Viamedia said it renewed and expanded its ad sales relationship with TDS Telecommunications.

Under the new agreement, Viamedia will represent TDS’s video services in four additional TV markets. The markets are Green Bay, Eau Claire, Milwaukee and Wausau.

Viamedia continues to sell ads for TDS in Madison and Charlotte.

“Viamedia's innovative solutions have been essential for TDS’ content delivery and advertising, particularly as we expand into new television markets including Green Bay, Eau Claire, Milwaukee, and Wausau," said Kristi Ramsey, director of content management at TDS. 

“Their innovative solutions perfectly complement our vision, driving value for advertisers and a superior experience for viewers in both these new and established markets. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to excellence and innovation in engaging with audiences nationwide,” Ramsey said.

Also Read: Viamedia’s Parrot Lines Up Spots on Cable and CTV

TDS provides high-speed internet, TV entertainment and phone services to small to mid-sized communities in 32 states. 

“Expanding Viamedia’s tremendously successful partnership with TDS will further benefit local businesses by enhancing the effectiveness and reach of their advertising,” said Viamedia CEO David Solomon. “TDS has proven to be a great success story in a rapidly changing industry. We are proud to continue our eight-year collaboration, setting new benchmarks for advertising success that benefit advertisers and consumers alike.”

Total global revenue for the broadband access equipment market was $4.4 billion in the first quarter, up 14% and fueled by fiber and fixed wireless access projects, according to a study by the Dell’Oro Group.    

“Despite all the challenges with supply chains, logistics, and labor, service providers continue to invest heavily to expand their fiber broadband networks, particularly in North America,” Dell’Oro Group Vice President, Broadband Access and Home Networking Jeff Heynen said in a press release. “Many of these deployments are to deliver multi-gig services, as operators look to stay one step ahead of their competitors.”

Also: Equipment, Worker Shortage Could Delay Fiber Buildout 

In its 1Q 2022 Broadband Access and Home Networking quarterly report, Dell’Oro found that total cable access concentrator revenue increased 5% year-over-year to about $257 million as solid growth in Distributed Access Architecture (DAA) deployments help offset declines in traditional CCAP licenses. Total fixed wireless CPE unit shipments reached 3.8 million units in the quarter, with 5G Sub-6GHz units showing the fastest growth.

Also: It’s Time to Take Frontier Communications’ Fiber Plans Seriously 

Telco and cable operators across the country have stepped up fiber and fixed wireless deployments, especially as federal funding has emerged to help finance buildouts in rural areas. In addition, Altice USA said earlier this year it would accelerate its fiber-to-the-home build, expanding the technology to 6.5 million homes by 2025. AT&T has plans to pass 30 million additional homes with fiber by 2025 and Frontier Communications said it would extend its fiber network to 10 million homes by 2025,  while other smaller operators like TDS Telecommunications -- which plans to nearly double its total service addresses from 1.4 million to 2.2 million over the next five years, mainly through fiber expansion -- Shentel and MetroNet have all expressed plans to step up buildouts to bring faster speeds and greater capacity to broadband customers.  ■ 

TDS Telecom, despite restarting carriage talks earlier this week, said Friday that it failed to reach an agreement with AMC Networks and has dropped the programmer’s channels from its lineup.

TDS had told customers earlier this month that it would drop the AMC Networks channels -- AMC, BBC America, BBC World News, IFC, Sundance TV and WE TV -- on June 10 in part because of the programmer’s practice of shifting original programming to its streaming service AMC Plus. But talks with the network resumed on June 8. 

In an email message Friday (June 11), TDS Telecom director of external affairs & communications Kit Beyer said a deal with the channels couldn’t be reached, but added if the programmer were to strike a favorable deal with the National Cable Television Cooperative, the buying group for about 700 small cable operators across the country, it may reconsider. TDS is a member of NCTC.

“TDS dropped AMC Network channels as planned and communicated to our customers,”  Beyer said in an email message.  “If AMC comes back to NCTC members that no longer carry the network’s channels and offer lower rates or more flexible package options, creating value for consumers in this new environment of streaming services, TDS would review the terms and relaunch the network.”

According to sources in the cable financial community, AMC Networks completed a comprehensive carriage agreement with the NCTC within the past few months. That deal included more than 600 NCTC members with several million customers. The systems that opted out of that deal accounted for less than 150,000 customers, those same sources said.  

