Rainbow Network Communications on 716 (FSN-OHIO HD)

[Thombil]

While surfing in the diag mode on TWC I came across channel 716 which had a banner that said FOXOH-HD with boxing listed as the program. The picture was a loop from Rainbow Communications Technical Operations Center out of Bethpage, New York.

If you look them up on the internet you find they are a distribution company which owns and operates three FSN affiliated regional networks in Chicago, New England and San Francisco.

I don't know if this means anything but I did find it interesting.

[Thombil]

Here's a little more about Rainbow.

What is Rainbow Media Holdings LLC?
A leader in the entertainment industry, Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation. Rainbow creates and manages some of the country's most compelling and dynamic programming with linear networks including national networks - AMC, fuse, IFC (The Independent Film Channel) and WE: Women's Entertainment; its regional programming service - Rainbow Sports Networks; on-demand networks including Mag Rack and sportskool; and the largest suite of high definition channels available anywhere - the VOOM HD Networks. Rainbow's other businesses include its film distribution, production and exhibition division - IFC Entertainment; in addition to its advertising sales division - Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation - and its full service network programming origination and distribution company - Rainbow Network Communications.

[KevinGC]

Which cable company are you with? Time Warner? I was surfing the channels in fiag mode 2 nights ago and the only ones then were 715 (UniversalHD) and of course a black screen on 713 where WSYX will hopefully someday go.

[Thombil]

I'm sorry . Yes I'm on TW. I went on to find 715 Universal, which is there, and found the Rainbow loop on 716 as well.

[whitllam]

This is promising news as I was wondering when the Reds and Blue Jackets would be available in HD via FSN Ohio. From what I understand, FSN Ohio and Detroit are some of the last two regional FSN networks to go HD since they are independently operated (or something like that).

It's up in non-diag mode, so that must mean something is going to be showing up pretty soon.

[nicholc2]

I noticed a new HD channel on TW last night. FOXOH-HD Anybody have any info as to when it will become active or what's up with it? I tuned to it, but it was just a test signal as of last night. I didn't have a chance to check today. I think the channel was 716.

[zelig2]

I wondered the same thing. Under the guide it's showing as a HD version of Fox Sports Ohio. Maybe they put it there for some basketball game or something. We probably missed it already.

[GenoG]

last night when I got home I saw that chan 716 was on, and it was FSNHD. Now, its gone and UniHD is there for the olympics. Did someone at TW make a mistake? I was really looking forward to FSNHD, even though the indians are no longer on it... Does anybody know what network the indians are on this coming year?

[TheCableGuy]

:D Olympics start today

[BigCat]

any chance of this showing Indians baseball in HD?

[TheCableGuy]

You guys need to stop playing in the diag screens :p or I going to request 24 hour Tammy Fae Baker Network HD-TV :eek:

[nakedeye]

Merged threads

[whitllam]

The Indians are on their own network starting this year (kind of like YES for the Yankees) and apparently there are a handful of games that will be broadcast in HD.

As for FSN Ohio HD, there was an article on a Cavaliers news blog (http://www.cavsnews.com/2006/01/10/) that 6 of their upcoming games will be available in HD, apparently through FSN Ohio - see the link to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article.

[Smak Runner 2K]

Figures...FSN Ohio FINALLY gets ready to launch HDTV, and the Indians leave to start their own network...

I remember a while back (actually it was the same press release that announced HDNet) TWC said there was an agreement in place with FSN nationally to carry the HDTV Regional Sports Hubs. This looks like the continuation of that process.

[BigCat]

Which network is that? Is it available to Columbus? How is Columbus going to watch Indians games? The MLB EI blacks out these games.

The Indians are on their own network starting this year (kind of like YES for the Yankees) and apparently there are a handful of games that will be broadcast in HD.

[GenoG]

I have been trying to find out more info about the indians TV network, but I have been unsuccessful. THe last I heard, TW was still trying to get the rights to broadcast the games.... TW, always so frustrating

[Smak Runner 2K]

Umm..actually TWC is a part-owner of the new Indians Network, so I don't think carriage will be an issue on TWC....

As far as a blackout goes...Indians games have never been blacked-out on FSN, why would a new "Indians Network" be any different. It would be just like ESPN showing all the games...

