As a part of its "transformation to a Multi-Channel Brand" Blockbuster continues to use its name recognition to reach new markets, simultaneously trumpeting the success of a partnership with CinemaNow, resulting in Blockbuster OnDemand on Samsung HDTVs, Blu-ray players, as well as other hardware and soon, Motorola phones, while also easing into the cable video on-demand arena. In deals with Suddenlink and Mediacom via their VOD provider, Avail-TVN, they'll start off slowly by rebranding parts of their VOD service under the Blockbuster name, do some cross-promotion and then eventually take their relationship to the next level by allowing customers to search the rental giant's Blu-ray and DVD library for movies that might not be on VOD right now. The old dog seems willing to try anything to get back on top, but alone or all together, it's tough to see these strategies restoring the customer base Netflix and Redbox continue to eat away.

Read - Blockbuster Enters Strategic Alliance With Cable Operators Suddenlink Communications and Mediacom Communications

We've always heard that good things come in threes, and apparently Mediacom is sticking by that mantra. After adding a pair of trifectas in December, the carrier has just tossed in SPEED HD, FOOD HD and HGTV HD in Iowa, giving local viewers all the high-def racing, cooking and homemaking they can handle. If it has to be Monday, at least it's a Monday with new HD channels.

[Thanks, Kyle]

Mediacom just added in A&E HD, History HD and SciFi HD in Iowa earlier this month, but now three more are hosted up in the EPG. A local has reported to us that TBS HD (836), CNN HD (837) and USA HD (838) have shown up in Coralville and Iowa City, IA, bringing the grand total in the region to 17 HD channels. A small figure compared to some systems, sure, but we highly doubt anyone in the area will complain over six newcomers in the span of a fortnight.

[Thanks, Abdouramane]

We're feeling for you Iowa -- it has been far, far too long since Mediacom gifted you folks with any new high-def content. Thankfully, something finally snapped into place, and now customers in the region have access to SciHD (839), A&E HD (847) and History HD (848). Our gracious tipster also notes that MOJO HD is still in the guide stinking up the place, but if we had to bet, we'd say another high-definition station should take its place soon.

[Thanks, Brett]

While we genuinely feel for the HD junkies in Springfield, Missouri who are on a 200-person deep waiting list for an HD DVR, we can't help but smile at the news. Even during these bizarre economic times, the value in high-def programming is obviously shining through. Mediacom Region Operations VP Larry Peterson was quoted as saying that HD DVRs "are the holy grail right now; we've got three different manufacturers we use to try to get the boxes available and it just seems as soon as we get them in, they go out." In related news, the carrier will also be adding in eight new high-def channels on December 17th: WGN, TBS, CNN, SciFi, A&E, History, HGTV, and Food Network. Might explain the uptick in demand, wouldn't you say?

You know those cable price hikes that have been going around lately? Looks like you're not the only one who's a tad upset about it. The Federal Communications Commission has actually come forward to express its concern from the rampant outbreak of cable pay-TV increases, with spokeswoman Mary Diamond proclaiming that "over the last decade, average cable rates have more than doubled, and now cable companies are charging consumers more but consumers are receiving less." Of course, it's not like the almighty FCC is going to step in and pony up for the delta or anything philanthropic like that, but it is good to see The Man standing up for the children. Even if it's just empty words in the end.

[Via Columbia Tribune, image courtesy of YouthRetirement]

We've asked you before whether it was "worth it" to switch from cable to satellite in search of a wider selection of high-def material, but now we're looking to see if any of you walked the talk. Have any of you readers actually ditched your programming provider in order to find another with more HD content? And if so, where did you leave and where did you go? Any regrets? Is life really that much better with more HD than one could ever watch in a single day? Brag / sulk away in comments below.

Earlier this month, Comcast announced that it would be boosting cable rates by around 4.6%. Now, Mediacom is joining the fun by pumping up the prices in various locales around the country. We're seeing a number of local news outlets putting out information that the carrier will be raising rates in their neck of the woods, with Cedar Rapids, Iowa expecting a 7.2% increase on its mainstay Family Cable package next month. Additionally, the greater Quad Cities area will see a similar change beginning in mid-November, and everyone in Princeton / Caldwell County, Kentucky will be paying more in a few weeks as well. We guess someone has to pay for all those huge HD expansions, right? At least we're only half kidding there.

