RCN, SureWest and NBCU Deals Underscore Content Value

Looking to keep pace in the race for more high-definition (HD) programming IPTV innovator SureWest Communications Tuesday announced plans to add 18 new channels in its Kansas City area. This comes just days after cableco RCN Corp. turned up 10 more in its New York market.

The moves underscore the value of top-flight content, which also attracted attention when NBC announced Sunday plans to buy The Weather Channel and top 10-visited site weather.com. The channel converted to HD just last month.

Services providers of all types -- telco, cableco, satellite operator, etc. -- have long since shifted their primary marketing focus from pricing to HD programming and video-on-demand (VoD)assets.

The 10 new HD channels from RCN include Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, The Learning Channel, HGTV, The Science Channel, Lifetime Movie Networks, Food Network, Travel Channel, VERSUS/Golf and NFL Networks. In addition, RCN say it’s expanding HD content in its VoD service.

"The addition of these new high-definition channels is part of our ongoing commitment to connect our customers to something more," said RCN vice-president and general manager Tony Ontiveros, in prepared comments. "We recognize the growing popularity of HD with our customers and plan to continue to expand our HD channel offerings."

RCN's New York market serves much of Manhattan and the Queens communities of Astoria, Corona, Elmhurst, Flushing, Forest Hills, Fresh Meadows, Jackson Heights, Kew Gardens. Others include Long Island City, Maspeth, Middle Village, Rego Park, Sunnyside, and Woodside, as well as parts of downtown Brooklyn and Brighton Beach.

In addition to adding 18 HD channels in the Kansas City area it got via acquisition of FTTH operator Everest Broadband, SureWest announced Tuesday that it would do business in the area under the SureWest name.

SureWest said it has begun expanding its network in the acquired region and is scheduled to add 10,000 new residential homes in the greater Kansas City area by yearend, including an expansion into new Kansas-based communities such as Merriam, Prairie Village and Olathe.

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