TDS Telecom is part of publicly traded Telephone & Data Systems, and provides TV, broadband and phone service to about 1.2 million customers in 32 states across the country and 280,000 cable subscribers in Texas, New Mexico, North Carolina, Colorado, Utah and Oregon (after its purchases of Crestview Cable in 2017 and Bend Broadband in 2014). The AMC Networks negotiation affects "all TDS and Bend Broadband channel lineups," the company said.

 “We value our relationships with all of our distribution partners and appreciate the ability to bring our popular and critically acclaimed content to viewers and fans through these longstanding and mutually beneficial relationships,” AMC Networks said in a statement. “We are currently looking forward to the premiere of an extended final season of The Walking Dead in August, the continuing expansion of The Walking Dead universe with new shows and returning series like Better Call Saul, Killing Eve, Doctor Who, the best nature programming in the world and other highly anticipated new series." 

AMC Networks launched AMC Plus in June 2020, and the service is available through partners like Comcast, AT&T/DirecTV and Dish Network, as well as via Roku, Amazon, Apple TV, YouTube TV and others. AMC said it had more than six million subscribers to all of its streaming services -- AMC Plus  Acorn TV, Shudder, Sundance Now and ALLBLK -- at the end of 2020 and was on track to finish 2021 with 9 million streaming customers. Suggested pricing for AMC Plus through distributors like Comcast and Dish is $6.99 per month, and $8.99 per month through Apple, Amazon and Roku.

Subscribers to the streaming service have early access to some original shows like like Gangs of London and Kevin Can F**k Himself, which were available to AMC Plus customers one week before they debuted on the linear channel. But unlike other streamers, the AMC Plus service says it doesn’t hold back any programming indefinitely from its linear channels.

Other smaller operators have expressed concern over the increasing shift of original programming from linear to streaming offerings. Conway, Arkansas operator Conway TV dropped AMC on June 10, and Massillon, Ohio-based MCTV shed the channels on June 11.

"We did drop AMC effective this morning," MCTV president Katherine Gessner said in an email message Friday. "It was a combination of declining viewership and availability of programming elsewhere on other linear channels and platforms (including on AMC+) that factored in to our decision."

TDS Telecom, a Madison, Wisconsin-based mid-sized pay TV and broadband service provider, said it has restarted carriage negotiations with AMC Networks, just days after saying they would drop the programmer on June 10 because it is shifting original programming from its linear channels to its streaming service AMC Plus.

TDS Telecom is part of publicly traded Telephone & Data Systems, and provides TV, broadband and phone service to about 1.2 million customers in 32 states across the country and 280,000 cable subscribers in Texas, New Mexico, North Carolina, Colorado, Utah and Oregon (after its purchases of Crestview Cable in 2017 and Bend Broadband in 2014). The AMC Networks negotiation affects "all TDS and Bend Broadband channel lineups," the company said.

TDS has been in talks with AMC Networks since April -- its original carriage agreement was scheduled to expire on May 1. While the pay TV company was granted an extension to continue offering AMC programming while negotiations continued, around June 2 they apparently have reached a stalemate.

In a blog post June 2, TDS said it will no longer carry the channels -- AMC, BBC America, We TV (Women’s Entertainment), BBC World News, IFC, and Sundance -- as of June 10. 

“As with every contract negotiation, TDS looks for a fair and reasonable agreement. AMC launched AMC Plus, a direct to consumer streaming service last year. AMC Plus customers receive exclusive AMC content and early access to favorite ‘best of AMC’ shows and acclaimed movies,” TDS said in the blog post. “TDS does not agree with AMC’s decision to move valued content from live TV distribution to distribution exclusively on their streaming service. Asking cable subscribers to pay more while the AMC Network carves out highly valued content and delivers less to cable subscribers is not fair or reasonable.”

But on June 8, TDS Telecom’s director of external affairs and communications Kit Beyer said talks have resumed. 

“Since TDS notified its customers that it would no longer carry the AMC Network, discussions have restarted with the network,” Beyer said in an email message. “TDS will continue to fight for fair rates and terms for our customers and will strive for a reasonable outcome.” 

