WideOpenWest announced that its new Android TV Operator Tier-based video solution, WOW! tv+, is now deployed in 95% of the cable operators footprint. 

WOW!, as the Englewood, Colo. MSO brands itself, now offers broadband customers who also want video through the provider a choice between bundling WOW! tv+, or third-party virtual MVPD services YouTub TV, fuboTV, Philo and Sling TV. 

Also read: WOW! tv+ Lives? MSO Touts Rollouts in Chicago, Detroit and Evansville, Ind.; Still Isn’t Marketing Android TV System

WOW! tv+ includes a leased proprietary set-top, priced at $10 a month per unit, a cloud DVR, three programming tiers, and the usual Android TV accoutrements of Google Play and Google Assistant. Subscribers can also bundle HBO, Cinemax, Showtime and Starz through the service. 

The base tier (branded “Small”) includes mainly just local broadcast channels. “Medium TV” provides major basic cable networks, including ESPN. “Large TV” gets you a huge selection of channels that appears to also include all four of the aforementioned premium networks.

WOW! isn't disclosing WOW! tv+ pricing, which appears to be set by region.

The service first launched din Columbus, Ohio back in March. 

WOW! tv+ is available in Auburn, Huntsville and Montgomery, Alabama; Augusta, Columbus and Fort Gordon, Georgia; Charleston, South Carolina; Chicago, Illinois; Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio; Evansville, Indiana; Knoxville, Tennessee; Mid-Michigan and Southeast Michigan; Pinellas and Panama City, Florida

WideOpenWest lost another 14,100 linear video customers in the second quarter, and the Englewood, Colo.-based tier 2 cable operator is just fine with that. 

WOW CEO Teresa Elder told investment analysts Tuesday that the MSO is actively seeking to transition its traditional bundled video customers into streaming TV products that compliment what is now its core offering, high-speed internet. 

“That is our philosophy,” Elder said. “Our plan is to migrate our legacy video customers to high-speed data only and HSD and streaming solution or our IP based WOW! tv+ offering with high-speed data. This migration gives our customers more choice and potential cost savings while it also drives our network efficiency.”

WOW’s revenue from high-speed data services was up 5.3% year over year to $137.3 million in the second quarter, with the company picking up another 8,000 broadband customers. It’s HSD subscriber base now stands at 805,600 vs. just 351,700 customers for the service that put WOW and the rest of the cable industry in business in the first place decades ago, delivering linear TV. 

Also read: WOW! tv+ Lives? MSO Touts Rollouts in Chicago, Detroit and Evansville, Ind.; Still Isn’t Marketing Android TV System

But WOW, like virtually every other cable operator on the planet, is now focused on growing HSD customers. With 75% of its user base now streaming video, getting customers to use either a third-party virtual pay TV service like Philo, fuboTV or YouTube TV, or WOW’s own “curated” streaming video platform, WOW! tv+, “moves customers off of our QAM network onto the IP network which absolutely gives us better network efficiency,” Elder said. 

As WOW looks at “transitioning” its customer base to HSD-only complimented by streaming video, there’s been some confusion as to execution. 

WOW has marketed third-party virtual MVPDs with its internet services. It’s also marketing a proprietary Android TV-based IP video service, WOW! tv+, in six markets. 

“We see our existing video customers disconnecting from the video service, which is fine, and moving to our high-speed data with one of our OTT or streaming services,” Elder said. “And then the third option for those customers that still want a curated product from us. We feel great about the WOW! tv+ service. It offers benefits to the customers.”

Not only does WOW! tv+ remove QAM network congestion, it delivers a higher Net Promotor Score than WOW’s traditional video service, Elder added. 

“it’s a win-win, a positive for the customers and it’s also a positive for us,” she said.

Englewood, Colo.-based cable operator WideOpenWest (WOW) said it has expanded the rollout of its new Android TV-base pay TV system, WOW! tv+ to Chicago, Detroit and Evansville, Ind.