[BigCat]

Umm..actually TWC is a part-owner of the new Indians Network, so I don't think carriage will be an issue on TWC....
Which channel? How about Non-TWC subscribers? TWC not available in Blacklick,


As far as a blackout goes...Indians games have never been blacked-out on FSN, why would a new "Indians Network" be any different. It would be just like ESPN showing all the games...
Did I say the games will be blacked out? What I said was we can't count on MLB EI (Major League Baseball Extra Innings Package) cause they sure black out the games so we need to look for local coverage, what FSN-OH used to be.

[GenoG]

Umm..actually TWC is a part-owner of the new Indians Network, so I don't think carriage will be an issue on TWC....

As far as a blackout goes...Indians games have never been blacked-out on FSN, why would a new "Indians Network" be any different. It would be just like ESPN showing all the games...
Oh well then thats good news. Do you know what the channel is called? Or if it will be available in HD!?

[GenoG]

Umm..actually TWC is a part-owner of the new Indians Network, so I don't think carriage will be an issue on TWC....

As far as a blackout goes...Indians games have never been blacked-out on FSN, why would a new "Indians Network" be any different. It would be just like ESPN showing all the games...
Oh well then thats good news. Do you know what the channel is called? Or if it will be available in HD!?

[Smak Runner 2K]

Oh well then thats good news. Do you know what the channel is called? Or if it will be available in HD!?

I don't know the official name because it hasn't launched yet, and I have not heard anything about HD coverage yay or ney.

On a side note, being from NE Ohio, I still keep pretty current on Indians news...apparently the "Jake" is wired and ready for HD home games...it's just a matter of a broadcaster wanting to fork over the extra $$$ to do them that way.

I'd say an HD-version of the Indians Network is a strong possibility, but you never know about these things.

[Smak Runner 2K]

Which channel? How about Non-TWC subscribers? TWC not available in Blacklick,

TWC has gone on record as saying that they will work to secure carriage agreements w/ most (if not all) Ohio cable companies, including Dish and DirectTV. We'll see how fair their terms are, but I imagine that the Indians will have some say in the whole thing, so I wouldn't worry to much about it.


Did I say the games will be blacked out? What I said was we can't count on MLB EI (Major League Baseball Extra Innings Package) cause they sure black out the games so we need to look for local coverage, what FSN-OH used to be.

Sorry...I misunderstood your comment. My bad.

[Smak Runner 2K]

On the subject, here is a snippet from Roger Brown's column in the Cleveland Plain Dealer today:

http://www.cleveland.com/sports/plaindealer/roger_brown/index.ssf?/base/sports/1139736829317510.xml&coll=2

For the lazy:

Indians' network eyes Opening Day
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Roger Brown
Plain Dealer Columnist
Jim Liberatore, presi dent of the Indians' new television network, says he is confident it will have deals signed with every area cable and satellite TV outlet by Opening Day but admits it is "unlikely" they will be done soon enough for all viewers to see the network's debut telecast: the March 12 Indians-New York Yankees exhibition game.

"We've just sent out the [contract offers], and we've had some early conversations with various companies," Liberatore said.

Time Warner Cable subscribers already are assured of seeing the Indians' network, thanks to a partnership deal between the company and team. Time Warner also soon will take control of Adelphia Cable outlets in this area, so those subscribers will receive the Indians' network, too.

On other network-related issues, Liberatore says:

Indians fans living in other states still should be able to catch games, particularly on MLB Extra Innings, the league's season-subscription TV package. "If we get all the deals done we hope to get done, everyone who saw Indians games last season - wherever they saw them - should be able to do the same this season," Liberatore said. "That's the simplest way to put it."

The Indians will name their TV announcing team at a Feb. 23 press conference. The announcers will do all 138 Indians network telecasts (eight exhibition, 130 regular-season) and 20 "free TV" games Channel 3 will air.

The team network's name and logo also will be unveiled on Feb. 23.

The Indians still plan to eventually make their network a 24-hour programmer and already are looking into acquiring and developing non-baseball shows.


I though some of you might find that interesting.

[seibu1]

It was there again last night (on TW). But just a test signal on it. Anyone know what's up with this channel?