Whether that improves the chances that TDS Telecom will  continue to carry the  channels is unclear. In earlier stages of negotiations with the programmer, TDS Telecom appeared to be equally concerned with high prices and programming only available on AMC Plus. 

AMC Networks did not return requests for comment. 

AMC Networks launched AMC Plus in June 2020, and the service is available through partners like Comcast, AT&T/DirecTV and Dish Network, as well as via Roku, Amazon, Apple TV, YouTube TV and others. AMC said it had more than six million AMC plus subscribers at the end of 2020 and was on track to finish 2021 with 9 million streaming customers. AMC Plus is priced at about $8.99 per month.

TDS Telecom’s beef with the programmer is nothing new. Other providers have expressed disdain over networks that stream content at a price equal to or lesser than linear rates. But usually those tiffs get resolved.

Perhaps that will be the case here as well. But the idea that distributors, especially smaller ones that typically pay higher fees, are beginning to get upset that streaming offerings could cannibalize programming from linear channels that are currently paying the freight for programmers, is an issue that shouldn't be ignored. That streaming exclusive programming is becoming an increasingly popular practice among content companies could possibly pose problems in future negotiations, particularly with distributors that don't own content. 

Already MCTV, a small cable provider in Massillon, Ohio, said it would drop the AMC Networks channels on June 11. Conway, Arkansas-based operator Conway Corp. also has plans to drop the channels.

“After a thorough review of costs, viewership and availability of similar programming on our lineup AND on numerous streaming platforms, the decision was made to no longer carry AMC Networks,” MCTV said on its website. 

As a result, MCTV said the monthly rate for basic cable TV service would be reduced by $2, effective July 1. 

Conway TV, an electric, water, TV and telecom utility in Conway, Arkansas, said via Twitter on June 7  that it would drop the AMC channels on June 10. In addition, it is dropping Fusion TV on July 31. 

“We're committed to providing the community with quality TV programming at a competitive price, and these networks have increased their fees at an alarming rate that is unfair to our customers,” Conway TV said on its Twitter feed. 

Centennial, Colo.-based video tech company Evolution Digital touted a key customer win for its Android TV-based eStream 4K set-top, securing deployment with Madison, Wis.-based cable operator TDS Telecom.

TDS touts 1.2 million broadband, TV and phone connections across 24 states. Currently, the MSO is using CommScope’s Arris-branded set-tops with its TDS TV+ IPTV system, which relies on TiVo software running on an Android TV operator tier OS. (In April, CommScope unveiled a plan to spin off its struggling set-top and broadband gateway business.)

In addition to integrating the eStream 4K set-top into the TDS TV+ customer premises equipment portfolio, TDS will also deploy Evolution Digital's eDM back-office software-as-a-service solution (SaaS) product, which will enable the cable operator to monitor devices, perform diagnostics and compute analytics.

TDS joins an Evolution Digital client roster that also includes Liberty Latin America, Blue Stream, Cincinnati Bell, Grande, Metronet, RCN, Midco, Blue Ridge and Service Electric Cablevision. 

“As the popularity of streaming 4K UHD content, online gaming and other services continues to grow, customer premise equipment has increasingly had a larger role in meeting the consumer requirements for connected media experiences,” said Marc Cohen, executive VP of marketing and sales for Evolution Digital, in a statement. “Our Android TV offering, coupled with eDM, facilitate both enhanced customer satisfaction and streamlined OPEX, as operators like TDS can now avoid time and money spent towards truck rolls, equipment replacement and blind, reactive troubleshooting.”

UPDATED: Small cable operators are answering the call to provide wider access to broadband services as the coronavirus pandemic continues to disrupt lives across the country, offering free service to low-income qualifying homes and beefing up speeds to account for increased traffic as residents increasingly work from home.

While larger companies like Comcast,Charter, Altice USA and others have grabbed headlines with their broadband offerings during the crisis, small cable is stepping up to the plate too, including Mediacom Communications, Shenandoah Telecommunications (Shentel) and TDS Telecom, to name a few.

Related: NCTA: Cable Stepping Up to Confront Coronavirus 

Shentel, which offers service in Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Kentucky and Ohio, said it will temporarily increase the speed of every eligible small business and residential broadband data customer to a minimum speed tier of 50 Megabits per second with a 750 gigabyte data allowance at no additional charge regardless of their current plan. In addition, Shentel said it will waive all installation fees for new broadband data subscribers and increase data allowances by 250 GB for all customers whose current rate plan includes a monthly data allowance. These changes take effect immediately and will remain in effect through April 30.