But it’s still tough to understand how the video system—deployed earlier this year in Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio, as well as Central Michigan—fits into WOW’s broader video strategy.

Also read: WideOpenWest Stops Marketing WOW! tv+, But Insists It’s Still ‘Very Much Part’ of Portfolio

As Next TV reported in mid-June, WOW has stopped marketing WOW! tv+ on the internet, choosing instead to promote bundling of third-party virtual pay TV services with its high-speed internet offerings.

Simultaneous to its initial market trials of WOW! tv+, the cable operator in February tested a scheme of offering customers the choice of Sling TV, fuboTV, YouTube TV or Philo when they signed up for high-speed internet service.

Across the 19 markets WOW serves, including those where WOW! tv+ is available, clicking on the “streaming TV” tab on the company’s landing page menu will surface the option to bundle those third-party services. WOW! tv+ is not listed as an option.

“WOW! tv+ is an important choice we offer customers and we're committed to continuing to introduce it in markets across our footprint,” the company said in a statement. “Consumer behavior shows us they want the ease and flexibility of an HSD Only service. We've designed our marketing, including the offerings we showcase on wowway.com, to fulfill that desire.”

So how much is WOW charging for WOW! tv+? "Pricing varies depending on the package purchased," the company said in a separate email statement. "Pricing ranges from a low of $20 per month to $75 per month. Most of our WOW! tv+ customers choose a package priced somewhere in the middle."

WOW insists the platform remains part of its toolbox for addressing broadband customer appetites for OTT services.

"Our WOW! tv+ customers tell us how much they like the product and how easy it is to use. We are pleased to offer WOW! tv+ to our customers in these additional markets and provide an enhanced viewing experience backed by our reliable high-speed network," said Teresa Elder, CEO of WOW, in the morning press release announcing the expansion. "It is especially important in challenging times that we offer services to our customers that offer choices for where, when and how they want to access information and entertainment.”

Englewood, Colo.-based cable operator WideOpenWest (WOW) said it has expanded the rollout of its new Android TV-base pay TV system, WOW! tv+ to Chicago, Detroit and Evansville, Ind.

But it’s still tough to understand how the video system—deployed earlier this year in Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio, as well as Central Michigan—fits into WOW’s broader video strategy. 

Also read: WideOpenWest Stops Marketing WOW! tv+, But Insists It’s Still ‘Very Much Part’ of Portfoli

As Next TV reported in mid-June, WOW has stopped marketing WOW! tv+ on the internet, choosing instead to promote bundling of third-party virtual pay TV services with its high-speed internet offerings. 

Simultaneous to its initial market trials of WOW! tv+, the cable operator in February tested a scheme of offering customers the choice of Sling TV, fuboTV, YouTube TV or Philo when they signed up for high-speed internet service. 

Across the 19 markets WOW serves, including those where WOW! tv+ is available, clicking on the “streaming TV” tab on the company’s landing page menu will surface the option to bundle those third-party services. WOW! tv+ is not listed as an option. 

“WOW! tv+ is an important choice we offer customers and we're committed to continuing to introduce it in markets across our footprint,” the company said in a statement. “Consumer behavior shows us they want the ease and flexibility of an HSD Only service. We've designed our marketing, including the offerings we showcase on wowway.com, to fulfill that desire.”

So how much is WOW charging for WOW! tv+? "Pricing varies depending on the package purchased," the company said in a separate email statement. "Pricing ranges from a low of $20 per month to $75 per month. Most of our WOW! tv+ customers choose a package priced somewhere in the middle."  

WOW insists the platform remains part of its toolbox for addressing broadband customer appetites for OTT services. 

"Our WOW! tv+ customers tell us how much they like the product and how easy it is to use. We are pleased to offer WOW! tv+ to our customers in these additional markets and provide an enhanced viewing experience backed by our reliable high-speed network," said Teresa Elder, CEO of WOW, in the morning press release announcing the expansion. "It is especially important in challenging times that we offer services to our customers that offer choices for where, when and how they want to access information and entertainment.”

