Tag Archives: Bright House

Changes afoot at Bright House’s News 13

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Wow — I need to go buy a lottery ticket.

Just a day after I made my 2011 predictions for the Orlando TV market — looks like one has come true — and another may be about to.

I received this communication Tuesday afternoon: “CFN13 just laid off news director Sean McNamara.  The general manager, Robin Smythe, announced the news in an e-mail sent [around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday], but did not give a reason.”

NewsBlues.com, meanwhile, reports “Elliott Wiser, the Bright House VP who oversees CFN13 and sister-station Bay News 9 in Tampa (Market #14), has scheduled an attendance-mandatory all-hands-on-deck staff meeting in both newsrooms today. Rumors of news-sharing swirl. The two news operations, reaching an estimated 3.3 million households, are separated by just 85 miles of crowded interstate, and their coverage areas are bumping shoulders. Both news operations have become powerful forces in their respective markets, particularly in the morning and when severe weather threatens.”

Stay tuned.

Bright House adds Bay News 9, 8 other channels

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As we predicted earlier, Bright House Networks announced Tuesday the addition of its Tampa Bay cable news station, Bay News 9 — as well as eight other channels to its Orlando offerings.

The seven new HD channels bring to 34 the number of high-def offerings the cable company has added this year. Its available HD channels now total 137.

Here’s what Bright House had to say about the new channels in a press release:

  • The Hub HD, Bright House Networks channel 1108, is the High Definition version of The Hub channel on Bright House Networks channel 139, formerly known as Discovery Kids. The Hub features programming aimed at younger viewers 6 to 11 years old, including such shows as: Jim Henson’s “Fraggle Rock,” “Meerkat Manor,” “Men in Black,” “Strawberry Shortcake Berry Bitty Adventures,” “The Twisted Whiskers Show” and “Batman Beyond.”
  • GSN HD, Bright House Networks channel 1280. Now everyone’s favorite game shows are available in eye-popping high definition—from GSN’s highly rated original series such as Baggage, Catch 21, High Stakes Poker, and The Newlywed Game to fan favorites such as Family Feud, Deal Or No Deal and Lingo. GSN’s live daily show, GSN Live, which offers viewers the chance to play and win cash and prizes every weekday, is also now available in HD.
  • Bay News 9 HD, Bright House Networks channel 1209. From Tampa to Orlando we want our customers to be totally informed. They should have the option to know what’s going on in and around their communities at anytime…24 hours a day. Our society is a mobile one. Many customers travel across the state as a matter of routine for business or family reasons. We are confident this addition will help satisfy their news, weather and information viewing needs.
  • Ovation HD, Bright House Networks channel 1316. Ovation HD is the only network devoted to art and contemporary culture. The network creates and curates one-of-a-kind programming about all the art people enjoy most, from the popular to the avant-garde and everything in between.
  • C-SPAN HD, Bright House Networks channel 1226. Now you can watch your government at work in High Definition through C-SPAN HD’s non-stop coverage of government proceedings and public affairs programming.
  • EWTN HD, Bright House Networks channel 1340. EWTN has been serving Catholics, the largest faith group in the United States, using every form of technology for 28 years, and is currently the only Catholic-oriented programmer offering High Definition.
  • GAME2 HD, Bright House Networks channel 1816, is the high definition complement to the sports packages NHL Center Ice and MLB Extra Innings. This HD channel joins Game HD launched earlier this year and is tied to the sports packages so if you subscribe to NHL Center Ice or MLB Extra Innings and have a Bright House Networks HD set-top box, you will get this channel and its programming. Only select games in HD, and the schedule can be found at www.indemand.com
  • The Word Network, Bright House Networks channel 164. The Word Network has established itself as a mainstream media broadcaster for African American ministries and gospel music. The Word Network offers value positive religious family programming embraced by millions of African Americans in urban and rural markets. The Word Network provides programming that is sensitive to, and touches the fabric of, the urban African American community. The programming covers a broad range of demographics from teens and young adults who are interested in contemporary gospel music, to the families seeking values consistently presented in a positive way,
  • Jewish Life TV, Bright House Networks channel 165. Jewish Life TV, or JLTV, America’s Chosen Network, is America’s first 24/7 Jewish television channel. JLTV offers a wide range of programming including educational, cultural, historical, sports, and news for the entertainment and enjoyment of a broadly diverse audience.

Bay News 9 joins Orlando lineup this week

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The rumors are true: Bright House Networks will be adding its Tampa Bay cable news station, Bay News 9, to its Central Florida lineup this week.

The sister channel for our News 13 is expected to go live as early as Tuesday along with a host of other new channels on the cable network.

But … if you just can’t wait to see what the Tampa folks watch for local cable news, you apparently can get a sneak peek early.

According to a post our TV News Talk Message Board area, you can “trick” your cable box to allow you to see Bay News 9 now.