“We believe the decision to increase data speeds and allowances is a critical step to help our customers throughout our service area at this time of great uncertainty,” Shentel CEO Christopher French said in a press release. “Shentel has served many of these markets for more than 100 years and cares deeply for the health and wellbeing of our customers. By temporarily increasing the speeds and data allowances at no additional charge for our customers, we hope we are making the situation surrounding COVID-19 a little easier to deal with when they may be forced to work from home, do school work or attend classes virtually.”

Shentel also addressed concerns over whether its broadband service will be able to handle the increased capacity, adding that its core network is designed with geographically redundant equipment and diverse fiber facilities to support maximum uptime. All network devices support secure remote management and monitoring capabilities.

TDS Telecommunications, which offers service to 900 rural, suburban and metropolitan communities in 26 states, said it will be offering broadband access to low-income individuals and/or families with children and college students for 60 days. This offer is for new customers in communities where TDS provides service.

“As a company, our first priority is the health and well-being of our employees, customers and the communities we serve,” TDS SVP of corporate affairs Drew Petersen said in a press release. “During this difficult time, we want to ensure those who cannot afford broadband services have the essential access they need.”

TDS also signed the “Keep America Connected” pledge, and will forego charging late payment penalties for customers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic; suspend disconnects for customers due to the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic who fail to pay their bills; and open its WiFi hotspots for 60 days.

“We are proud to be associated with this important communications service continuity program and commend the FCC for their proactive attention to public safety during this most difficult time,” Petersen added.

Sparklight (Cable One) is opening  WiFi hotspots across its footprint for public use during the crisis, according to the company. WiFi hotspots can be accessed free of charge in Sparklight local office parking lots. the company announced last week that it is making unlimited data available on all Internet services for the next 30 days, and is offering payment deferrals and waiving late fees for its customers for the next 60 days.

The company said it plans to reassess after 30 days based on the continued impact and evolving nature of the virus. 

“We live and work in the communities we serve and these are our friends and neighbors impacted by effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19), so we want to do our part to help,” CEO Julie Laulis said in a press release. “We understand that our customers rely on their Internet service to stay connected to family, work, school and information, and we are committed to ensuring they receive the assistance they need during this time.”

Later, CableOne said its family of brands (Sparklight, NewWave Communications and Fidelity Communications) are offering a 15 Mbps Internet plan for $10 per month is available for the next 60 days to help low income families, seniors and college students . No documentation will be required to sign up for this plan.

Comporium, the small market cable and telecom company based in xx South Carolina, said it is offering internet to new customers in homes with K-12 and higher education students.

The news comes as South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper moved to close all public schools in those states through the end of March.

Comporium is offering 60 days of free Standard HSI service and free installation to new customers in homes where a student lives and meets the following requirements:

• It is the primary home of a student in kindergarten through high school, in technical school, in college, or in graduate school;
• Currently without our internet service and that hasn’t had internet service with Comporium for the past 90 days; and
• Located where Comporium would normally provide internet service.

Comporium is also waiving installation fees and normal security deposit process and plans to keep this opportunity available to new customers through the end of March, after which it will reevaluate the situation.

The company said it is working with customers to ensure their internet service is not disconnected during the COVID-19 outbreak as well as the Lancaster County School District to assist them as they prepared to meet their students’ needs remotely. As more school districts in its service territory prepare to send students and teachers home, the company said it will assist them in any way to make their jobs easier. 

The company also addressed fears that its network won't be able to handle the additional residential internet traffic, adding that it has recently made upgrades to both its core network and field equipment. The company said its broadband network is "more than capable of handling the additional strain of many people working and learning from home," and that its technicians are also monitoring the network continuously to ensure that they detect and address any problems as soon as possible.

MCTV  in Stark, Wayne and seven other counties in Eastern Ohio also will offer free Internet access for families without online service.

[embed]https://twitter.com/MCTVOhio/status/1239928307413639168[/embed]

“The well-being of our employees, customers and neighbors is our top priority,” said MCTV president Katherine Gessner in a press release. “MCTV is committed to providing the communities we serve reliable access to online resources and information needed to continue education efforts during this time of need.”

