Don't look now: Comcast is acquiring theme parks!

Comcast is planning to assume full control of NBCUniversal’s Universal Orlando theme park in a deal worth at least $1 billion dollars, according to a source reported by the Orlando Sentinel.  Universal Orlando is NBCUniversal’s most profitable theme park, home to the popular Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which has attracted record crowds.

The company is picking up the stake of its partner Blackstone Group, and will gain full ownership of the theme park when the transaction closes.

Some odds and ends regarding Bright House Networks you may have missed over the past several weeks:

Hernando County, Florida Ticked Off About Bright House Rate Hikes

Hernando County commissioners were united in their opposition to a recent $3 rate increase from Bright House Networks that spiked bills for standard service to $55.49 a month.  They voted unanimously for a resolution condemning the rate increase, noting it comes as a result of insufficient cable competition.

The commissioners want local consumers to shop around for alternative providers, but outside of satellite, Bright House is the only cable television provider for local residents.  Despite tough economic times, the rate increases just keep on coming.

“This, for lack of better words, really frosts me,” County Commissioner Dave Russell told Hernando Today. “As a retailer and a business owner in Hernando County, we’ve done what we can to keep our prices down.”
Bright House, he said, should do the same and “suck it up just like the rest of us have,” he said.

Additional rate increases of $2 per month for HBO and $1 a month each for digital phone, voicemail, and DVR service are also now in effect.

Vandals cut fiber optics on Bright House Networks in Birmingham area

Vandalism can result in major service disruptions for cable customers, especially when a fiber optic link is cut.  The Birmingham, Alabama area suffered a major outage in late February when vandals sliced an important fiber link.  Service was knocked out on the west side of Birmingham, including Five Points West, Ensley, and part of Ross Bridge for almost a day.

Customers generally have to call and request service credit for outages — most cable companies don’t automatically credit accounts.

Make Room for More HD Channels

Bright House Networks has been aggressively adding new HD channels to its lineups across the country.  In central Indiana, Bright House customers can spend even more time channel surfing through these additions:

• BBC America HD – Channel 847 on December 14
• Fuse HD – Channel 840 on December 16
• G4 HD – Channel 810 on December 16
• HLN HD – Channel 726 on December 14
• IFC HD – Channel 794 on December 11
• Investigation Discovery HD – Channel 804 on December 18
• MAV TV HD – Channel 753 on December 18
• NBA TV HD – Channel 862 on December 18
• NHL Network HD – Channel 863 on December 11
• Outdoor Channel HD – Channel 865 on December 11
• Style HD – Channel 860 on December 14
• Tennis Channel HD – Channel 864 on December 11
• TV One HD – Channel 866 on December 16
• BET HD – Channel 736
• Cinemax HD – Ch. 228
• CMT HD – Ch. 743
• Comedy Central HD – Ch. 725
• Crime & Investigation Network HD – Ch. 852
• Game HD – Ch. 904
• Hallmark  Channel  HD – Ch. 757
• HD Pay Per View Events – Ch. 304
• History International HD – Ch. 817
• MTV HD – Ch. 775
• Nickelodeon HD – Ch. 744
• Spike TV HD – Ch. 724
• Team HD – Ch. 886
• The Movie Channel HD – Ch. 262
• VH1 HD – Ch. 741

Wayde Klein, vice president of marketing and customer operations for Bright House Networks Indiana, said “In October, we announced that Bright House Networks had a goal of offering more than 100 high-definition channels in early 2010. We started by launching 17 HD channels in 17 consecutive days in November and then launched 13 new HD channels in December. Our launch of 15 HD channels this week is one step closer to our goal.”

In Orlando, Bright House added these networks in March:

• Hallmark Channel HD at channel 1315
• Nickelodeon HD at channel 1333
• Comedy Central HD at channel 1366
• Spike HD at channel 1368
• BET HD at channel 1367
• CMT HD at channel 1371
• VH1 HD at channel 1372
• MTV HD at channel 1374

Questions Answered from Bright House Customers

The St. Petersburg Times tackled this one from a Bright House customer:

Why doesn’t Bright House tell their customers that they have to pay for faster connection?

-Stephen, St. Petersburg

Like Big Mama always said, “you can’t get something for nothing.”

Bright House says customers are informed that the faster connections cost more. The higher speed Internet connections are not automatically given to customers.

“You have to request it,” says Joe Durkin, a spokesman for Bright House Networks.

Standard roadrunner Internet service is about $48. Then you can get Roadrunner turbo for $15 more or the fastest, Roadrunner lightning, for $30 above the standard.

The additional charges are listed, even online.

Bright House serves a large part of central Florida.  Comcast Cable serves territories further south.

[flv width=”576″ height=”409″]http://www.phillipdampier.com/video/Bright House Ad Campaign Spring 2010.mp4[/flv]

Bright House launched a new ad campaign this spring emphasizing bright colors and product bundles.

A creative attempt by two Floridians to keep local Fox affiliates from being dropped on Bright House Networks by asking a judge for a temporary restraining order failed late Wednesday when the judge effectively tossed the case on jurisdictional grounds.

Circuit Judge Maura Smith in Orlando initially said she was referring the matter to federal court to determine which court had jurisdiction to issue a temporary restraining order.

“I wish I could make everybody happy,” said the Orange County Circuit Judge.

Orlando attorney John Morgan requested the court order Fox to keep WOFL-TV, Orlando’s Fox affiliate, on the Bright House Networks cable lineup, at least until after the Sugar Bowl.  Morgan filed the case on behalf of two local sports fans Thomas Moore, a fellow attorney and Richard Anderson, the city manager for Apopka, outside of Orlando.

Fox’s own counsel requested Smith send the case to federal court instead, and she agreed.  Later Wednesday, U.S. District Court Judge Gregory Presnell sent the case back to circuit court, where it was effectively tossed out.

The legal arguments were hardly a Perry Mason moment.  Morgan argued football fans would be harmed if the game wasn’t televised on Bright House Networks.  Fox’s attorney argued they could watch with an antenna or drive to a local bar or restaurant televising the game.  That brought a response from Morgan questioning where exactly someone would purchase rabbit ears, and that driving to a local establishment to watch the games could be risky because of increased drunk driving on New Year’s Day.

[flv width=”640″ height=”380″]http://www.phillipdampier.com/video/WESH Orlando Judge Denies Motion In Bright House Fox Dispute 12-31-09.flv[/flv]

WESH-TV in Orlando reports the judge tossed the case because it would have required her to rule over a private business matter.  (2 minutes)

[flv width=”640″ height=”500″]http://www.phillipdampier.com/video/WOFL Orlando Lawsuits Against Bright House and Fox 12-30-09.flv[/flv]

WOFL-TV in Orlando interviews the plaintiffs outside of court today about their case and goes over the dispute one more time with central Florida viewers. (5 minutes)