Time Warner Cable Scrambles Channel Positions in NYC: Big $ = Low Channel Numbers?
Residents in New York City who subscribe to Time Warner Cable will discover a whole lot of moving going on this summer. That’s because cable networks might be paying, or making other “considerations” for the New York cable company in return for more favorable channel positions — the lower the channel number the better.
Cable operators have long recognized that the lower a channel number assigned to a network, the higher its ratings. Subscribers scanning the dial for something to watch typically start at the lowest channel number, and scan their way up the dial. Most usually find something to watch long before they reach the highest channel numbers. Networks recognize this as well, and many complain loudly about their channel positions on cable systems. Some even contractually limit where a cable system can place their network.
Anything above channel 50 starts to get into Channel Siberia — the vast empty space where networks are lost to viewers who never seem to find them. Being thrown onto a channel number in the hundreds, or worse, the thousands, can be a disaster for viewership.
The winners of the channel position battle loudly proclaim victory when they pull off a favorable channel change. NBC Universal did just that in celebrating Oxygen moving from channel 61, where the snow is falling, to a nice and comfortable channel 12. Mun2, a Latino network, has been in the deep freeze on channel 126, but will drop to channel 42. These channel changes take place on August 19th.
“The new Oxygen and mun2 channel positions are extremely favorable and will greatly contribute to the networks’ success as they continue to grow in both ratings and distribution,” Mary Murano, executive vice president of TV Networks Distribution at NBC Universal, said in the release. “We believe Time Warner Cable customers — our viewers — will appreciate the easy access to Oxygen and mun2′s buzz worthy programming.”
But that’s not all. Several other networks are moving around the dial, potentially confusing subscribers looking for them after the channel change. Although Time Warner Cable doesn’t admit dollars changing hands are behind the changes, it seems likely “considerations” are involved in channel changes which routinely irritate subscribers.
Here is a roundup of what’s moving where in the boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens:
BET: Moving from channel 42 to channel 37
Cartoon Network: Moves from channel 22 to channel 61
Cartoon Network HD: Moves from channel 722 to channel 761
CNN: Moves from channel 10 to channel 78
CNN HD: Moves from channel 710 to channel 778
Discovery Kids: Moves from channel 110 to channel 22
FX: Moves from channel 37 to channel 10
FXHD: Moves from channel 737 to channel 710
Golf HD: Moves from channel 779 to channel 482
ID: Investigation Discovery: Moves from 113 to channel 23
Lifetime: Moves from channel 12 to channel 62
Lifetime Movie Network: Moves from channel 62 to channel 80
Lifetime Movie Network HD: Moves from channel 762 to channel 780
Mun2: Moves from channel 126 to channel 42
NHL Network HD: Moves from channel 795 to channel 468
Oxygen: Moves from channel 61 to channel 12
Smithsonian HD: Moves from channel 789 to channel 795
TruTV: Moves from channel 23 to channel 79
VS HD: Moves from channel 794 to channel 481
The following new channels are also slated to launch on Time Warner Cable’s NYC systems August 19th:
Big Ten HD On Demand on channel 471
Headline News HD on channel 758
ID: Investigation Discovery HD on channel 723
Lifetime HD on channel 762
Outdoor Channel HD on channel 480
PBS Create on channel 169
PBS World on channel 164
Smithsonian HD On Demand on channel 794
TCM HD on channel 782