[ChrisE]

The first of 9 Cavs games in HD was last night on TW ch 716, a great victory against San Antonio. Picture quality was very good. See nba.com/cavaliers/news/fsn_highdef.html for the rest of the schedule.

[zelig2]

I watched part of the game last night. The quality looked quite good. Now if only TWC could move all their analog channels over to digital ones so things could look a little better.

[TheCableGuy]

~reaching through the portal to the internet to smack Zelig on the back of the head~ Silly wabbit.....diagnostic screens are for techs :D Shhhh be vewwy, vewwy qwi-et...I'm hunting answers..........huh huhhuhuhuhuh

[Philster]

If I could see the remainning capacity of the hard drive in one of the menu functions their would be little need to go into the DIAG mode. :-)

[aenea]

I watched part of the game last night. The quality looked quite good. Now if only TWC could move all their analog channels over to digital ones so things could look a little better.

There are a whole bunch of analog channels that are being rebroadcast in 256QAM, hopefully that means that digital simulcast is coming soon.

[zelig2]

Oh how I'd love that. Recording stuff off of Sci-fi just looks so bad since it's not digital. Hopefully they'll make a transition soon (or at least start broadcasting the digital versions).

[KevinP]

I saw that all the SD channels on TW are now available on QAM. This is great news if it means that will soon be available on the digital tiers because they look much better than the analouge channels. TW must not have any bandwith problems if they're planning on adding all these channels. I thought they might be short on bandwith and that was the reason we didn't have Universal HD when most of the country does.

[diamatron]

I saw this show up when they played the spurs. I was at the game so dont know if it was really working during the game.

But, how am I supposed to record this game if the channel is only active during the broadcast????

[Smak Runner 2K]

Doesn't seem that there is enough content yet for a full-time channel. I'd be cool with 480-upconvert on most programs though, it would beat the crappy quality of the analog channel.

[diamatron]

This is what I hate most about switching to cable. All channels being digital. I must admit though, directv compresses the locals so much that I actually prefer the analog on cable with them!

[Scott]

Merged thread.

[Bucksluva]

Anyone know if the Blue Jackets games will be broadcast in HD?

Hockey is SOOOOO much better in HD. OLN and HDNet have been broadcasting NHL in HD as well as NBC occasionally.

[Steve43]

I saw this channel show up the other day, but there was nothing braodcasting, even during Cavs games. I looked last night and now it says to call TW to sign up for the channel. I dont have the extended HD package yet, do I need to get it to see the Cavs in HD?

[Bucksluva]

The ONLY broadcasting I have seen on this channel is Cavs games. Looked good too.

And yes, I believe you need to sign up for TW's HD Gold package. Well worth the $, IMHO.

I sure hope the CBJ get the same HD treatment.

[Steve43]

I'm with you Bucks, HD hockey is so much better. Truth is I have never been able to watch hockey on T.V. until the few HD games that Iv'e caught.

Now my dumb question: Do I need to have TW's digital cable package in order to subscribe to the HD Gold package? Also, does anyone know what the Gold package costs? I would really like to get more HD sports and never really watch the channels over 100. Thanks

[TheCableGuy]

Now my dumb question: Do I need to have TW's digital cable package in order to subscribe to the HD Gold package? Also, does anyone know what the Gold package costs? I would really like to get more HD sports and never really watch the channels over 100. Thanks

No you do not need the digital variety package to get the HD Gold package. HD Gold cost $6.95 (keep in mind Discovery HD and TNT HD are part of the Digital Variety package, not part of the Gold)

[Bucksluva]

Communication from TW:
Currently the Cavs games and associated programming are the only HD shows
on that channel. There are no current plans for Blue Jackets or Reds
games, although this could change in the future.
If you have any questions, let us know.

Thank you,
Matt
x4831
Time Warner Cable
Columbus Division


> Greetings. I have noticed channel 716, Fox Sports Ohio HD. There is
> rarely programming, though occasionally I will see a Cleveland Cavaliers
> game. Do you know if this channel will broadcast full time and if so,
> when? Also, are there plans to broadcast Columbus Blue Jackets or
> Cincinnati Reds games in high definition?
>
> Thank you-