Update 08/04/2006 @ 8:57 PM EST: Time Warner Cable Raleigh, NC has apologized for providing misinformation!

Update 07/31 @ 9:22PM EST: TWC has contacted a user on TiVoCommunity.com to let him know that TWC will provide CableCARDs for the Series3 TiVo.

In case you don’t already know, Time Warner Cable in Raleigh, NC has said that they won’t support the Series 3 TiVo. Now it looks like TWC in Los Angeles (San Fernando Valley) is saying the same thing.

I received the following email from Phil which contains a response he received from TWC in Los Angeles (his email address has been removed upon his request).

To: Editors of Engadget, Gizmodo, ZatzNotFunny, TiVoBlog and Tivo Pony
re: TimeWarner in Los Angeles — NO Cable Card for Tivo Series 3

Here’s the answer from Los Angeles Time Warner (San Fernando Valley)

A big fat NO.

Let’s light a fire under these guys — throw the FCC at ‘em whatever… who’s
with me?

PK

[If you run this -- please remove my e-mail address.]

—— Forwarded Message
From: “Cust.Ops”
Reply-To: “Cust.Ops”
Date: Thu, 27 Jul 2006 18:45:36 -0700
To:
Subject: Re: FEEDBACK_Customer_Service (KMM1035923V50920L0KM)

Hello

Thank you for your inquiry. We do offer Cable Card technology, however, we will not install Cable Cards onto equipment aside from the television itself.

We will not support any 3rd party equipment devices such as Tivo.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us via our Live Online Help. Our Live Online Help Representatives are available Monday through Friday between 9 AM to 7 PM at:
http://www.TimeWarnerLA.com/chat/ .

Time Warner Cable
(888)TW-CABLE

Now you can pay your bill online or with your digital remote! Just visit http://www.TimeWarnerLA.com/PayXpress or tune to channel 1 and select “Interact.”

Original Message Follows:
————————

** THIS IS MESSAGE HAS BEEN FORWARDED BY THE ONLINE FEEDBACK SYSTEM **

TIME WARNER CABLE WEBSITE CUSTOMER FEEDBACK
Thursday, July 27, 2006, 10:35:47

The following inquiry was received through the TimeWarnerCable website feedback form.

NAME: XXXXXXXX
E-MAIL: XXXXXX@XXXXX
PHONE: XXXXXXXXXXXX

MESSAGE:
I am a current customer of Time Warner for Cable Modem service. For TV, I switched to satellite a few years ago — BUT I am expecting to return to Time Warner for Cable TV service later this year.

However, my coming back to Time Warner is dependent on the answer to one very important question.

Will you be supporting CableCard installation in the new Series 3 TiVo which is about to come out? This is a CableLabs certified device and should fall under the FCC mandate for CableCard support.

I’ll be a customer of yours again, IF you will be supporting this. It all depends on whether the new TiVo Series 3 will have your CableCard support. Please let me know asap.

Best Regards,
XXXXX

What if anything can we do to fight this? Anybody know who we should contact? I’m willing to host a letter or email template that everybody can send to the FCC (if that’s who we should be contacting).

Update 08/04/2006 @ 8:57 PM EST: Time Warner Cable Raleigh, NC has apologized for providing misinformation!

Update 07/31 @ 9:22PM EST: TWC has contacted a user on TiVoCommunity.com to let him know that TWC will provide CableCARDs for the Series3 TiVo.

According to a complaint on consumerfury.com, Time Warner in Raleigh, NC has said that they won’t support installing a CableCARD in the Series3 TiVo. Nor will they allow TiVo to access their network (not sure how they would prevent this).