MCTV will offer free Internet access for households that do not have an MCTV broadband subscription currently but do have K-12 or college students. Free Internet will be provided for families who have not been a MCTV customer for 90 days. The offer is available now through April 30.

“These are unprecedented times not just for our communities but for the entire world,” Gessner  continued. “The impact of changes we are all experiencing is immense and MCTV will be here to serve our communities so they can stay connected to what matters most at this time – family, friends, education and healthcare resources."

[embed]https://twitter.com/wctel/status/1239964955337613319[/embed]

Other smaller operators like Wyandotte Municipal Services in Wyandotte, Michigan; and Abbeville, South Carolina-based West Carolina Telephone are offering similar free service offerings and fee waivers.  

In addition:

• In Virginia, Illinois, Cass Communications said it will not terminate services to residential or small business customers who cannot pay their bills because of disruptions caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, adding that it also will waive late fees and will open its WiFi hotspots.
• Clinton, North Carolina-based Star Communications said it is working to establish 30 drive-up WiFi hotspots at various schools and other public locations in Sampson and Bladen counties in the state, a move toward facilitating learning for students forced away from their classrooms and a public in need of connectivity during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
• Atlantic Broadband has introduced a special tier for a limited time -- Atlantic Broadband Internet Assist -- for residents in need in its services areas that don’t currently have internet service. The new 15 x 1 Mbps service, normally priced at $9.99 per month plus taxes, will be offered free for 60 days. New Internet Assist customers also will receive free installation and a free modem with the service. The cable operator also has a new tier for business customers that want to supply at home workers with voice and internet service called Atlantic Broadband Business Assist. The Business Assist package includes 50 Mbps High Speed Internet, a modem, a Hosted Voice Seat, and a Polycom Phone (or equivalent). It is being offered on a temporary basis at the discounted rate of $29.99 (a savings of approximately $100/month off standard prices).
• Service Electric has joined the FCC Keep Americans Connected Pledge, adding it will offer free broadband modems to qualifying customers and a 60-day financial grace period, during the outbreak.
• Buckeye Broadband has pledged not to disconnect high-speed internet or phone services to customers for non-payment due to economic hardship related to the outbreak. The policy was effective March 17 and is in place for 30 days. Company leaders said they will continue to review the policy “to ensure we are responding to current conditions and meeting our customers’ needs.” Buckeye Broadband also will work with local schools to identify students whose families cannot afford Internet access, and has committed to provide those students with an Internet connection at no charge during that time so that they can continue their studies.
• Eagle Broadband, Northland Communications and Vyve Broadband have signed the FCC’s Keep Americans Connected pledge. Additionally, customer care teams will offer flexible payment options to help see customers through this period. Eagle, Northland and Vyve are working with local leaders to help keep communities connected and also invite residents in need to use WiFi in the proximity of their local offices.
• Anchorage, Alaska-based GCI is offering existing broadband customers free upgrades to the next higher tier of service until May 31,  and free internet access to qualifying homes until the same date. 

#coronavirus #COVID-19

Arris announced today that its Android TV-based VIP6102W UHD IP set-top will be deployed by TDS Telecom as part of its cloud-based TDS TV+ platform.

Madison, Wisconsin-based TDS plans to launch the IP-based video solution later this year in its central Oregon footprint. Arris has made numerous deployments of Android TV set-tops in Europe, but this is the first time the CommScope-owned company has deployed the solution in North America.

TDS TV+ will featured more than 260 linear channels, on-demand content, pay-per-view programming and TV Everywhere viewing.

Last year, TDS announced the deployment of a full suite of IPTV solutions, including IP VOD, IP linear and cloud DVR, all based on TiVo’s Next-Gen Platform. The TiVo technology works across device ecosystems including managed Android TV set-tops.

Related: TDS Telecom to Launch TiVo Next-Gen Platform

Arris’s VIP6102W UHD IP offers integration between the set-top, cloud TV back office, the TiVo user interface and various third-party apps, including Netflix. A voice controller is also enabled. Arris Professional Services will support the deployment with a customized user experience, integration into the TDS system, and a remote-control firmware upgrade application. Arris’s cloud-based Eco Service Management will help TDS manage the device and provide exceptional customer service.

