Road Runner rampage for 4/8/09

Herein, the latest news on Time Warner's Road Runner rampage for April 8, 2009:

1. Greensboro Mayor Yvonne Johnson is open to discussing recruiting alternative competitors for Time Warner's beleaguered Road Runner internet service, now under major scrutiny for implementing a new metering pricing scheme. Good soundbites from Sue Polinsky also (click the Channel 2 icon below for the story):




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2. Two new sites have popped up in recent days:

Stop TWC (at http://www.stoptwc.info)

And

Drop Time Warner Cable (at http://droptimewarnercable.com)

See their commercial here:



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3. Lawmakers in Washington are getting wise to Time Warner. Online Media Daily reports U.S. Rep. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.) is vowing to stop Time Warner from forging ahead with its metering plan and may introduce legislation soon to do just that.

OMD:

"This is an incredibly ill-conceived idea and a very repressive step backwards," U.S. Rep. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.) said of the cable company's plan. "At the very moment when access to digital information is at the heart of economic recovery, they're going to go for corporate greed."

Massa added that he is considering introducing legislation to rein in the company. "In many markets they are a monopoly and we are going to invoke every tool necessary to ensure they don't proceed with this," he said.

Massa's district includes Rochester -- one of four cities in which Time Warner plans to test the new pay-per-usage billing system. The others are Austin and San Antonio (Texas), and Greensboro, N.C.

Massa also issued a statement Tuesday criticizing Time Warner's plan as "an outrageous, job killing initiative."

4. The new digital divide? News & Record editor John Robinson late yesterday called this fight "a different digital divide." Is he right?

Robinson:

What does it mean that one group is abuzz and another is quiet? It is a different sort of digital divide. Naturally, bloggers would be upset by TW's tiered pricing plan. It socks them in the digital solar plexis. As Allen says, there is fierce discussion on the blogs and in the comments.

Letter writers to the newspaper? (Warning: This is an assumption, an informed assumption but an assumption nonetheless.) Many letter writers are primarily newspaper readers and seek the forum that the printed editorial page provides. They spend time online -- most of the submitted letters come via e-mail -- but they don't live online. They don't tend to be of the generation that watches video online or builds Web sites from home or measure time in gigabytes.

No big deal, you might say. Different audiences. Different ways to express opinion. Personally, I think that Time Warner's pricing plan should interest everyone who is a customer of the business. And that is most of the people around here. (I admit I was surprised by two council members who said they were not customers of Time Warner. Dish users? Rabbit ears? No TV?)

More to come...in the meantime, let's talk about it.

E.C. :)

Consumer Tips to fight Time-Warner's Predatory Pricing Scheme

Cross-posted with GreensboroMetro...

The case with Time-Warner's new predatory pricing scheme with its Road Runner internet service has two issues...one, complaining to the proper individuals themselves...and two, the tepid response by those supposed to represent us.

First, the response, and Roch Smith has been all over this, doing a heck of a job with his citizen journalism. See his two-action plan here and here.

Second, the delayed and albeit-terrible reply by Greensboro City Council. N&R story today explains some of their responses, but it was Smith that broke the story that the city no longer has a franchise control over Time Warner.

It puts Greensboro (and the larger metro area) at a terrible disadvantage economically.

Sue Polinsky had a good point recently...she worked so hard to bring ConvergeSouth to Greensboro all those times, and yet it seems as though only one Greensboro City Council member embraced it.

Sad. The lack of progressiveness of this area is really disheartening.

E.C. :)

Wendy (of Bob & Wendy) joins Relay for Life

Wendy Gatlin, one-half of the show formerly known as "The Bob & Wendy Show" on Majic 94.1FM has become a big fan of Triad Media Watch since their former show ended a couple of months ago.

This time, Wendy writes in and asks for your help in a very noble cause:

I wanted to see if you could direct folks to a blog that I have. It's usually dedicated to American Idol, but I am joining in on Relay for Life this year. My father was diagnosed with rectal cancer last July, and has had a bevy of challenges, since. It's been truly a challenge for our family, as I'm sure it is for many other families.

I am seeking donations in an unconventional way. I am circulating a video on the internet that I hope can be shared and resent over and over...kind of a pass it on kind of deal.