WOW at this point is leaning toward marketing someone else’s video service, not its own. 

Englewood, Colorado-based WOW has stopped promoting in-house Android TV-based video service WOW! tv+ and is now instead marketing virtual MVPDs from other companies to WOW broadband customers. 

“As more and more cable customers choose to cut the cord and demand more flexible options for where, when and how they consume news and entertainment, WOW has shifted to meet those demands,” the company said. 

Currently, landing pages for specific regions within WOW’s footprint heavily promote WOW high-speed internet products. Clicking on the “Streaming TV” tab in those regions surfaces marketing for third-party virtual MVPD services YouTube TV, fuboTV, Sling TV and Philo, with nary a mention of WOW! tv+.

In February, WOW said it would conduct a trial in Charleston, South Carolina, where it would market those four vMVPD services to its high-speed internet customers in the region. That trial has apparently been expanded to other parts of the WOW footprint. 

“Our strategic focus is on our broadband business and we have updated wowway.com to better serve consumers as they increasingly choose streaming services over traditional video,” the company said. “Most of WOW’s new customers are now choosing our HSD-only offering as they look for a viewing experience that better aligns with their budget and entertainment preferences.”

It was only early March when WOW also began testing WOW! tv+ in Columbus, Ohio. It expanded those tests to Cleveland and Central Michigan last month. 

“WOW! tv+ is very much a part of our product and services portfolio that is designed to offer consumers maximum flexibility and choice,” the company said. “We continue to introduce WOW! tv+ in new markets across our footprint. 

“If a customer requests a more traditional video experience, we are able to offer WOW! tv+ and our traditional video product, when WOW! tv+ isn’t available, through our call centers and sales teams,” WOW added. 

Has WideOpenWest (WOW) given up already on WOW! tv+?

Tough to say, because the message coming out of the Englewood, Colo.-based cable company is decidedly mixed. 

WOW said it remains committed to the Android TV-based video platform it only recently began testing in three markets. 

"WOW! tv+ is an important choice we offer customers and we're committed to continuing to introduce it in markets across our footprint," a company statement issued Thursday said.

But it admits that it has stopped promoting the service on landing pages for those regions. 

“As more and more cable customers choose to cut-the-cord and demand more flexible options for where, when and how they consume news and entertainment, WOW has shifted to meet those demands,” the statement also said.

Currently, those landing pages heavily promote WOW high-speed internet products. Clicking on the “Streaming TV” tab in those regions surfaces marketing for third-party virtual MVPD services YouTube TV, fuboTV, Sling TV and Philo, with nary a mention of WOW! tv+.

In February, WOW announced a trial in the Charleston, S.C. market where it would market those four vMVPD services to local high-speed internet customers. That trial has apparently been expanded to other parts of the WOW footprint. 

Also read: Cable Operator WOW! to Market vMVPDs Sling TV, YouTube TV, fuboTV and Philo in Charleston

“Our strategic focus is on our broadband business and we have updated wowway.com to better serve consumers as they increasingly choose streaming services over traditional video,” the company stated. “Most of WOW's new customers are now choosing our HSD-only offering as they look for a viewing experience that better aligns with their budget and entertainment preferences.”

Also read: WideOpenWest Expands Android TV-based WOW! tv+ to Cleveland and Central Michigan

It was only early March when WOW also began testing WOW tv+ in Columbus, Ohio. It expanded those tests to Cleveland and Central Michigan last month. 

“WOW! tv+ is very much a part of our product and services portfolio that is designed to offer consumers maximum flexibility and choice. We continue to introduce WOW! tv+ in new markets across our footprint,” the statement said. 

“If a customer requests a more traditional video experience, we are able to offer WOW! tv+ and our traditional video product, when WOW! tv+ isn't available, through our call centers and sales teams,” WOW added. 

WOW!'s HSD service passes nearly 2 million residential, business and wholesale consumers in 15 markets, primarily in the Midwest and Southeast, including Michigan, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, including the new all-fiber network in Central Florida.