Read - Cedar Rapids announcement
Read - Quad Cities announcement
Read - Kentucky announcement

20, now that's a sizable figure. Mediacom is fixing to switch off its analog service and move to all-digital in the Cadiz, Kentucky region, and with that will come quite a few new high-def channels. The carrier is already warning folks that they'll need an internal ATSC tuner or digital set-top-box to receive programming after November 19th, and on that same day, the new high-definition stations will hit the EPG as well. No word on what exactly those channels will be, but surely you'll find one or two out of 20 you can enjoy.

Mediacom subscribers won't totally miss out on the Olympics (although you might be, unless you got up early to catch the U.S. Women's Soccer team take on Norway this morning), since the cable company signed up for the NBC HD VOD package seen on so many other systems. You should be able to grab more than 800 hours of HD on NBC, Universal HD and USA HD on the HDTV Family Package, and plenty of daily update from Beijing on video on-demand. Better get that DVR ready.

Good news for you Mediacom subscribers out there wondering when in the world a new batch of HD channels would come your way -- turns out, the company is reportedly gearing up to "introduce switched digital video in three markets in 2008," which will obviously open up valuable spectrum for high-def services. Unfortunately, the operator didn't note which markets would see SDV first, but it did say that it planned to "deploy digital simulcast to 50 percent of its systems by year-end." For those that just love to be reassured, the company's EVP of operations John Pascarelli was quoted as saying that the "side benefit of [the upgrades] is it will help us expedite the delivery of more HD channels to those systems [and offer] a more competitive product." More specifically, the firm "outlined a plan to offer 25 high-definition channels for free to entry-level digital customers," with that figure rising to around 40 with premiums / HD VOD added in.

Do we smell a regional expansion brewing? Just days after hearing that Mediacom customers in Southern Illinois would be receiving four new HD channels, it seems that those very same stations are heading northwest to Iowa. According to the latest Mediacom bill received by a tipster in Ames, Iowa, he too will be receiving FSN Midwest HD, TNT HD, TBS HD and CNN HD shortly (if not already). So, dear Midwesterners (that just so happen to rely on Mediacom), are you seeing four new HD options pop up in your EPG? If so, shout out your location below -- here's to hoping this rollout is more widespread than previously assumed.

[Thanks, Jason C.]

According to The Southern Illinoisan, Mediacom is getting set to unveil a new HD-centric plan for junkies like us, but better yet, it's readying four new high-definition channels to boot. Reportedly, customers in the area will soon be able to sign up for HD Family Basic, which "adds seven channels to the company's Family Basic plan at no charge." The first three stations to debut on the plan will be ESPN HD, ESPN2 HD and Discovery Theater HD, and "within the next 45 days," subscribers will also be treated to TNT HD, TBS HD, CNN HD and Fox Sports Midwest HD. Oh, and if you really needed one more wild promise from a carrier about future HD offerings, Mediacom Director of Operations Dale Haney has stated that the outfit "plans on doubling HD channels throughout the year." We'll see about that, now won't we?

[Thanks, Peter S.]

Sinclair and Time Warner have finally reached an agreement that will let the cable provider broadcast HDTV signals from Sinclair-owned affiliate stations. We've been getting reports from HDTV owners in Ohio, Wisconsin and other areas that Sinclair owned stations are showing up in all their HD glory -- too late for the BCS National Championship and last year's Super Bowl -- but better late than never. Still ongoing is the broadcaster's Iowa-centered battle with Mediacom, where affected stations have been dropped entirely from the cable lineup pending an agreement between the two companies. After coming to a "mutually acceptable economic agreement" four year agreement with TW, we'll see if Sinclair and Mediacom work things out, the FCC gets involved, or if this tiff continues to drag on interminably.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Read - High-def versions of Channels 18 and 24 finally coming to cable
Read - Sinclair Announces Analog and Digital Carraige Agreement with Time Warner Cable
Read - Lawmakers tell Mediacom, Sinclair to settle