IntelliStar 2 Beta Launch

[narunetto]

Believe it or not, it's at random folks.

They need to randomly land on Seattle ;p

[mikemikeb]

I've had an idea for the past couple of days.  There may be some cable headends that:

1. Don't have a WeatherScan channel, or wish to start one with their current Intellistar
2. Are interested in HD local forecasts
3. Would rather maintain as few WeatherStar units as possible

I was watching a baseball game which took the HD feed, and through a process called "Active Format Description", or AFD, letterboxed the feed on the SD version of the channel.  Some AFD metadata was sent with 4x3 SD commercials, so these ads displayed normally on standard def TVs -- there weren't any black bars on all four sides (also known as "windowboxing").

It's not the only place I've seen this happen.  I've also seen it on several other channels.  There has been enough of a trend in the cable industry to use a single master feed for HD and SD, that The Weather Channel should look into enabling a similar, entirely optional, feature on the Intellistar 2, for headends who are interested.

I don't know if the Intellistar 2 has an SD output of some kind, but hopefully one can be retrofitted for cable headends who are interested.  Also, the text graphics would likely need to be tweaked so they're legible on SD sets.

[TWCToday]

Believe it or not, it's at random folks.

What?! Outrageous! It has to be a TWC conspiracy against us.

* Martin puts on tin foil hat

[TWCToday]

I've had an idea for the past couple of days.  There may be some cable headends that:

1. Don't have a WeatherScan channel, or wish to start one with their current Intellistar
2. Are interested in HD local forecasts
3. Would rather maintain as few WeatherStar units as possible

I was watching a baseball game which took the HD feed, and through a process called "Active Format Description", or AFD, letterboxed the feed on the SD version of the channel.  Some AFD metadata was sent with 4x3 SD commercials, so these ads displayed normally on standard def TVs -- there weren't any black bars on all four sides (also known as "windowboxing").

It's not the only place I've seen this happen.  I've also seen it on several other channels.  There has been enough of a trend in the cable industry to use a single master feed for HD and SD, that The Weather Channel should look into enabling a similar, entirely optional, feature on the Intellistar 2, for headends who are interested.

I don't know if the Intellistar 2 has an SD output of some kind, but hopefully one can be retrofitted for cable headends who are interested.  Also, the text graphics would likely need to be tweaked so they're legible on SD sets.

There wont be a dual STAR.

[tuez13]

Believe it or not, it's at random folks.

What?! Outrageous! It has to be a TWC conspiracy against us.

* Martin puts on tin foil hat

 

hahahaha YES!!!!  Tin foil hat!!! 

[gt1racerlHDl]

i got a reply from a TWC sales rep saying

Deployment of the HD Star has just begun.  Roll-out is on a first come first serve basis so the systems that launched the national feed first will get their equipment first.

So it seems those areas that acquired TWC HD 1st is the ones supposed to get it first and which is maybe the case with those Tennessee Headends.

[Tyler]

i got a reply from a TWC sales rep saying

Deployment of the HD Star has just begun.  Roll-out is on a first come first serve basis so the systems that launched the national feed first will get their equipment first.

So it seems those areas that acquired TWC HD 1st is the ones supposed to get it first and which is maybe the case with those Tennessee Headends.

This isn't necessarily true. There are many factors going in to who gets the HD STAR first, and this is only one of those factors.

I can confirm that COX Cleveland has their HD STAR, as well as a few small towns that have Blue Ridge Communications. There is also one small cable provider in central PA (I can't recall the name) that has their STAR as well.

[gt1racerlHDl]

So your saying that the small provider like "Blue Ridge" gets the star first before the big cahuna Comcast?

that seems weird a small area would get the IS2

[TWCToday]

Who requested equipment first, location configurations, diversity and testing of locations, headend readiness, further TWC testing
I am sure its all based on a variety of those factors and more. Tyler can you confirm they are starting to role them out nationwide and if its still in beta? Ive seen BS from their sales team like this before.

[Tyler]

Who requested equipment first, location configurations, diversity and testing of locations, headend readiness, further TWC testing
I am sure its all based on a variety of those factors and more. Tyler can you confirm they are starting to role them out nationwide and if its still in beta? Ive seen BS from their sales team like this before.

It is still in beta - there are still things that need to be worked out. But it is slowly rolling out.

[gt1racerlHDl]

i also got in the reply that the earliest Timeframe is by the end of this year. but with this year dwindling to an end i take that as a grain of salt. i won't be surprised if my area gets it either Q1 or Q2 2011

[Mike M]

Can you find out whether or not the large LDL is discontinued, or if it's just on hold due to the many impending storms?

[TWCToday]

i won't be surprised if my area gets it either Q1 or Q2 2011

Thats probably an optimistic statement.

[gt1racerlHDl]

Can you find out whether or not the large LDL is discontinued, or if it's just on hold due to the many impending storms?

I would think the Small LDL is being tested on all shows, but i might be wrong. Especially because of the period the LDL has been in a state like this since monday.

[TWCToday]

Another note to add. When you speak to anyone is any type of sales department they aren't necessarily going to tell you the truth. They are going to say whatever it takes to make their product or service seem fantastic and sugar coat any problems with it. I would advise against bothering the TWC Sales department with questions like the ones above.