According to an article on Multichannel News, the folks at the Discovery channel are pursuing legal action against DISH Network satellite TV for sending its content over the Internet.

The issue involves DISH Network’s Slingbox enabled setup.  Using the Slingbox device, DISH Network subscribers can access their DISH Network service from pretty much anywhere, including mobile and Internet devices.  Discovery contests that DISH does not have their permission to send its content over the Internet.

The article claims Discovery is “considering the implications of the Dish technology and the appropriate manner to resolve those implications.”

The big question is, “Why?”  From the outside looking in it would appear that DISH Network was not simply sharing the Discovery content freely over the Internet.  The shows were only available to DISH Network satellite TV subscribers just as it is if those same subscribers were watching TV in their living rooms.

If you took a look at the year in Review for cable and satellite TV, this kind of action is nothing new.  Content providers and rebroadcasters have been at each other’s throats all year and there is no end in sight.  Look for more of the same in the year to come.

It looks like Comcast cable TV is gearing up for Internet enabled television with a service called “Xfinity Spectrum”.

Todd Spangler over at Multichannel News recently reported on documents filed with the FCC.  According to Spangler, “[S]et-top manufacturer Pace has developed a four-tuner HD digital video recorder that Comcast is using to test Xfinity Spectrum, a service that blends TV programming with Internet content including e-mail and YouTube video clips.”  It looks like Comcast cable TV is building an immersive experience based on using the Internet as a full spectrum entertainment resource to provide movies, TV shows, online socializing via Twitter and Facebook, and information about whatever it is you happen to be watching.

The new service is currently being tested in a small section of August, Georgia.

Here’s some interesting news from the world of satellite TV providers.  The two largest satellite TV providers, DISH Network and DIRECTV, are suing the state of Utah.

According to an article by John Eggerton on Broadcasting & Cable, “Dish and DirecTV, joined by a subscriber, have filed suit in a Utah district court against what they argue is a tax break that only applies to its cable competition and cable sees as an effort to equalize the tax burden on cable and satellite.”  DIRECTV and DISH Network claim their customers are the victims of a discriminatory tax based on the economic advantages created when companies use the “public rights-of-way” to deliver broadband.  In short, because their customers ditched cable for satellite they’re subject to higher taxes, because satellite TV companies don’t use teh same local resources as cable companies.

The satellite TV companies are challenging similar taxes in multiple other states, including Florida, Massachusetts, Ohio, and Tennessee.

Customers with Suddenlink cable TV in areas of Lubbock and Midland, Texas can now take advantage of the partnership between Suddenlink and TiVo.

Suddenlink just announced the launch of the new TiVo Premiere DVR.  After anouncing their partnership back in July, Suddenlink cable TV customers can now enjoy Internet programming and browsing through their TVs.  Currently avialable on in Lubbock and Midland, Texas, the new TiVo Premiere DVR allows customers to access Suddenlink’s Video On Demand library, as well as Internet video and web apps like Facebook and Twitter.  The new device also allows customers to schedule recordings from mobile devices, so you truly never have to miss a show.

As the web and cable TV entertainment become more and more inseparable, it’s nice to see partnerships like Suddenlink cable TV and TiVo.  It’s a positive step toward bridging the transmission gap that truly seems to have the customer in mind.  Speaking about the web/TV integration in this morning’s press release,  Tom Rogers, President and CEO of TiVo, says, “TiVo and Suddenlink share a common goal: to deliver a unique product that offers customers the only cable solution that combines linear channels, cable video on demand and Web entertainment all in one device.”

You can see which Suddenlink plans are available in your area by entering your address in the “Savings Widget” at the top of the page.

It looks like Comcast cable TV is in the early stages of challenging Internet TV devices like Apple TV and the Logitech Revue with Google TV.  As more Internet powered TV devices hit the market, cable TV providers like Comcast must answer the call and this is a major step in the right direction.

