Beaumont, Texas, Cable Subscribers to Test Market Program Guide
Posted on: Wednesday, 10 September 2003, 06:00 CDT
Sep. 11--Local subscribers to Time Warner Cable's digital television service will be among the first in the nation to test-market Microsoft Corp.'s interactive program guide, which should become available by January.
The interactive program guide, which will be offered to digital subscribers at no extra cost, is supposed to help viewers navigate their way around the more than 250 channels available on the digital menu, said Time Warner Cable spokesman Gary Underwood.
The cable company's Southeast Texas operation was selected for the test-marketing because of the upgrades to the system during the past few years, Underwood said.
"We've upgraded all of our system with fiber optic cable, and connected all of our system so everyone can receive the same programming. Anyone with any level of digital service will be able to test-market," he said.
Time Warner Cable has about 100,000 subscribers in Jefferson, Hardin, and Orange counties as well as in Winnie, Underwood said.
Two-thirds of those have some level of digital subscription, he said.
The interactive guide is based on a Microsoft Windows format, Underwood said. "This is the latest and greatest thing Microsoft has to offer," he said.
It would provide features such as parental controls to lock out certain programming; the ability to review pay-per-view purchases; setting language options; and providing on-screen notification of upcoming programs selected by the viewer as a reminder.
"It's a pop-up screen that appears a few minutes beforehand," Underwood said. "It certainly adds to the experience if you're a digital customer."
He said Time Warner Cable would check the software for its performance before equipping its system with it, delaying its rollout until January.
He didn't know how long the test would last.
"It depends on how well it goes before we determine how long it goes," he said.
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To see more of The Beaumont Enterprise, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.southeasttexaslive.com
(c) 2003, The Beaumont Enterprise. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.
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