Scrapped TVs Spell Disaster for Environment

(NEWSER) - DirecTV is turning up the heat on the HDTV competition, claiming it will offer 100 hi-def channels by the end of the year, while current technology limits many cable companies to no more than 20-30. With 55 HD channels already available on the satellite provider, some competitors are trying to downplay the additions by asking whether there are many more HD channels worth watching. More»

Search giant may offer TV channels within video, phone, Internet service

(NEWSER) - Watch out, Comcast: Google is discussing a plan that could turn traditional cable on its head. The search giant is looking into providing video and phone services along with an already-announced high-speed Internet service in Kansas City, the Wall Street Journal reports—and the video service could include TV channels from Time Warner, Disney, Discovery, and others. With traditional cable providers looking for ways to control online content, the line between TV and the Internet keeps getting blurrier. More»

Combined figure hits 580K in second quarter

(NEWSER) - Sign of the times: The six biggest satellite and cable TV companies lost a combined 580,000 customers in the second quarter, which Bloomberg calls a record high. Take your pick of reasons: rising prices, increased online competition from the likes of Netflix, a lousy economy, the slump in home sales, etc. It all adds up to a "toxic mix" for pay TV companies, says one analyst. More»

Those old TVs and computers have to be recycled instead

(NEWSER) - Nearly half the states in the US now have laws requiring that most electronic equipment be recycled instead of dumped in the trash, the AP reports. Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina are the most recent states to ban simply tossing out old TVs, computers, video game consoles, stereo equipment, etc. More»

Commission aims to block media stranglehold

(NEWSER) - Comcast should only be able to go through with its plans to buy NBC Universal if it's willing to share the media giant’s content with its competitors, according to Julius Genachowski. The FCC chairman gave his conditional approval for the merger last week, proposing a set of rules that would force Comcast to allow rival cable providers and satellite TV companies access to NBC’s content at a reasonable price. More»