Todays News

NBC Learn has launched iCue a free online community that will combine games, video and discussion for students of age 13 and up with the help of NBC’s vast video news archive. NBC Learn is the educational arm of NBC News which will use NBC’s vast video news archive is news source for 13 and up, iCue stands for Immerse, Connect, Understand and Excel, inviting users to “immerse” themselves in self directed and peer-supported active learning using hundreds of videos and other resources from the NBC News archives; “connect” with friends and peers through discussion forums, personal networks, and by sharing learning resources, comments, thoughts, and insights; deepen their “understanding” of core content through thought-provoking games and online challenges; and “excel” in coursework or personal learning goals while building critical thinking and 21st century communication skills. ICue is a dynamic and content rich experience, immersing users in EdutainNet — education, entertainment and peer networking. With this launch, iCue will provide number of topics, including U.S. history, U.S. government and politics, and English language and composition.

Dish Network launched a ‘fiber-to-the-home’ system that can offer up to 400 High-Definition channels to apartment buildings and condo dwellers. The service is called Dish Optical Network programming is delivered via satellite to a base system that can support up to 128 apartments in an MDU. The fiber-to-the-home system can expand the programming capacity and allow users to operate more receivers. Dish Network says the Optical Network will enable each unit to have up to six receivers, including an HD DVR. Dish Network will begin offering the Dish Optical Network to multiple-dwelling-unit properties by the end of the year.

Time Warner Cable has entered a carriage agreement with BabyFirstTV, America’s first and only channel dedicated to child-development programming. Time Warner is to join other multiple system operator’s (MSO) like DirecTV, DISH Network, Comcast, Charter and AT&T to carry the 24/7 commercial-free network for babies and toddlers. BabyFirstTV has now carriage agreements with providers to reach 80% of the US market.

BabyFirstTV has carriage agreement with BSkyB in the U.K., CanalSat in France and Bell ExpressVu and Rogers Cable in Canada and reaches more than 90 million homes globally.

“BabyFirstTV’s outstanding child-development programming—all developed under the guidance of recognized experts in education and pediatrics—is being embraced by families across the country and throughout the world,” said Glenn Kopelson, the executive VP of distribution for BabyFirstTV. “We are extremely delighted to have forged this important alliance with Time Warner Cable and look forward to bringing the unique power of BabyFirstTV to its affiliates.”

Time Warner Cable has announced the winners of its annual National Teacher Awards on Thursday. Time Warner for the past 18 years have honored teachers from coast to coast with Time Warner Cable’s National Teacher Awards, and the winners will encourage others to follow their lead, bringing enrichment and innovation to nation’s classrooms. The winners will receive a $2,000 cash award, a $3,000 technology grant for his/her school, and will be honored during an awards gala June 3 in Washington, D.C.

Time Warner Cable will launch the Discovery’s new HD channel Planet Green on Channel 768 in Brooklyn and Queens, New York area on June 11. Time Warner is also planning to launch on the same day the international premium NTV America on channel 523 and The Jewish Channel on channel 528. In Mt. Vernon area Time Warner will reposition the following channels:
ABC Family HD from channel 739 to 740
HD Theater from channel 706 to 767
ESPN HD from channel 728 to 760
ESPN2 HD from channel 729 to 761
MSG HD from channel 712 to 756
SNY HD from channel 726 to 758
MOJO from channel 721 to 796
HDNET Movies from channel 723 to 797 and
HDNET from channel 724 to 798.
In Mt. Vernon area Time Warner has postponed the launch of ESPN NEWS HD and M HD scheduled on April 30th.

St. Petersburg Bowl formed by ESPN Regional Television, which is owned and maintained by ESPN will be officially part of college football’s bowl lineup for the season 2008-09. NCCA has approved The St. Petersburg Bowl on Wednesday in South Florida along with other 33 bowl games for the season. ESPN already has five other postseason college football bowls like the New Mexico Bowl, the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl,
the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, the Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl and the Papajohns.com Bowl in Birmingham, Ala.
St. Petersburg Bowl one of the 34 licensed by the NCAA for next season will debut in Tropicana Field between Dec. 20-23 this season. The bowl will feature teams from the Big East and Conference USA. After NFL released the schedule, St. Petersburg Bowl organizers has changed the original schedule of Dec. 21 kickoff to Dec. 20.
“The St. Petersburg Bowl is another great bowl opportunity for the Big East,” Commissioner Michael Tranghese said on the Big East Web site. “The game is played in a Big East market and already has generated great interest in the local community. Our coaches are always excited to play a post season game in the state of Florida.” Newly formed The St. Petersburg Bowl will join 32 bowls returning from last season and newly approved “Congressional Bowl” in Washington, D.C.