Dear G***** C*****, TRACKING NUMBER: 88187 Inquiry: Just to confirm, you are saying that when the Series 3 Tivo’s are released, you will not be providing cablecards for Tivo Series 3 owners? Submitted: by gc****@**********.com

Response:Time Warner Cable of Raleigh does not provide support for or allow TIVO devices on our cable network. Time Warner Cable provides DVR service and equipment for customers that would like to record programs and watch them later. Cable Cards will only be installed on Cable ready, Cable Card slot available television sets. This policy is subject to change at the discretion of Time Warner Cable of Raleigh.

If this is true there are going to be a lot of people who are going to be pissed off. I’m not even sure if Time Warner can do this since the whole CableCARD thing was a government mandate.

If you want to find out what your local Time Warner has to say about this you can contact them using this page. If they tell you that they won’t support the Series3 TiVo then you can file a complaint with the FCC.

I plan on calling my cable company (Adelphia) tomorrow. I will let everybody know what they have to say. If you get a chance, you might want call your cable company. I’m interested to hear what Comcast and other cable companies have to say.

Digg here, Thanks Rob!

Update: 07/27 @ 11:16 PM: Looks like TWC in Los Angeles is saying the same thing…
Update: 07/26 @ 9:58 PM: The consumerfury.com complaint has been updated. Apparently the individual who posted the complaint contacted the Raleigh Telecommunication Commission about the problem. The RTC replied back essentially saying that TW is under no obligation to support a CableCARD install in a Series 3 TiVo. Check out the complaint for more information and additional followup.

I’m especially concerned about this because my cable provider (Adelphia) is about to switch over to TW in the near future. Has anybody else contacted their cable provider to find out what they have to say?

TiVo has informed both the FCC and cable providers that the Series 3 TiVo with CableCard support will be released soon and that it is currently in beta testing.

This product is currently being tested by a small number of consumers in cable markets across the country, and will be generally available in retail stores soon. Thus, we wanted to ensure that you are aware of this product in time to make any necessary preparations to support customers who request two CableCARD decoders for their TiVo Series3 HD DVR.

In the same letter, TiVo also expressed a concern they have with the cable companies and their Series3 TiVo:

….Specifically, TiVo expressed concern that if a cable operator distributes linear cable channels (apart from PPV and VOD) via switched digital technology, subscribers with a competitive entrant UDCP will not have access to the same channels as those subscribers leasing set-top boxes from the cable operator. Consequently, consumers will be hesitant to invest in UDCPs. This concern, which TiVo has heard from a number of customers, is captured by the attached e-mail, copies of which were distributed at the meetings. TiVo emphasized that it is not against cable’s use of switched digital technology, but simply wants those cable operators adopting the technology to take whatever actions necessary to ensure that subscribers with competitive entrant UDCPs have equal access to the same digital content offerings available to subscribers with MSO-leased set-top boxes.

Looks like the Series3 TiVo is coming out soon! I know I’m ready! Are you?

Spotted on, Digg (ZatzNotFunny)!

The other day I received the following question via email:

Will the tivo series 3 box work with pay per view and video on demand or will I need the cable company’s box and the tivo box? Comcast is my provider. THANKS!

Just so I don’t provide misinformation, I thought it would be a good idea for me to post my response on this site. If I say anything that is not correct, please set me straight.

The answer to this question depends on the status of CableCARD 2.0 when the Series 3 TiVo is released. Based on the pictures from CES, it looks as though the Series 3 TiVo will support both CableCARD 1.0 and 2.0. CableCARD 1.0 supports only one-way communication.  CableCARD 2.0 will support two-way communication however, as far as I know the standard for 2.0 is still being developed. So, I guess my answer to this question is yes and no. A Series 3 TiVo will not require a cable box for pay per view and vod content however, I’m not sure that CableCARD 2.0 will be available when the Series 3 TiVo is released.

For more CableCARD information, you might want to check out this write up.

Have you ever wondered what a CableCARD is? ars technica has published a wonderful guide which demystifies the CableCARD. While this isn’t TiVo news per say, it definitely affects TiVo. Read on for a wonderful guide….

Spotted on eHomeUpgrade.