Satellite TV Guru

Mediacom subscribers in Mason City and Charles City in Iowa are delivered with two high-definition and two standard-definition channels. Following HD channels are added to HD Family Cable subscribers:

FOX News HD – channel 856 and

Lifetime Network HD – channel 863

Mediacom has also added local standard-definition channels like KYIN IPTV Learns and KYIN IPTV World on Channel 118 and 119 respectively to digital cable service subscribers. Mediacom has recently launched these channels to Dubuque subscribers.

Starz Digital Media has launched a new online video website ABE Toons. This website is a destination for independent animators and consumers for animated shorts. ABE Toons has announced “ABE Toons Talent Search” in celebration of the launch and will award a prize of $4,000 in cash for the winners. The Talent Search runs through August 31, 2009, with contest entries submitted online at ABEToons.com. Videos should be two to six minutes in length and follow guidelines detailed on the contest entry page.

Marc DeBevoise, senior vice president, digital media, business development and strategy for Starz Media said “ABE Toons is a natural addition to Starz Media’s growing number of digital initiatives, combined with our other ad-supported broadband channels built around large niches, including Manga.com and StarzBunnies.com, we are looking to take advantage of our large library across multiple media platforms and genres with professionally produced content – some of which will come from yet-to-be-discovered and alternative talent submitting entries in our search for the next animation star.”

ESPN has obtained two exclusive broadcast rights packages for Premier League in UK for the 2009-10 seasons. ESPN will broadcast UK 46 Barclays Premier League matches in 2009 and 23 matches each season after that until May 2013. The leading sports network has plans to deliver Barclays Premier League coverage across multiple pay-TV platforms.

Lynne Frank, ESPN Managing Director in Europe, Middle East and Africa said “We are clearly delighted that our bid for exclusive media rights to the Barclays Premier League matches in the UK has been successful, this is a huge step for our business, and we look forward to working with the Premier League, football clubs and distributors to bring UK sports fans all the excitement they expect in Premier League football.”

Richard Scudamore, Premier League Chief Executive said “The Premier League is extremely pleased to have added ESPN as a UK rights holder. They have a formidable worldwide reputation and experience in sports and I am sure we will enjoy a long and fruitful relationship with them.”

Knology, headquartered in West Point, Ga has announced the launch of 11 new high-definition channels to programming line-up in Augusta, GA. Knology subscribers now receive 33 HD channels and the new channels include:

ABC Family

The Outdoor Channel and

The Weather Channel

Tony Palermo, vice president of marketing for Knology said “We have increased content storage capacity, allowing us to provide even more choices now and in the future, that’s about all there is producing HD.”

Spike TV will premiere the third annual Spike TV “Guys Choice” show on Sunday, June 21, 10:00 PM ET. The show will feature performances and Appearances by Halle Berry, Jamie Foxx, Robert Downey, Jr., Ben Stiller, Quentin Tarantino, Mel Gibson, Jason Statham, Dwyane Wade, Hayden Panettiere, Jack McBrayer, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, Metallica, Jonah Hill, Sacha Baron Cohen, Malin Akerman, Michael Irvin, Mila Kunis, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Judd Apatow, Asher Roth, Rainn Wilson and many more.

The third annual Spike TV “2009 Guys Choice” winners are:

GUY OF THE YEAR – Mickey Rourke

MAN KIND AWARD – Judd Apatow

BRASS BALLS – Clint Eastwood

BALLSIEST BAND – Metallica

FUNNIEST M.F. – Sacha Baron Cohen

GUY MOVIE HALL OF FAME - Fight Club

BIGGEST ASS KICKER – Jason Statham

SEXIEST SIREN – Katy Perry

MOST UNSTOPPABLE JOCK - LeBron James

COMEDY SAVANT – Jason Segel

MOST DANGEROUS MAN – Brock Lesnar

DECADE OF HOTNESS – Halle Berry

HOT N’ FRESH – Malin Akerman

HOTTEST ‘MILA’ – Mila Kunis

BEST BUSH – Will Ferrell

FEMME FATALE - Angelina Jolie

DEADLIEST WARRIOR – Christian Bale

BIG MEN ON CAMPUS – Florida Gators

GUITAR GOD – Eddie Van Halen

BEST UNSUPPORTED ROLE – Kate Winslet

SEXIEST ATHLETE – Biba Golic

TOP FANTASY LEAGUER – Dwyane Wade

HOTTEST GIRL ON THE PLANET – Megan Fox

MOST MAN-TICIPATED MOVIE – Inglorious Basterds

OUTSTANDING LITERARY ACHIEVEMENT – Russell Brand

PLAY OF THE YEAR – Ben Roethilsberger/Santonio Holmes

Comcast will add three new high-definition channels to its customers in the Plainfield, New Jersey area on June 2, 2009. Comcast is to launch following HD channels tomorrow in Plainfield, NJ area:

Fox News Channel HD – Channel 277

FX HD – Channel 276 and

Speed HD – channel 275

Comcast subscribers with Expanded Basic Service package will receive FX and Speed channels in HD and Fox News HD will be available to Economy Tier subscribers.

Time Warner Cable has announced that it will be launching two new high-definition channels to its HD programming package. Time Warner will be adding MavTV HD and Smithsonian HD to its HD Gold Package subscribers.

MavTV HD – is focused towards men in the 18-54 age group. MavTV features original programming that appeals to men, such as sports, comedies, gadgets, gaming, and women.

Smithsonian HD – A joint venture television network between Showtime Networks and the Smithsonian Institution and delivers content that is inspired by the Smithsonian Institution’s museums, research facilities and magazines – and features original non-fiction programming that covers a wide range of historical, scientific and cultural subjects.

Rural Free Delivery TV (RFD-TV) has reached a multi-year carriage deal with Time Warner Cable. This agreement will allow Time Warner to carry high-definition programming that highlights rural living. RFD-TV is a 24-hour television network dedicated to serving the needs and interests of rural America delivers programming focused on agriculture, equine, rural lifestyle and traditional music offerings.

Ed Frazier, CEO of RFD-TV and RFD HD said “In an ever-overlapping marketplace, RFD-TV and RFD HD are proud of our unique, unduplicated and family-oriented programming, our distinctiveness is built on remaining true to our mission of serving the rural American marketplace with high quality programming that touches agriculture, equine, rural lifestyle and country music entertainment.”

Comcast Corporation has announced that it has reached a long term carriage agreement with the National Football League (NFL). Comcast and NFL have finally settled for this deal ending the legal disputes and the carriage deal will include broad array of video content, including the live Network, video on demand for Comcast’s Digital Classic cable customers, and the ability to offer the NFL’s RedZone Channel when it is created.

Comcast will move NFL Network to its Digital Classic pack from the Sports Entertainment from August 1. Comcast subscribers will be delivered with NFL content On Demand, including game highlights, game replays, the “best” of NFL Films, players and coaches interviews, local team highlights, and other NFL programming whenever they want a piece of the action.

Brian L. Roberts, Chairman and CEO, Comcast Corporation said “We are delighted to have come to an agreement with the NFL, our goal has always been to provide our digital customers with access to the NFL’s unique content and, working together, we have struck the right balance between value and distribution on a variety of viewing platforms. We are looking forward to bringing the NFL’s programming to our customers just in time for the start of the NFL season.”

Comcast has recently launched 50 Mbps High-Speed Internet Service in Harrisburg using DOCSIS 3.0 technology. Comcast has extended its Docsis 3.0 launch in Pittsburgh and parts of West Virginia, Ohio and Maryland. This service is offered at no additional charge to its residential customers in these areas.

Docsis 3.0 technology will offer 12 Mbps downstream and 2 Mbps upstream, and 16 Mbps and 2 Mbps.

Comcast in a statement said “With wideband, we’re putting the pedal to the metal and delivering more speed for our customers, is just a taste of what’s to come – Comcast will bring Internet speeds of 160 Mbps or more in the future. Today’s announcement reaffirms our commitment to offer more speed to more customers than any other U.S. Internet service provider.”