YES Network says yes to AT&T U-verse

The telcos keep on coming. The YES Network today announced that AT&T U-verse service will carry the network for Connecticut subscribers. The service is one of the most eagerly anticipated for the techy
geek community as it was delayed for months by interoperability
problems between the Microsoft IPTV platform and software and set-top
boxes. Problems with channel changing and other glitches were among the
early concerns and those who have been following those woes are curious
to see if the rollout across the country will be able to meet the
demands of customers.

AT&T U-verse TV is delivered by Project Lightspeed, the company’s
initiative to expand the fiber-optics network deeper into neighborhoods
to deliver U-verse TV, AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet U-verse
Enabled and, in the future, Voice over IP services. Through its
subsidiaries, AT&T expects to reach nearly 19 million households by
the end of 2008 as part of its initial deployment, using
fiber-to-the-node (FTTN) and fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) technologies.

The service is also one of the most eagerly anticipated for the techy geek community as it was delayed for months by interoperability problems between the Microsoft IPTV platform and software and set-top boxes. Problems with channel changing and other glitches were among the early concerns and those who have been following those woes are curious to see if the rollout across the country will be able to meet the demands of customers.

But for today at least the focus is on a carriage deal.

“Now AT&T U-verse TV customers in Connecticut can enjoy one of the most watched regional sports network in the country,” said Dan York, head of programming, AT&T Operations, Inc. “We’re thrilled to add YES to our expansive sports programming lineup so Yankees and Nets fans in Connecticut can watch their favorite teams.”

“The New York Yankees enjoy arguably the most passionate and loyal fan base in all of sports, and AT&T U-verse customers in Connecticut now have the opportunity to follow their favorite players and team more closely than ever before,” said Ray Hopkins, COO, the YES Network. “They can also catch the Nets and our full slate of award-winning Yankees- and Nets-themed studio and magazine shows.”