth (in Staten Island) would be used for increasing HD capacity, as opposed to other uses," the judge wrote.
Cable operators are examining ways to reduce its analog channels to increase high-def capacity. Comcast recently said it's converting its Chicago subscribers from analog to digital.
By not having to offer both analog and digital channels, a cable operator will have more room for High-Definition channels, which require more system space.
While the cable industry says new technologies, such as Switched Digital Video, will enable it to offer more HDTV channels, the option of switching subscribers from analog to cable remains an important option.
Consequently, cable operators are concerned about a proposal from FCC Commissioner Kevin Martin that would force them to carry both analog and digital signals when the nation switches to Digital TV in 2009. Martin wants to ensure that viewers who haven't upgraded to digital sets or converter boxes at that time will continue to receive TV signals.
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However, Time Warner told the court that its Staten Island conversion to digital demonstrates that it can match DIRECTV's high-def capacity.
"TWC is not limited to approximately 30 HD channels, even in the near-term, because it may readily redeploy some of its existing bandwidth to accommodate more HD channels," stated Time Warner senior network engineer Ron Boyer in the filings, according to Multichannel News.
Despite the contention, U.S. District Court Judge Laura Taylor Swain rejected Time Warner's injunction bid that would have forced DIRECTV to stop running a TV commercial containing the claim it will have more high-def channels than cable.
"TWC was unable to state affirmatively that the reclaimed bandwidth (in Staten Island) would be used for increasing HD capacity, as opposed to other uses," the judge wrote.
Cable operators are examining ways to reduce its analog channels to increase high-def capacity. Comcast recently said it's converting its Chicago subscribers from analog to digital.
By not having to offer both analog and digital channels, a cable operator will have more room for High-Definition channels, which require more system space.
While the cable industry says new technologies, such as Switched Digital Video, will enable it to offer more HDTV channels, the option of switching subscribers from analog to cable remains an important option.
Consequently, cable operators are concerned about a proposal from FCC Commissioner Kevin Martin that would force them to carry both analog and digital signals when the nation switches to Digital TV in 2009. Martin wants to ensure that viewers who haven't upgraded to digital sets or converter boxes at that time will continue to receive TV signals.
Comment on this article!
Click TVPredictions.com to see today's Swanni Sez.
© TVPredictions.com
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Phillip Swann is
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News, Inside Edition, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The
Chicago Tribune, The Financial Times, The Associated Press and The
Hollywood Reporter. He can be reached at swann@tvpredictions.com
or at 703-505-3064.
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