DirecTV has announced it’s first Quarter 2008 beating the expectations of analysts adding 275,000 subscribers in this quarter an increase of 17% comparing the same quarter last year. The satcaster’s revenue has increased to $4.05 in this quarter. Net income has seen an increase of 10% from 336 million to 371 million and earnings per share has gone up by 19% from $0.27 to $0.32.

“DirecTV’s first quarter results highlight the overall operational and financial strength of our company. Our strategy of offering the best television experience to higher quality customers continues to drive superior financial results,” said Chase Carey, president and CEO of The DIRECTV Group, Inc.

Carey added, “As we discussed at our Investor Day earlier this year, we expect 2008 to be a year in which we take DIRECTV to a whole new level in terms of profitability and cash flow growth. We took an important step toward this goal in the first quarter as DIRECTV U.S. generated $603 million in cash flow before interest and taxes, representing a 76% increase over the prior year. We are confident that we will build on this momentum through initiatives such as further extending our leadership position in content, HD, DVR and interactive services, launching a video-on-demand service and improving customer service both in terms of cost but more importantly, quality.”

Cox Communications has added five high-definition channels in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Cox Communications customers in these area will receive following high-definition channels.

Animal Planet HD

Science HD

Sci-Fi HD

Travel Channel HD and

USA Network HD

Fox Soccer Channel will broadcast live and exclusive English-language coverage of the Toulon International Tournament 2008 held on May 20-29. Fox Soccer Channel to begin its live coverage with the Netherlands game against Japan to be played on Tuesday, May 20 at 12:00 PM. The Final will be played on Thursday, May 29 at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Toulon International Tournament which is held in southern France will feature eight-team who are Olympic qualifiers of 2008 like Japan, the Netherlands, Ivory Coast, Italy and United States. Peter Nowak, the head coach of U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team will announce the team, which would be a mix of Major League Soccer and European-based players.

Toulon International Tournament 2008 schedule

Teams - Date and Time

Netherlands vs. Japan Tuesday, May 20 - 12:00 p.m. ET

France vs. Chile Tuesday, May 20 - 2:30 p.m. ET

Turkey vs. United States Wednesday, May 21 - 9:30 a.m. ET

Italy vs. Ivory Coast Wednesday, May 21 - 12:00 p.m. ET

France vs. Japan Thursday, May 22 - 12:00 p.m. ET

Netherlands vs. Chile Thursday, May 22 - 2:30 p.m. ET

Ivory Coast vs. United States Friday, May 23 - 12:30 p.m. ET

Italy vs. Turkey Friday, May 23 - 2:30 p.m. ET

France vs. Netherlands Saturday, May 24 - 12:30 p.m. ET

Chile vs. Japan Saturday, May 24 - 2:30 p.m. ET

Italy vs. United States Sunday, May 25 - 12:00 p.m. ET

Ivory Coast vs. Turkey Sunday, May 25 - 2:00 p.m. ET

1st Semifinal Tuesday, May 27 - 12:00 p.m. ET

2nd Semifinal Tuesday, May 27 - 2:30 p.m. ET

Third Place Match Thursday, May 29 - 12:00 p.m. ET

Final Thursday, May 29 - 2:30 p.m. ET

Time Warner Cable has launched Jewish Life Television (JLTV) in San Antonio region.
Jewish Life Television is a way to connect to other Jewish community people around the world. Time Warner says that the channel is to deliver quality programming and first 24/7 Jewish television channel in the U.S targetting Jewish people in U.S. Jewish Life Television President and CEO Phil Blazer said “We are honored to announce the partnership with Time Warner Cable in the launching of JLTV in the San Antonio area, This is an important step in our network reaching out to the entire community, as Time Warner Cable in San Antonio is one of its largest systems in the entire country.”