Englewood, Colorado-based cable operator WideOpenWest has announced the expansion of its new Android TV-based video platform, WOW! tv+, to its Cleveland and central Michigan footprint.

Also read: Android TV: Everything You Need to Know About the World’s Fastest Growing Video Operating System

WOW! tv+ features the usual Android TV accoutrements: That is, access to Netflix, YouTube and every other OTT app in the vast flora and fauna of the Google Play store. It will also have voice navigation capabilities, of course, from the native integration of Google Assistant.

Visit Next TV to read more stories like this one. 

WOW is now bundling WOW! tv+ for its high-speed internet users who don’t take its decline and increasingly marginalized linear video service.

> "Consumers want choices. They want to determine when, where and how they consume information and entertainment," said Teresa Elder, CEO of WOW, in a statement. "We're seeing seismic shifts in the industry and WOW! tv+ is one more way our customers can seek news and entertainment on their terms. As efficient use of our broadband network becomes more important, moving to an IP-based video service makes perfect sense and provides our customers with an enhanced viewing experience.”

Englewood, Colorado-based cable operator WideOpenWest has announced the expansion of its new Android TV-based video platform, WOW! tv+, to its Cleveland and central Michigan footprint. 

Also read: Android TV: Everything You Need to Know About the World’s Fastest Growing Video Operating System

WOW! tv+ features the usual Android TV accoutrements: That is, access to Netflix, YouTube and every other OTT app in the vast flora and fauna of the Google Play store. It will also have voice navigation capabilities, of course, from the native integration of Google Assistant. 

WOW is now bundling WOW! tv+ for its high-speed internet users who don’t take its decline and increasingly marginalized linear video service. 

"Consumers want choices. They want to determine when, where and how they consume information and entertainment," said Teresa Elder, CEO of WOW, in a statement. "We're seeing seismic shifts in the industry and WOW! tv+ is one more way our customers can seek news and entertainment on their terms. As efficient use of our broadband network becomes more important, moving to an IP-based video service makes perfect sense and provides our customers with an enhanced viewing experience.”

WideOpenWest announced this week that it’s testing a new Android TV-based video system in its Columbus, Ohio footprint.

WOW! tv+ will have the usual Android TV accoutrements: That is, access to Netflix, YouTube and every other OTT app in the vast flora and fauna of the Google Play store. It will also have voice navigation capabilities, of course, from the native integration of Google Assistant. 

Also read: Cable Operator WOW! to Market vMVPDs Sling TV, YouTube TV, fuboTV and Philo in Charleston

The move comes just after Englewood, Colorado-based mid-sized cable operator WOW! Announced that it’s now bundling virtual pay TV services Sling TV, YouTube TV, fuboTV and Charleston, S.C.

WOW! lost another 6,300 TV video customers in the third quarter, its base shrinking to just under 381,000 subscribers. It’s clearly looking for a new video solution that’s sticker and more sustainable. 

"Our WOW! tv+ offering in Columbus is another way we are providing choices to consumers and empowering them to determine when, where and how they consume information and entertainment," said Teresa Elder, CEO of WOW!, in a statement. ”The industry is changing and so is WOW!. Moving to an IP-based video service makes more efficient use of our broadband network, ultimately providing our customers with an enhanced viewing experience."

Broadband provider WOW! has launched a streaming service for its customers in Columbus, Ohio called WOW! tv+. It's an Android based platform that offers live channels, cloud DVR and an On Demand library.

"WOW! tv+ features a voice remote with Google Assistant, Netflix integration and easy access to streaming apps through the Google play store..." according to the press release. This comes after WOW! partnered with fubo TV, Philo, Sling TV and YouTube TV.

"Our WOW! tv+ offering in Columbus is another way we are providing choices to consumers and empowering them to determine when, where and how they consume information and entertainment," said Teresa Elder, CEO of WOW!. "The industry is changing and so is WOW!. Moving to an IP-based video service makes more efficient use of our broadband network, ultimately providing our customers with an enhanced viewing experience."