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Posts with tag illinois

Comcast's DOCSIS 3.0 high-speed internet rolls to Chicago

by Darren Murph Jan 28th 2009 @ 9:44PM


Another month, another city or two seeing the beauty that is DOCSIS 3.0. As Comcast continues on its quest to offer the blazing fast internet speeds in 100 percent of its markets by 2010, we're told that the great city of Chicago (or its suburbs, more specifically) now has access. Existing customers will see a speed boost at no additional cost, and those still unsatisfied can opt for a $62.95 per month 22Mbps down / 5Mbps up or $139.95 per month 50Mbps / 10Mbps connection. DSLReports has also mentioned that San Francisco should be getting upgraded in the not-too-distant future, so if you call the Bay your home, keep an eye out.

[Via Electronista]

Three more HD channels come to Springfield, IL's Comcast lineup

by Darren Murph Dec 28th 2008 @ 4:30AM

As the wave of new HD channels continues to roll around and hit random Comcast systems across the nation, Springfield, Illinois has become the latest city to get gifted. Just in time for New Year's Day, locals in the area can find FOX News HD, FX HD and SPEED HD on slots 950, 948 and 946, respectively. The new trio brings the total HD adds since April to 25, and we're certain subscribers in the region are hoping the end isn't anywhere in sight.

Peoria, IL gets another three HD channels courtesy of Comcast

by Darren Murph Dec 24th 2008 @ 3:07AM

Peoria and surrounding areas in Illinois already picked up 22 new HD channels back in May, but knowing just how unsatisfied high-def junkies are, we're sure locals are already itching for a few more. As of now, resident Comcast subscribers can find FOX News HD, FX HD and SPEED HD on the EPG, though there's no indication that more are on the way. 'Tis a shame too, given that your door is probably frozen shut right now, leaving you no alternative but to turn to HDTV for entertainment.

Chicago's Conrad Hotel getting HDTV services courtesy of RCN

by Darren Murph Dec 17th 2008 @ 4:40AM


RCN's locking down lodging deals like it's going out of style, and just days after cementing one with Highgate Hotels in New York, here we have another with Chicago's Conrad Hotel. Soon, said luxury venue will be able to provide guests with all-digital cable TV and HDTV services. Each of the 311 guest rooms will present said content on a 42-inch plasma, though there's no exact word on when the agreement will be implemented. And yeah, considering the per-night rates here, you'd better stay locked inside around 90% of the time in order to come close to making it worthwhile.

Comcast readies DOCSIS 3.0 rollouts for Chicago, Atlanta, Baltimore and Ft. Wayne

by Darren Murph Dec 11th 2008 @ 3:29PM


Comcast promised us all a few months back that it would be bringing its wicked fast DOCSIS 3.0 technology to a handful of other big markets before too long, and today the carrier has chosen to reveal the next four places where said service will be made available. The high-speed internet service, which is capable of hitting 50Mbps down / 5Mbps up, will be launched "over the next several weeks" in Chicago, Atlanta, Baltimore and Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Don't see your city listed? Hang tight -- the next wave should be announced in the not-too-distant future.

Wide Open West lands ESPN2, ABC Family and Disney in HD

by Darren Murph Dec 3rd 2008 @ 2:55PM

Wide Open West delivered three high-def stations to its markets in September, and now it's about to followup with three more in December. Effective December 18th, WOW! subscribers in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Evansville will be treated to ESPN2 HD, ABC Family HD and Disney HD, and NFL Network will be relocating from the HD Pak to the HD lineup on Digital Basic Cable. Let's just call it an early present, shall we?

[Thanks, Wes and David]

AT&T well on its way to offering U-verse TV in Springfield, IL

by Darren Murph Nov 4th 2008 @ 6:49PM

It should come as no surprise that AT&T is hard at work expanding its U-verse network in the state of Illinois. After all, the carrier agreed to provide U-verse to "all areas of the state" in exchange for a license that covered Chicago. At any rate, a new report in The State Journal-Register asserts that AT&T is "well along with construction of a fiber-optic network on the north side of Springfield," and construction was affirmed to be in progress by an unnamed company spokeswoman. Sadly, no estimated launch date was talked about, but we suppose it's hard to grumble about progress.

DISH Network expands MPEG-4 delivery, adds HD locals in six markets

by Darren Murph Oct 23rd 2008 @ 8:47AM

Just a few short days after DISH Network transitioned 11 of its East Coast markets to MPEG-4, in comes word that it has added 21 more (all classified as "East Coast") to bump the grand total to 52 regions. In somewhat related news, we've also learned that six more DMAs can look forward to HD locals today. In no particular order, we've got Columbia-Jefferson City, Missouri; Des Moines-Ames, Iowa; Lincoln and Hastings-Kearney, Nebraska; Omaha, Nebraska; Quincy-Hannibal-Keokuk, Illinois; and Waco-Temple-Bryan, Texas joining the fray. The half dozen new additions means that DISH now serves up HD locals in 76 markets across the US, and it hopefully also means that the next wave isn't too far behind.

