Washington

Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin

(108,234 posts) Tue May 12, 2015, 09:02 PM May 2015

CenturyLink tests fiber broadband television service, Prism TV, in Seattle

Speaking as one who lives in an area where FIOS is available it's nice to have an alternative to Comcrap. Hope this works out for Seattle.

Some Seattle residents will soon have an alternative to Comcast's cable television service.

CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL) is testing its new TV service in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, which, if it's adopted, would present new competition to entrenched cable TV provider Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA).

The city of Seattle confirmed Tuesday that it has begun talks with CenturyLink to hammer out a franchise agreement for the service.

CenturyLink’s Prism TV is unique because it is delivered not through the cable network, but through fiber broadband where gigabit service is available. CenturyLink has been coy about when and where it will roll out the service in Seattle, but now it seems Capitol Hill will be one of the first areas to try to service.

CenturyLink sent flyers to the residents of the new apartment building Evolve Apartments on 954 E. Union St. One of the PSBJ's reporters lives in the building.

The deal offers residents a free six-month trial of Prism, which includes live TV and on-demand services.

"We are excited to announce a Prism TV service trial in select areas of Seattle and Bellevue," the flyer reads.

The Seattle City Council made it easier for CenturyLink to offer TV services in Seattle when it voted in March to eliminate the longstanding district franchise system, which required TV providers to bring cable TV to several neighborhoods in bunches. That made rollouts more difficult because it requires more infrastructure the larger the service area.

-more-

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/techflash/2015/05/centurylink-tests-fiber-broadband-television.html?ana=e_sea_bn_exclusive&u=ColXVN5SPzQtLHFP87ho2w07857290&t=1431476340&page=all

4 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

CenturyLink tests fiber broadband television service, Prism TV, in Seattle (Original Post) Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin May 2015 OP

Hope it expands from Seattle proper. I need to get away from Comcast as it's too much. freshwest May 2015 #1

If you want that, check Upgrade Seattle eridani May 2015 #3

Unfortunately, I'm just outside the city limits, on the border. I do get City Lights, and I love it. freshwest May 2015 #4

Remember how Comcast sued Chattanooga, wouldn't build high speed internet?.. eridani May 2015 #2

freshwest

(53,661 posts)

1. Hope it expands from Seattle proper. I need to get away from Comcast as it's too much.

Reply to Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin (Original post)

Tue May 12, 2015, 09:26 PM

May 2015

Century Link also offers a firm contract for less than Comcast. Comcast is driving people away with their prices and not keeping their word. Thanks for the news.

eridani

(51,907 posts)

3. If you want that, check Upgrade Seattle

Reply to freshwest (Reply #1)

Wed May 13, 2015, 11:46 PM

May 2015

Upgrade Seattle working on municipal broadband.
http://www.upgradeseattle.com/

freshwest

(53,661 posts)

4. Unfortunately, I'm just outside the city limits, on the border. I do get City Lights, and I love it.

Reply to eridani (Reply #3)

Thu May 14, 2015, 02:10 AM

May 2015

I can't get out of this capitalist hellhole we're stuck in. And the DINOs (libertarian democrats) are mucking things up.

Plus we've got an increasing crowd of Baggers who are screwing up our local elections. But, it's much better than red hell on the east side, anyway.

eridani

(51,907 posts)

2. Remember how Comcast sued Chattanooga, wouldn't build high speed internet?..

Reply to Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin (Original post)

Wed May 13, 2015, 11:45 PM

May 2015

.http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/05/12/1384088/-Remember-how-Comcast-sued-Chattanooga-wouldn-t-build-high-speed-internet-Well

Comcast sued Chattanooga Electric Power Board (EPB) 7 years ago. They lost.

The suit had been filed in September 2007 in the Davidson County Chancery Court. It sought a declaratory judgment that EPB was violating state law by improperly using municipal electric utility funds to subsidize its recent cable/Internet venture.

Comcast lost that suit and the follow-up suit they filed in 2008 was dismissed.

Then Comcast claimed faster internet was too expensive and also pointless. They were wrong about that too. So very very wrong.

Thanks to an ambitious roll-out by the city’s municipally owned electricity company, EPB, Chattanooga is one of the only places on Earth with internet at speeds as fast as 1 gigabit per second – about 50 times faster than the US average.

The tech buildup comes after more than a decade of reconstruction in Chattanooga that has regenerated the city with a world-class aquarium, 12 miles of river walks along the Tennessee River, an arts district built around the Hunter Museum of American Arts, high-end restaurants and outdoor activities.

Reply to this discussion