The VIP6102W is Wi-Fi 5 enabled and 4K capable. 

“We turned to Arris because we needed a more efficient platform for IP video delivery that combined both managed and un-managed video delivery options. The new platform enables TDS to customize the user experience for different customer segments,” said Ken Paker, senior VP of information and network technologies and CTO at TDS. “By combining Arris’ industry-leading technology, services, and experience with Android TV’s user interface, designed around content discovery and voice search, TDS can now provide customers with an easy-to-use, application-based video experience.”

“This is a significant milestone for Arris as we deploy our first Android set-top in North America with TDS,” added Larry Robinson, senior VP and segment leader of customer premises equipment at CommScope. “This suite of customized solutions showcases our portfolio’s unmatched versatility and our range of expertise in serving the unique needs of our operator customers as they deliver the future of TV.”

TDS Telecom said it has reached a retransmission consent agreement with Nexstar Media Group, returning the broadcaster’s television stations to its customers in eight states. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Nexstar stations went dark to about 50,000 TDS customers on Dec. 31 in Indiana, Oregon, New Mexico, Texas, Tennessee, Colorado, Utah and Nevada. The new comprehensive deal will return Nexstar’s ABC, CBS and Fox-affiliated stations and others to TDS subscribers in time to see the Super Bowl, which airs on CBS this Sunday.

“I would like to personally thank our customers for their patience and cooperation during the negotiations,” TDS Telecom CEO Jim Butman said in a statement.. “Because of their support we were able to come to a reasonable agreement with Nexstar.”

Anaheim – With broadband speeds doubling every two years, operators need to focus on innovation, network reliability and connectivity to drive results, a panel of experts said at a Monday (July 31) panel session at The Independent Show here.

Read More: MCN's Coverage of The Independent Show

CableLabs chief operating officer Chris Lammers noted that according to Nielsen's Law, high-end users’ bandwidth needs will grow by 50% every two years. With that in mind, Lammers said ultimate speeds will rise from 1 Gigabit per second in 2016-17, to 10 Gbps by 2023 and 100 Gbps by 2029.

ShenTel senior vice president, cable Tom Whitaker said operators need to make sure their networks are up to snuff to deliver higher and to know who their completion really is. While 5G wireless is getting a lot of press, in many cases the technology isn’t economically feasible for small communities.

Whitaker pointed to a Verizon Communications 5G deployment in Houston that cost the telco about $15.50 per covered POP. In a smaller market, like Lexington, Va., 5G could cost $55 per covered POP.

“Maybe 4G is a better option, a better long-term solution for many wireless networks in most of the small towns where we do business. So, I wouldn’t get all jacked up about 5G unless it’s in a bigger town,” Whitaker said.

Deploying fiber also has a halo effect on the entire company, said TDS Telecom director of product management and development Scott Schultz. While TDS does better in areas where it has deployed fiber, the halo the network gets from offering the service extends to areas it hasn’t upgraded yet. Take rates for copper-based services increased about 9% in neighborhoods that haven’t gotten the full fiber treatment yet, Schultz said.

“Even when you don’t have fiber to add, it works,” Schultz said. 

TDS Telecom has signed on to launch TiVo’s next-generation platform to cable and wireline subscribers across its footprint beginning this week, allowing its customers to easily access traditional pay TV and online services through their remotes.

TiVo’s Next-Gen Platform will allow TDS to deliver hyper-personalization, advanced search and recommendations, voice control, seamless discovery across linear, over-the-top, on-demand and cloud-DVR platforms, with multi-screen capabilities via a cloud-based, device-agnostic service.

“TiVo’s Next-Gen Platform helps TDS deliver the very best in entertainment to our customers,” said TDS Telecom vice president, marketing & product development Julie Maiers in a statement. “TDS is committed to the advancement of innovation, and TiVo’s industry leading solutions bring us the rapid feature velocity and agility to stay ahead of the competition in an ever-changing media landscape.”

TDS Telecom hasn’t decided when it will launch the TiVo product, but Maiers said in an interview that it would likely be on one of the company’s larger markets.

“It will be a gradual roll-out,” Maiers said. “Not all of the timelines are worked out. We still have a lot of work to do.”

