--Has Secured Deals with over 60 Programmers
Time Warner Cable has launched its long-awaited Start Over service. The free service, which is based on technology that was developed under the auspices of Time Warner Cable's now-defunct MystroTV project, allows the operator's digital customers to restart TV shows that are already in progress--though it does not allow them to fast-forward through commercials. The initial launch of the service was carried out by the operator's South Carolina division, which is now offering it to 10,000 customers in Irmo, a suburb of Columbia. (Note: the Columbia system uses VOD servers from Concurrent Computer.) Time Warner Cable says that the service will expand to 137,000 customers in South Carolina in the coming months, and that it will be rolled out in several other markets next year. (Note: Time Warner Cable's South Carolina division has served as the operator's test bed for advanced interactive services for some time now: back in July, 2001 it was the first to launch the HBO On Demand subscription VOD service, and earlier this year it was the first to launch the operator's interactive TV suite, which includes caller ID on the TV, an impulse-upgrade application, and a news and information service.)
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According to Time Warner Cable, Start Over--which is powered in part by technologies that were developed under the auspices of the MSO's now-defunct headend-driven PVR project, MystroTV (note: for more on MystroTV and on why it was terminated, see [itvt]'s interview with Jim Chiddix, who headed up the project, in Issue 5.62 Part 1)--is enabled by a software upgrade to its existing VOD platform and to its installed base of digital set-top boxes. According to Concurrent Computer, whose servers power the operator's VOD service in Columbia, its Real-Time Catchers are key to the service: a Concurrent spokesperson told [itvt] that the Catchers allow programming to be "ingested into the system and ready for playout within 10 seconds." The spokesperson said that five Catchers have been installed to date in the Columbia system.
Time Warner Cable says that it has secured the rights to enable Start Over on programming from over 60 channels and other programmers, including Oxygen (the first channel to sign on for the service); Columbia, South Carolina NBC affiliate, WIS; Columbia WB affiliate, WBHQ; USA; CNBC; Bravo; Sci-Fi; MSNBC; CNBC World; TRIO; MTV; Nickelodeon; Comedy Central; Spike TV; Fox News; Fox Sports World; Fox Sports Net South; Fox College Sports Atlantic; Fox College Sports Central; Fox College Sports Pacific; Fox Sports World Espanol; Speed Channel; Fuel; FX; National Geographic; Fox Movie Channel; CNN; TBS; TNT; Turner South; TCM; Cartoon Network; Boomerang; Animal Planet; Travel Channel; Lifetime; Real Women; Food Network; HGTV; Fine Living; DIY; OLN; Golf Channel; G4; HBO; HBO2; HBO Signature; HBO Family; HBO Comedy; HBO Zone; HBO Latino; Max; More Max; Action Max; Thriller Max; W Max; @ Max; 5 Star Max; and Outer Max. In addition, Time Warner Cable says, it has secured agreements with a number of "the top producers" of TV programming, including Warner Bros. Entertainment, Universal Studios and New Line Cinema, "in order to preserve the chain of content rights." Well-known shows that will be available on Start Over as a result of the various deals include Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," NBC's "Tonight Show" and "The West Wing," and CNN's "Larry King Live."
Time Warner Cable is stressing that the new service protects content owners' rights, and is attempting to position it as providing benefits to advertisers. The press release announcing the service included the following quote from Russell Booth, interactive media director at media planning and buying company, MediaCom: "The digital TV advance is all about viewers wanting to watch what they want, when they want. With Start Over viewers will never miss the beginning of desired programming ever again, and they will be less inclined to switch channels to another program. Start Over should attract a larger cumulative audience for the shows we sponsor."
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