Here are the instructions: Hold down the OK/select button until a small icon flashes on the cable box (takes 10-15 secs).  When it does that, press the right arrow next to the ok/select button and type in 1209 — the Orlando channel for Bay News 9.

Lose Fox on Bright House Networks? There are alternatives

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The clock is ticking, and Fox is ready to pull the plug on its channels on Bright House Networks at the stroke of midnight tomorrow.

Orlando attorney John Morgan took the mammoth media company to court today to try to stop it from cutting off its signals for the cable system. But, according to the Orlando Sentinel, Fox countered that a Florida court was not the right one to hear this issue since some of Fox’s channels are under the jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Commission. Therefore, the media company’s attorney argued, this issue should be taken up in federal court. Morgan countered that this was just a stall tactic by Fox. Read the full story here.

Assuming the two sides do no reach agreement on retransmission compensation, Bright House customers may be without Fox 35, MyNetwork 65, Sun Sports, Fox Sports Florida and other Fox-owned channels as early as New Year’s Day. So, if you have Bright House, what should you do? Here are some tips on how to get Fox channels and programming:

First, if you have a digital television — one that gets HD signals — relax. You can easily pick up WOFL-Fox 35 and WRBW-My 65 with an indoor rabbit-ears antenna.

If you have an old analog TV, don’t panic. All you need is a digital converter box. These will run you between $40 and $55. Click here to see examples from Best Buy. With one of these boxes, you can pull in all the local stations — including Fox — with an indoor rabbit-ears antenna.

OK, so you’re set for all the BCS bowl games — including Tim Tebow’s finale as the Florida Gators face the Cincinnati Bearcats in the Sugar Bowl. What about those Orlando Magic games on Sun Sports and Fox Sports Florida?

To get them, you’re going to either (a) have to find someone who has a television provider other than Bright House, (b) sign up with one of those providers or (c) find a sports bar that doesn’t use Bright House.

For you home programming, choices include Dish Network and DirecTV for satellite. (By the way, Fox and DirecTV are owned by the same company, so chances are you will never lose any Fox programming on DirecTV). In some areas of Central Florida, there is another option: AT&T’ U-verse service.

Like all disagreements, this one will come to an end at somepoint. Hopefully, you won’t miss to many of your favorite shows or sports events.

Longo lands at Central Florida News 13

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Some quick hits to start your week:

  • Nice to see reporter Adam Longo bounce back from WKMG’s downsizing. He’s got a gig with Central Florida News 13. His bio on the CFNews13.com Web site says he’s weekend anchor, although I spotted him doing live shots on Friday when a busload of tourists stopped at Celebration hospital to get checked for flu-like symptoms. I know Adam hasn’t been at CFN 13 that long, but could they at least grab a photo for his bio? …
  • Speaking of Central Florida News 13, while Longo’s bio has been added, the one for Melissa Crabtree has gone missing. Anyone seen her? …
  • Are you a fan of NBC’s smart and witty sitcom, 30 Rock? If so, good news. Fox and Tribune Co. announced a deal last week to air reruns of the Tina Fey show on their stations — and that includes WOFL-Fox 35 and WRBW-MyTV 65. The shows will air in the 2011 season. Read more here … Continue reading →

Bright House keeps Viacom channels, adds Fox Sports

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Wow! Not only did Bright House Network customers avoid losing their Viacom-run channels, but finally … after years and years of waiting … the cable company added Fox Sports Florida.

As reported earlier this week, Viacom and Bright House-Time Warner were deadlocked over a proposed rate increase Viacom wanted for its popular channels. Viacom was ready to yank the channels off Bright House’s lineup at the stroke of midnight on Jan. 1, but a tentative last-minute deal was reached.

In a news release, Kevin Hyman, Executive Vice President, Cable Operations of Bright House Networks said, “We are pleased that our customers will continue to be able to watch the programming they enjoy on MTV Networks. We are sorry they had to endure a day of public disagreement as we worked through this negotiation.”

But what about Fox Sports Florida? For years, Bright House has refused to add the cable sports channel. But that changed with the arrival of 2009. Bright House said Fox Sports Florida will be available on channel 50.

“This is a banner day for sports fans in Central Florida,” said Cathy Weeden, Senior VP/GM of Fox Sports Florida and Sun Sports. “Bright House customers now have the opportunity to see Fox Sports Florida’s award-winning coverage of their hometown teams, including all 77 Orlando Magic games offered on Fox Sports Florida and Sun Sports each season.”

“We have worked hard to reach an agreement that works best for all of our customers, which has always been our goal,” J. Christian Fenger, President of Bright House Networks Central Florida Division, said in a news release. “Fox Sports Florida is a strong addition to our lineup and will complement our already significant array of sports programming. We are very happy to make this happen.”

Left unsaid … between keeping the Viacom channels (at a higher rate) and the addition of Fox Sports Florida, expect to see your cable bill rise very soon.

 

 

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