CES-2013 PR: TWC TV Launching on Roku

[Ilya]

TWC TV Launching on Roku

Authenticated Cable Service Streams Thousands of Live Programs to TV

January 07, 2013 03:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Time Warner Cable (NYSE:TWC) and Roku® today announced the two companies have entered into an agreement to bring TWC TVTM to Roku streaming devices in the U.S. TWC TV is an authenticated service available to subscribers of Time Warner Cable video service at no additional cost and is expected to launch on Roku this quarter. At launch, TWC TV will feature up to 300 live television channels.

“We’re pleased that our customers will soon be able to access TWC TV via Roku,” said Mike Angus, senior vice president and general manager, video at Time Warner Cable. “This agreement will allow our customers to enjoy their Time Warner Cable service through their own Roku box connected to their television set.”

This will be the first time TWC TV is available for streaming on a consumer device connected to a television.

“The availability of a service like TWC TV on an open platform represents significant milestones for both Time Warner Cable and Roku as well as for the industry overall,” said Anthony Wood, founder and CEO, Roku. “More importantly, with TWC TV, customers will have more choice in entertainment than was ever possible before.”

TWC TV will be available on all Roku 2 players, Roku HD (model 2500R) and Roku LT players as well as the Roku Streaming Stick™. TWC TV is available today on Apple’s iOS devices (iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch), on PCs and Macs via TWCTV.com, and on a number of Android tablets and phones. Channels available on TWC TV are subject to availability in the customer’s area as well as their video package subscription. Time Warner Cable serves customers in the following 29 states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin. About

Time Warner Cable

Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE: TWC) is among the largest providers of video, high?speed data and voice services in the United States, connecting more than 15 million customers to entertainment, information and each other. Time Warner Cable Business Class offers data, video and voice services to businesses of all sizes, cell tower backhaul services to wireless carriers and, through its NaviSite subsidiary, managed and outsourced information technology solutions and cloud services. Time Warner Cable Media, the advertising arm of Time Warner Cable, offers national, regional and local companies innovative advertising solutions. More information about the services of Time Warner Cable is available at www.timewarnercable.com, www.twcbc.com, www.navisite.com, and www.twcmedia.com.

About Roku, Inc.

Roku is a leading streaming platform for delivering video, music and casual games to the TV. Roku launched the first player to stream Netflix to the TV in 2008, and today streams more than 700 entertainment channels to millions of devices. Roku streaming players and the Roku Streaming Stick can be purchased from Roku and major retailers in the U.S. Roku players are also available in Canada, the U.K. and Republic of Ireland. Roku was founded by Anthony Wood, inventor of the DVR. The company is headquartered in Saratoga, Calif. For more information, visit www.roku.com.

Roku and Roku Ready are registered trademarks and the Roku Streaming Stick is a trademark of Roku, Inc. in the U.S. and in other countries.

 

[Mochuf]

This looks like a great way to replace the future loss of "clear QAM". Of course the devil is in the details.

 

[mike123abc]

Now this is exciting. RoKu replacing the cable box.

 

[jayn_j]

Now this is exciting. RoKu replacing the cable box.

Hmmm. It seems more a way of having the CableCos make sure that they have their subscription model locked down and prevent ala-carte open streaming of traditional cable content. Guarantee you will never be able to get any significant content unless you subscribe to a traditional cable/sat package, and probably the one that also owns your internet path.

 

[shaun-ohio]

yep i downloaded it today on the roku works great, alot of the channels are new and in hd where they are not in hd on the program lineup for twc

 

[Blindowl1234]

Shaun, So are you able to ditch the cable box too and just have the Roku for TWC? That's what I heard anyway

 

[shaun-ohio]

no it is just streaming you cannot pause any live program or rewind or record anything at least not yet but it does output 1080p video through the roku 2 hd so i still have my tivo for the recording part

 

[Mochuf]

no it is just streaming you cannot pause any live program or rewind or record anything at least not yet but it does output 1080p video through the roku 2 hd so i still have my tivo for the recording part

I've read that there is no "on demand" either. Is that correct? Still, nice to have a HD stb without the fees or cables.

 

[Blindowl1234]

Thought I read somewhere on demand later this year.

 

[shaun-ohio]

no on demand yet but alot of the channels are in hd even chiller and they havent even been added to the channel list on a reg dvr

 

[Blindowl1234]

Got TWC guy out here today to add lower tier cable to our internet. Got the Roku app to work after the tech was as puzzled as I was. The tech has to complete & bill the order in his computer before the app will work. Once he went thru tech support and completed the work order, we were watching tv. Nice young guy (sub contractor) but he'd never seen the Roku box before. Picture quality ok on the HD stuff but looked a little soft compared to Dish Net....That's just my comparison in the first 2 minutes though. The wife will find this app easy to use, which will make my life easier too lol...
UPDATE: Talked to TWC since my internet bill came in the mail today. Went on line to see the bill and the cable bill was on there as well. I was being billed $10 a month for a cable box even though I don't have one..got the Roku. They stated no way to remove the $10 a month. So by having the Roku I don't save anything. Anyone else having this issue? Sounds like a trip to the local TWC office is in store for me to complain rather loudly. You should be able to save $10 a month not needing their box

 

[avg1joe]

Can you explain this in more detail please? How much more money per month is the lower tier cable? On the roku are these live channels or on demand streaming? If you are paying for the lower tier channels, are the same channels from this lower tier available on the roku? ...or do you get additional channels on the roku?

