CableVision, BBC Agreement Paves Way For HD
Bermuda CableVision and Bermuda Broadcasting Company today [July 23] announced that they have reached an agreement for the ongoing carriage of Channels 7 [ZFB] and 9 [ZBM] on CableVision’s system.
The statement issued said that the agreement paves the way for HD feeds of Bermuda Broadcasting Company’s channels, and also stated that CableVision will be implementing a rate increase of $2.50 for its Deluxe, Super and Variety Tiers effective September 1, 2012.
A CableVision spokesperson said: “In recent months, continued transmission of channels 7 and 9 on CableVision’s system had been uncertain, following differences between the two companies in their decisions with respect to Bermuda’s retransmission consent law.
“The new agreement ensures that all CableVision customers will continue to receive Bermuda Broadcasting Company’s channels as part of their cable TV subscription. The two companies have also resolved a number of other outstanding issues that had been under discussion for some time.
“The agreement paves the way for adding high-definition [HD] feeds of Bermuda Broadcasting Company’s channels, since CableVision will be installing a fibre optic link to the Bermuda Broadcasting offices, which will improve the overall quality of the signal being transmitted to CableVision.”
“We are delighted to have reached this agreement to the satisfaction of all parties,” says Terry Roberson, General Manager, Bermuda CableVision,
“We sincerely appreciate the constructive and fruitful dialogue with Bermuda Broadcasting, and would like to thank them for their willingness to reach this resolution. In addition, we would like to thank Minister for Environment, Planning and Infrastructure Strategy, the Hon. Marc Bean, JP, MP, for his important role in bringing the two companies together.
“The agreement we have concluded strengthens the relationship between CableVision and Bermuda Broadcasting and creates an environment for an enhanced viewing experience for our customers.”
Rick Richardson, CEO of Bermuda Broadcasting Company, says: “The BBC Board of Directors and its Management concur with the sentiments expressed by Mr. Roberson. We believe that the agreement initialed by Bermuda Broadcasting Company and Bermuda CableVision has sufficient mechanisms to address the challenges of copyright and retransmission for the present period, and the foreseeable future, something that bodes well for the public we serve.
“It has paved the way for greater dissemination of the Bermuda Broadcasting local content, and the content provided through its network affiliations with ABC and CBS. We want to thank Bermuda CableVision Board of Directors and Management, particularly General Manager Terry Roberson, for keeping the public interest in the fore of our extensive negotiations.
“We commend The Minister for Environment, Planning and Infrastructure Strategy, The Hon. Marc Bean, for bridging the gap between the stake holders and for insisting that we remain at the table to reach a solution that the public could live with. Bermuda Broadcasting Company and Bermuda CableVision have already made plans to explore advanced techniques to broaden the viewer experience.”
Minister for Environment, Planning and Infrastructure Strategy, Marc Bean, added: “I am pleased that this matter has been brought to a mutually agreeable conclusion by Bermuda CableVision and Bermuda Broadcasting Company, ending uncertainty and avoiding inconvenience for the viewing public.
“It is an agreement that suits the public interest in that subscribers can continue to enjoy locally produced programming, as well as popular broadcasts from overseas. The promise of enhanced quality of these broadcasts in the future as a result of these successful talks is an added bonus.”
Effective September 1, 2012, Bermuda CableVision will be implementing a rate increase of $2.50 for its Deluxe, Super and Variety Tiers. The price of the Economy Tier will remain the same at $30. This will be the first time in five years that CableVision has increased any of its subscriber rates.
The last price increase was in 2007 when CableVision increased the price of its Variety Tier after introducing 26 new channels. Since then, CableVision has introduced additional new services and channels, including HDTV, and made significant upgrades to its network and equipment to improve the customer experience.
Terry Roberson says: “We continually strive to bring our customers more selection and the best quality programming, and we believe most would agree that digital cable is good value for the money. It gives families access to the best in entertainment, sports, movies and news. We now look forward to the introduction of new and exciting services, such as a Video on Demand channel, which is pending approval from the Telecommunications Commission.”
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nice. now my cable bill is going up. wtf. its not worth what we pay now.
1 bad service + 1 useless service = DISH NETWORK
Young and the Restless in High Def…..oh goody gumdrops..
Why doesnt Cablevision do something about tailing us at the end of the month for poor quality transmission and several channels being on blackout on a regular basis?
Cablevision get’s a rate increase – yet BELCO dosen’t… At least when the power is out I’m not off for two whole days – unlike CABLEVISION who still charge when the service is down for two days..
This is a major step forward for the Bermuda viewing public. It was high time that BBC and Cablevision buried the hatchet. Good news all round. Well done to all parties concerned.
Will the increased price, bring a better service?
I would love to be able to watch channel 5 on a Sunday but it is regularly blacked out.
Great, we’ll get an HD feed of stone-age cameras and some of the worst quality newscasting anyone has ever seen.
Paving the way for a more obviously lackluster Bermuda.
But we still get to watch the Olympics in Trash Definition. They did a pretty good job of ruining the last world cup, I cannot imagine how bad the Olympics are going to look.
When is CableVision going to officially advise its customers as to why we are being subjected daily to pictures freezing and blackouts with no reduction on the bills we are expected to pay each month! Are they waiting for a mass exodus of subscribers before clueing us in? Enough is enough!
1 Sling Box – couple hundred bucks
1 full HD subscription to TimeWarner Cable NYC – $200
200+HD channels, thousands of on-demand movies, no blackouts and bye bye Cablevision – PRICELESS
thank u so much we need 2 educated peeps
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Does anyone actually watch 9 & 7??? The evening news makes you want to destroy your TV, SSDD, some lame PLP politician with a second grade education, rambling on incoherently for 10 minutes, a three minute reprieve with the delectable Weather Babe, then some story that doesn’t make sense as the reporter speaks in convoluted tongues, all the while intertwined with advertisements of shoes, which are probably overpriced and nasty looking anyway, with an overdubbing of a diddly bop “song” at ear shattering volume.
They are unwatchable and unlistenable…say what you will about US coverage bias but they do have capable camera operators….watching the British Open in the UK and they have no idea where the ball is going..the Olympics will be horrible and the caribbean announcers make Wayne Furbert sound like a Prince Charles
OBS supply all event coverage for the IOC. The IOC created their own video production company in 2001 (OBS), so they can control all coverage of events at the Olympics. The first Games covered was Beijing in 2008. Yes, the commentators will be from the Caribbean but the video feed will be the same as NBC are getting.
Yeah. We’ll see.
opressed u have ur meds yet
seem like u hate de world lmao
smile ; ) its better then wine
I will stick with my Direct TV. $90 for full HD package all channels!! Wake up Cablevision……
Despite all the whiners and complainers this is a good move on the part of both companies.
Re “Responsible dog owners” comments about channel 5. I believe you’ll find that the feeds for channel 5 and 440 (PBS), and also for channel 138 (CBC) have to travel such long distances that we are at the very edge of their satellites ranges and this subjects us to poor reception if there is any kind of weather interference. You might be of the view that if that’s the case Cablevision should just close them down completely, but I would respectfully disagree. I would rather take my chances and enjoy the good days. One possible solution for you – I often tape shows from PBS several times and then choose the one with the best receotion. Just a suggestion!