The blog is www.thegat.blogspot.com

Thank you so much,

Wendy

Your father will be in my prayers, Wendy. Let's help them out, shall we?

E.C. :)

Concert Review: Smooth Jazz Guitarist Does Not Disappoint Loyal Triad Fan Base

A better-than-modest crowd poured into the High Point Theatre Saturday evening to witness smooth jazz recording artist Stanley Jordan.

Known as the innovator of the “tapping” technique of guitar playing, in which notes are created by tapping the fretboard, rather than via conventional strumming and picking, Jordan and his trio (including bass guitarist Charnett Moffett and drummer Kenwood Dennard) took the stage at 8:10pm and failed to disappoint his loyal and diverse Triad fan base for 110 minutes.

Performing renditions of old favorites from "Someone to Watch Over Me," "Mercy Mercy Mercy," and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," to tracks from his latest CD titled State of Nature, Jordan even fascinated the audience with a unique and jaw-dropping performance of "Mozart's Piano Concerto # 21," part of his State of Nature album.

At one point in the show, Dennard engaged in a fierce percussion solo during a rendition of Bob Marley's "Get Up, Stand Up" that had the audience on their feet for several minutes. The standing ovations were numerous and the hoots and hollers for more of the melodic sounds were proof positive that the show won fan approval almost instantly.

Jordan and his Trio even made it a point to meet the audience and sign copies of State of Nature in a receiving line immediately following the show, a move indicative of the closeness smooth jazz artists have with their loyal, niche fan base.

And the acoustically-pleasing intimate venue of the High Point Theatre could not have been more of a perfect location for this show.

From the radio spots promoting the show on WZTK's (101.1FM) "Smooth Jazz Weekend," it was clear from the Saturday evening show that smooth jazz fans from across the Triad ache for more of this blend of music and more visits from these artists to our area.

Said concert-goer Leo Bucey of Jamestown, who signaled his seal of approval, "All I needed was a bottle of scotch to go along with this show and it would have been perfect."

Scotch or no scotch, the show was indeed...perfect.

E.C. :)

More Time-Warner Fallout

I wouldn't want to be working in Time-Warner's media relations office this morning (right, Ryan Shell???)

That's because the fallout from yesterday's announcement of a new internet metering scheme here in Greensboro has angered so so many people that many calls are going out for citizens to cancel their service in protest, to the News & Record comment section overflowing from this morning's article, to links of protest websites surfacing.

Make no mistake,this case reopens the discussion advocating for true competition of cable and internet services in the Triad. And a great many of those in the echo chamber want Verizon's FIOS to make a grand entrance in this area.

More coverage today:
Sue Polinsky
Roch Smith
Ed Cone
News & Record-Allen Johnson, Doug Clark
StoptheCap.com
Talk back to Time-Warner here. And here.

Or call them:

Melissa Buscher
Director, Media Relations (919) 654-4618

Susan Leepson
RVP, Communications (704) 206-6964

E.C. :)

Time Warner prepares to rip off Road Runner subscribers

Unfortunately, the bird seed will be charged by the consumption very soon.

In fact, what can be compared to a back-door consumption tax, Time Warner Cable's Road Runner internet subscription service will begin expanding metered internet usage pricing to the Greensboro market. In plain English, Time Warner plans to charge internet customers based on how much data they consume with a new tiered pricing scheme in several markets. Beside Greensboro, markets in New York and Texas are also going to be affected.

My friend Roch Smith is all over this:

Smith:

According to Business Week, Greensboro will be the Guinea Pig for TWC's attempt to "upend a longstanding pricing strategy among Internet service providers." This is a serious affront to Greensboro's economic viability and demands all hands on deck.

If ever Greensboro was serious about inspiring innovation, attracting creative young people and fostering prosperity in industries of the future, it must recognize that impeding access to broadband internet in a way like only three other U.S. cities is a big, bold, speedy move to the bottom. It is the modern equivalent of being one of only a few cities where citizens must pay a fee for every mile they drive. Nobody would move to such a place. No business would expand to such a place. No energetic college student is going to stay in such a place after graduating.

This move demands swift and decisive action from Greensboro's leaders. This cannot be met with genteel, sleepy contemplation.