TDS has offered IPTV service for years but this is the first time it will use a TiVo service.

“We’re extremely excited to bring this product to our customers,” Maiers said.

TDS’s video solution will include a full suite of IPTV solutions, including IPVOD, IP linear, start-over/catch-up and nDVR. TiVo’s Next-Gen Platform will power a consistent experience across many devices including managed Android TV set-top boxes and unmanaged consumer-owned streaming devices like Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, iOS and Android mobile devices.

The product also utilizes Nokia’s Velocix Media Delivery Platform.

“We’re delighted to be working closely with TiVo and TDS Telecom to deliver a truly compelling entertainment experience to TDS subscribers,” said Nokia VP of sales Scott Cohen in a statement. “The combination of Nokia’s Velocix Media Delivery Platform and TiVo’s User Experience is an ideal choice for anyone interested in a pre-integrated, best-of-breed IP video solution that can power cloud DVR, linear, and video on demand services on every consumer screen.”

Related: TiVo Goes Device-Agnostic with New Platform for MVPDs 

TiVo first announced the Next-Gen Platform at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January. Since then it has signed up operators like Service Electric. 

“We are thrilled to partner with TDS Telecom and bring our industry-leading innovations and must-have features to their customers,” said TiVo senior vice president and general manager, user experience Michael Hawkey in a statement. “TiVo’s robust product portfolio provides the flexibility, scalability and next-gen IPTV services that will enable TDS Telecom to better anticipate and address constantly evolving consumer behaviors and needs.”

Headquartered in Madison, Wis., TDS Telecom is the seventh largest local exchange telephone company in the country and has about 1.2 million revenue generating units, a combination of video, voice and telephony customers, in nearly 900 communities in 24 states. Overall, TDS Telecom has about 50,000 wireline video customers and 70,000 cable video customer across the country.

Its parent Telephone and Data Systems provides wireless, cable and wireline broadband, TV and voice and hosted and managed services to more than 6 million connections nationwide through its businesses U.S. Cellular, TDS Telecom, OneNeck IT Solutions LLC, and TDS Broadband Service. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Chicago, Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. employs more than 9,900 people.

Viamedia said it's reached an agreement with TDS Telecom to represent advertising sales for TDS video services in four markets:  Nashville and Knoxville, Tenn.; Jacksonville, Fla., and Madison, Wisc. "We have important plans to grow our advertising revenues while insuring that our advertisers can reach the right viewers and consumers with the right messages," Shane West, vice president of marketing and product development for TDS, said in a release. "Viamedia is the right partner to help us achieve these objectives, and to help us grow our business."

TDS, headquartered in Madison, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems Inc. and is the seventh-largest local exchange carrier in the United States. TDS offers phone, broadband and video services to customers in more than 100, suburban, and metropolitan communities. In 2014 TDS bought the former BendBroadband and Baja Broadband triple-play operations.

"TDS is an ideal fit for Viamedia; it's a strong, well-run independent provider of video services whose business we can help grow," Viamedia CEO Mark Lieberman said in the release. "This agreement solidifies our footprint and audience reach throughout Tennessee, significantly strengthens our presence in northeast Florida, and adds an important market in Wisconsin."

TDS Telecom, a unit of Telephone and Data Systems, said it closed its previously announced purchase of BendBroadband in Oregon for $261 million. This represents TDS's second cable operations buy, having also purchased Baja Broadband, a New Mexico-based cable firm operating in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Utah, for $267.7 million. TDS said it will manage the acquired BendBroadband businesses, which also include The Vault, a data center operation, and Zolo Media, which manages and sells advertising on three Oregon TV stations and cable networks in the state. TDS's OneNeck It Solutions plans to integrate The Vault into its data-center portfolio.

"Our success will be fueled by a geographic region that is exploding with business growth and residential development. It's the hot spot of Central Oregon," TDS Telecom CEO David A. Wittwer said in a release. "I believe the BendBroadband businesses have significant potential to deliver increased returns over time and the team of talented employees in Bend will help us expand our cable operations and expertise in other states as well."

Previously it was reported that BendBroadband had about 36,000 video customers, 41,000 high-speed data subscribers and 22,000 digital telephony customers in Central Oregon. It had  2013 revenue of $70 million and nearly 300 employees, who have now joined TDS Telecom.