Cox Cable offers family tier

from mediaweek

Cox Latest MSO to Offer Family Tier
Anthony Crupi

Cox Communications has joined Comcast and Time Warner in offering a
family-friendly programming tier.

The privately held Cox announced late Tuesday that it will offer a
package of approximately 40 channels at a cost of about $32 per month,

Barry Margolin...

but didn't go into detail. Does that include the cost of the basic and
digital cable, or is it the cost of the package on top of it?

Obveeus...

I hope that is the total cost (well, taxes and government access fees are
extra, I am sure). 40 channels...with ESPN, Sci-Fi, etc... good stuff
deleted shouldn't cost very much.

I'm still confused as to the purpose of the digital cable box, though. It
isn't like it will be getting any channels. I guess you get the cool TV
Guide and the ability to easily block out even more than you have decided to
block out with 'family tier only', though.

shawn...

They are probably trying to push everyone to getting a digital box so
they can get rid of the analog channels. That would certainly give the
cable company quite a bit of bandwidth to play with. As for blocking
channels, that is a possibility. Although, most people already had
this ability for analog channels with the V-chip.

Barry Margolin...

I think it's necessary because some of the channels are digital-only.

beginning with a first quarter rollout to subscribers in its Fairfax,
Va., San Diego and Tulsa and Oklahoma City, Okla. systems.

Long an advocate for parental controls, Cox said the family tier
package will include a digital set-top box with a front-loaded
interactive program guide that walks parents through the
channel-blocking process.

Obveeus...

Why is something like a 'family tier' even needed if the customer already
has access to a digital cable box with parental controls? The cable company
should be able to set that box up so it can easily be programmed to block
anything but 'G' rated programming.

timeOday...

I think it's goofy that customers have to buy this objectionable content
and *then* block it out. If I find something objectionable, I'd rather
not subsidise it in the first place.

“We are pleased to offer this package to our customers who are
concerned about certain content entering their home,” said Cox
president Pat Esser in announcing the tier. “In addition to our new
family package, I encourage parents to explore parental controls as
well as Cox’s Take Charge initiative.”

Cox said that its main criterion for inclusion is that the networks
must offer G rated fare “suitable for family viewing with minimal
chance of objectionable content or disturbing images.” The MSO also
selected networks with minimal live programming.

In addition to local broadcast affiliates, the new tier will include
Disney Channel, Discovery kids, Headline News, National Geographic
Channel, HGTV, DIY, Nickelodeon, Fit TV, Sprout, Weather Channel (or
Weatherscan Local), Discovery Science, CSPAN, Boomerang, GSN,
Univision, TV Guide Channel and at least one home shopping network.

Cox will also add a religious network and additional Spanish language
nets on a location-by-location basis.

Obveeus...

So, will they publish the list of locations that warrant (or don't warrant)
a religious network? Gotta wonder about the reasoning behind that.

akjack...

It's not clear that a religious network will be added on a location
by location basis.

Perhaps additional Spanish language channels will be offered in
those communities with a significant number of latino viewers.

John Duncan Yoyo...

Some of these religious networks just aren't family friendly.

Time Warner and Comcast announced their own family-friendly tiers at
the tail end of 2005.