I wholeheartedly agree.

I'm with you, Roch. And TMW will assist in getting your complaints all the way to the front office, if necessary. I'm in complete opposition to this.

As Roch is suggesting, we need to demand the city rework (or even yank) the franchise agreement with Time Warner. Why don't we have viable competition for cable in this area? Ask or demand they postpone implementation and simultaneously, our city leaders need to look at municipal WiFi. The flip-side is that you will see a stepped-up presence by other ISPs such as AT&T and Clearwire because of this.

What about our schools, public buildings, health facilities, all of whom are likely Time Warner/Road Runner customers? Contracts, already inked...

This is probably more for my sister blog GreensboroMetro, but this area had better start getting serious about its long-term future. Because frankly, its viability and vitality are in serious doubt.

More from the News & Record, BusinessWeek.

E.C. :)

FOX-8 censors The Osbournes

Since FOX-8 (WGHP) is no longer a network O&O (owned and operated) station, they are no longer bound by the network to air the network slate on time. Which is apparently what FOX-8 officials decided to do with the airing of the new Osbournes show this past Tuesday.

The News & Record reports the show didn't air locally until after midnight Tuesday, a decision made by station manager Karen Adams after viewing a preview of the show late last week. Adams reportedly objected to some of the content in the show.

According to a Washington Post report, several other FOX affiliates around the county either chose not to air it or to delay broadcasting of the episode.

N&R:

WGHP station manager Karen Adams said she opted to delay the show after seeing the preview video Friday night. The hugely popular "American Idol" is a family-friendly show, Adams said. This debut episode of "Osbournes Reloaded," she added, was not.

When "American Idol" ended at 9:25 p.m. Tuesday, WGHP ran a special episode of "Deal or Dud," a news segment that evaluates popular consumer products.

"I like Ozzy," Adams said. "I just didn't like him at 9:25 coming off of 'American Idol.'"

Adams said the station got about 60 e-mails from viewers. About 40 percent praised the decision to not air it in prime time. The remaining 60 percent were critical. Adams said many of them had missed the station's announcement that "Osbournes Reloaded" would be delayed and did not see the show.

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I can see why Adams may have made this decision, but I'm not the biggest fan of censorship in this matter. I'm not defending the show, but let families and households make the decision to turn the channel or turn the TV off, as is done in our home.

And believe me, the stuff young people watch today, either on cable or online, or on their portable video players/i-Pods illegally brought to school, is a lot more haunting compared to what's on the Osbournes show.

E.C. :)

"Big Brother" casting call this Saturday

CBS Television is hosting an open casting call for its hit show "Big Brother" this Saturday, April 4. Open auditions will be held at the Carolina Kia/Hyundai dealership on N. Main St. in High Point beginning at 10am. Click here to go to CBS-2 WFMY for additional information.

E.C. :)

Jazz artist Stanley Jordan at High Point Theater this Saturday

A little off-topic, but I said before that I'm a big jazz fan, and I'm a big connoisseur of contemporary jazz. Having said that, one of the things I'd like to do in the coming months is to profile those in the local media scene who have some sort of relationship with jazz, be it jazz DJs (WNAA and WSNC come to mind) or what-have-you.

Anyway, just a shameless plug (I'm not being paid for this) for this Saturday's jazz concert at the High Point Theater featuring contemporary jazz guitarist and legendary recording artist Stanley Jordan. I don't have tickets, can't afford tickets, but I saw this guy in concert many years ago and he can burn up some guitar.

The show is this Saturday, April 4. Doors open at 8:00 PM. Tickets are $25
orchestra, $20 balcony, available through www.highpointtheatre.com. Kudos to the High Point Theater for bringing this guy to town.

E.C. :)

Our tape-delayed CBS Early Show and the Peay Brothers

I don't want to speculate on why the Greensboro's Peay Brothers lost the CBS Early Show's Singing Family Face-Off Competition, but one has to wonder...did the fact that the CBS-2 (WFMY) tape-delay of the Early Show by one hour contribute to the brothers not winning? A number of other major markets around the country obviously had a jump-start on the voting likely because the Early Show broadcasts from 7-9am live. I don't have a dog in the fight one way or the other, but again, one has to wonder.

E.C. :)