 

[Blindowl1234]

Same cable channels on Roku that I can tell. I didn't see anything extra. Standard package, Digital variety etc...Same price, same channels whether you use existing cable with your existing TWC box or Roku. The channels are live...just like watching cable. No on demand at this point but you can go on line and watch older episodes that way..providing you subscribe to that particular cable package already. The advantage with the Roku is you don't need a cable box according to various blogs, websites etc...But now TWC is telling me that you can have a Roku, but even though you don't need their cable box, you're still gonna pay roughly $10 a month for it. I've talked to TWC and Roku and I'm going to the local TWC office tomorrow to complain to them. This isn't fair to Roku, who realizes that yes you still pay the normal price for cable, with or without Roku...but Roku didn't realize that TWC is charging $10 fee which defeats the purpose of having the Roku app. I was in the customer service field for twenty years and this is really bad service from TWC. Basically if someone thinks they're going to ditch their cable box and use the Roku for saving $$$ with Twc it at this point ain't happening. Also the only other advantage is I can also watch tv on my laptop..so TWC says. Not worth the extra $$ at this point. Sorry for rattling on but I hope I answered your questions

 

[Blindowl1234]

Talked to TWC again and anything above basic cable you would normally have a cable box they say. TWC says the Roku becomes your cable box...so you pay the $10 a month either way..no deal there. Also my internet is $29.99 now for 12 months..top rate is $53.95 eventually in a few years I'll pay that. The Standard cable with digital variety is $49 a month for 12 months...eventually tops out at $89 a month which I don't think includes the $10 box fee...so $99.oo a month eventually...I'll be calling TWC tomorrow and cancelling their service as even dish net has same channels roughly in the top 250 for $79..that's full price. Bottom line folks having the Roku and the TWC app doesn't save you any $$$$ It's only another means of delivering content at normal prices

 

[dishfan82]

We have dish for tv and wow for Internet and phone. We pay 86.00 just for dish. If I could find people to sign up as referrals I'd save some money but come on a measly 5.00 a month for credits you receive and it's only for 10 months. I'd have to refer 6 people to get 30.00 off a month. Wow is cheaper for me to bundle so I'd save 50 bucks all together. However they lack bad in hd channels and their dvr is slow.

 

[Albiondon]

http://forums.timewarnercable.com/t5/TWC-TV-for-Roku-Devices/Roku-FAQ-s/m-p/25

It says on there forum that there is no charge to use a roku at the standard level and higher

This kind of touches upon it but I'll outline it a little more. Requirements to use TWC TV on Roku.
"Question:
How much is TWC TV™ for Roku®?
Answer:
TWC TV™ for Roku® is free to download and there is no charge if you have a TV subscription at the Standard level or higher."

Requirements to use TWC TV on Roku.
-Must have TV service: Standard(Basic) level or higher
-Must have High Speed Data services: Any level
-Must have Modem provided by TWC
-Must have set up a Myservices account and have/know their Username and Password
-As with the TWC TV app on Android & iOS, users must be at home and connected to their TWC modem to watch Live TV

 

[Blindowl1234]

http://forums.timewarnercable.com/t5/TWC-TV-for-Roku-Devices/Roku-FAQ-s/m-p/25

It says on there forum that there is no charge to use a roku at the standard level and higher

This kind of touches upon it but I'll outline it a little more. Requirements to use TWC TV on Roku.
"Question:
How much is TWC TV™ for Roku®?
Answer:
TWC TV™ for Roku® is free to download and there is no charge if you have a TV subscription at the Standard level or higher."

Requirements to use TWC TV on Roku.
-Must have TV service: Standard(Basic) level or higher
-Must have High Speed Data services: Any level
-Must have Modem provided by TWC
-Must have set up a Myservices account and have/know their Username and Password
-As with the TWC TV app on Android & iOS, users must be at home and connected to their TWC modem to watch Live TV

Albi, Yeah I read TWC all that info over the phone and told them that it doesn't say you have to pay $10 a month for a box you don't have. I found out if you have basic cable you don't pay extra. However for any of the decent packages digital variety and above you'll pay as if you still had the box. So they charge their premium customers who use a Roku the extra $10 what a joke. Roku still seems to be in the dark on it too.

 

[bhawley]

Here in central NC the TWC standard package is still NTSC analog, no box needed. The Roku will work on these channels with no extra charge. Many areas are digital and not clear above channel 25 or so, thus the box charge.

 

[vodad]

I just set up a roku with TWC tv last night. it seems to work pretty good, and allows my daughter to have nickjr and disneyjr without a cable box in our area.

This is the first step in seeing what all we can do to make our cable a little better, next step is ordering a tivo this week to replace the SA cable box that our area uses.

 

[Blindowl1234]

Here in central NC the TWC standard package is still NTSC analog, no box needed. The Roku will work on these channels with no extra charge. Many areas are digital and not clear above channel 25 or so, thus the box charge.

Yeah but with the Roku you shouldn't have to pay for a TWC box period...IMO