Read - DISH Network MPEG-4 expansion
Read - DISH Network HD locals expansion

Panasonic's tru2way-enabled TH-50PZ80Q plasma lands in Chicago retailer

by Darren Murph Oct 17th 2008 @ 11:52AM


We were told yesterday that Panasonic's 50-inch VIERA TH-50PZ80Q plasma had made landfall in Chicago at Abt Electronics, and here we have the images to prove it. America's first live commercial tru2way deployment is underway, and this is the spot if you're looking to be among the first to indulge. All yours for $2,299 (the HDTV, that is) -- enjoy the pics below if you're far, far away from the Windy City.

Gallery: Panasonic's tru2way-enabled TH-50PZ80Q plasma lands in Chicago retailer



[Thanks, Mark]

Panasonic reveals first tru2way HDTVs in Chicago and Denver

by Darren Murph Oct 15th 2008 @ 4:58PM


We already saw Panasonic's 50-inch TH-50PZ80Q plasma doing the tru2way thing at CEDIA 2008, but the official lever has just been pulled in Denver and Chicago. As of today, Comcast's tru2way platform is active in the aforesaid cities, and the very first tru2way-capable HDTVs are arriving to retail. Eager consumers in the Windy or Mile High City who are ready to ditch the set-top-box altogether without sacrificing VOD and such can polish off their wounded credit cards, as both a 42-inch (TH-42PZ80Q; $1,599.95) and 50-inch (TH-50PZ80Q; $2,299.95) VIERA plasma will be on sale by "late October." As for the rest of the US anxious to dip in the cool, cool waters of tru2way? A few undisclosed locales should be going live with the service "in the coming months," though your guess is as good as ours as to what exactly that means.

RCN gifts Chicago with a whole slew of new HD channels

by Darren Murph Sep 22nd 2008 @ 9:42AM

Over the weekend, RCN decided to give locals a few more compelling reasons to not switch to one of those other carriers. A whole mess of new high-def stations appeared on the EPG, including a number of HBOs and premium channels and a handful of standard stations. We're talking MyNetworkTV (WPWR Chicago), Lifetime HD, ABC Family HD, Disney HD, Toon Disney HD, FOX News HD, FOX Business HD, ESPNews HD, Speed HD, NHL HD, Golf / Versus HD and all of the previously hinted-at premiums. Tap the read link for the full rundown, and get ready to spend some serious hours in front of the tube.

[Thanks, Nick]

Wide Open West adds an HD trifecta

by Darren Murph Sep 17th 2008 @ 8:31AM

Man, it has been awhile since Wide Open West subscribers saw a new HD channel hit their EPG. Thankfully, it looks like the drought is over, with FX HD, History HD and FOX News HD coming to Chicago, Columbus, Evansville and Michigan. No word on whether any others are on the way, but let's celebrate this small victory before begging for more, shall we?

[Thanks, David]

Chicago's CBS 2 going HD on September 22nd

by Darren Murph Sep 12th 2008 @ 3:31AM

With practically every other broadcast station in Chicago already beaming out local news in HD, we can only say that it's about time CBS 2 made its move. As the station slides to a new headquarters at Dearborn and Washington Streets across from Daley Plaza, it will also begin airing its newscasts in beautiful high-definition. We're hearing that ratings have been on the decline of late (that's what you get for not keeping with the program!), but hopefully the switch to HD will be a shot in the arm, er, meter. Give it a look on September 22nd.

[Thanks, Stephen]

AT&T installing utility cabinets in Naperville, giving away U-verse surprise

by Darren Murph Sep 6th 2008 @ 11:02PM


Silly AT&T -- don't you know by now that installing those cabinets of yours is a dead giveaway that U-verse is coming? According to a report from the Daily Herald, said carrier is installing the first of 135 utility cabinets around the city (which sits about 30 miles west of Chicago; more information on service areas here), and Greg Jones, project manager for the city, is hoping that "increased competition among service providers will benefit residents." That competition he refers to is none other than AT&T's fiber-based U-verse TV / internet / phone service, but it'll take some three years to get those 135 boxes installed. Oh, and don't even pretend that AT&T isn't madly in love with Illinois, it's pretty obvious at this point.

Charter reaches agreement with Big Ten Network just in time to see Ohio State be totally awesome

by Richard Lawler Aug 27th 2008 @ 9:48AM


Charter's next on the block to add the Big Ten Network and "related programming" in time for Saturday's football openers. No word whether or not this will include the HD version of the network, or if it will be in time for the start of the season, but it is definitely on the way. In a minor footnote, Charter mentioned that in addition to carrying the BTN across its systems in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Northern Illinois it's also reupping Jim Tressel's snazzy sweatervest collection, teaching Terrelle Pryor the correct name of "the University of Ohio State University" and teaching Ohio State how to defend against the spread offense. Good times all around.




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