According to an article from the Wall Street Journal’s Technology section, Comcast is in the midst of a localized test in Augusta, Georgia.  The claims the test allows users to “watch and search a smattering of Web video through their televisions and search across live, on-demand and recorded programming.”

The article repeatedly sites “a person close to the matter” who offers up all kinds of interesting tidbits.  This mystery person claims, among other things, that the new service offers a more image based user interface that makes it easier to watch TV while browsing other channels in the guide.  This appears to be more in-line with the recent trend in visually appealing “apps” that have made the leap from the iPhone to your television.  Even TV makers are shipping TVs with on board access to Internet enabled content and apps, like Facebook, Netflix and Twitter.

Traditional providers, like Comcast cable TV, will continue to explore Internet-based content and the market will continue to accept more of these new Internet-born devices.  The coming years should certainly prove entertaining.

While satellite TV providers continue to make steady gains with the digital TV consumers, there seems to always be one complaint.  Why can’t I bundle satellite TV with phone and Internet?  Well, you can.  Not to toot our own horn, but Allconnect, in some areas, can already help you set up a satellite TV bundle along with your new TV and Internet service.  Of course, satellite TV providers also want to be able to provide you phone, TV Internet bundles and they continue to work toward that goal.

According to multiple sources, DIRECTV has conducted test with Verizon LTE to provide satellite TV and Internet bundles in the Pennsylvania area.  Multichannel News reports that the Verizon LTE wireless service is capable of  reaching millions of customers in 38 separate markets with  a speed of 5 to 12 mbps.  That’s not too shabby.  Coupled with DIRECTV satellite TV you home would be quite the entertainment powerhouse.

Of course DISH Network would also like to bundle satellite TV and Internet services.  The Sky Report claims DISH Network filed for approval from the FCC to allow Liberty Bell to accept investment capital from DISH.  That would obviously give Liberty Bell reason to offer up its Qwest based network for bundling options.

Taking advantage of its new digital setup and the popularity of the Apple iPad, Comcast cable TV launches the Xfinity TV™ iPad App.

According to a press release issued by Comcast, “The Xfinity TV app is a TV guide and a mobile video player all in one. It enables customers to change TV channels from the iPad and helps them to search and instantly find what to watch among thousands of choices – including top movies and premium cable shows – on TV, On Demand, online or on the iPad.”  Comcast digital cable TV customers can choose movies and shows directly from the TV listings or by browsing titles available On Demand. You can even program your home DVR or create a “watchlist” to watch the shows and movies you like anytime, anywhere.

The Xfinity TV™ app is available now as a free download to Comcast digital TV customers from the iTunes app store.

It seems as tough there is no shortage of controversy in the world of cable TV providers and online movies, TV episodes and bandwidth.  This time around, we’re discussing Comcast cable TV and a company called Level 3.  Most of you, if not all, are familiar with Comcast cable TV.  Comcast provides cable TV and high speed Internet services all over the country.  Level 3, on the other hand, is a lot less well known.

That’s because Level 3 is an “Internet backbone”.  They provide the bandwidth to get your online movies from Netflix or Hulu over to your Comcast high speed Internet and eventually to your house.  Of course, it takes only a few seconds for that to transpire.  The problem stems from the popularity of online movies services like Netflix and Hulu.  It takes bandwidth to stream these to your computer and TV and the amount of data changing hands has increased greatly due to the popularity of online movies.

According to American Public Media, Netflix online movies account for roughly 20 percent of high speed Internet traffic in the US.  That’s a hefty sum – 20 percent . . . of the Internet.  To help offset the load, Level 3 claims Comcast cable TV is charging increased fees.  Of course, as American Public Media states, “Steve Schultz, associate director at the center for information technology policy at Princeton, . . . says no one’s going to block Netflix. But the way it’s going to ultimately shake out is with you and me paying more for all these movies. It’s just a question of whether we’ll pay higher Comcast rates, higher Netflix rates, or both. And how much more we’ll pay.”