Spectrum (brand)#Original programming

File:Road Runner (ISP) Logo With Character Cropped.PNG

Time Warner Cable first launched what would become Road Runner with a 1995 market test in Elmira, New York, under the banner Southern Tier On-Line Community.{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0DIZ/is_10_15/ai_98654936/pg_2 |title=Cable World, March 10, 2003 |publisher=Findarticles.com |date=March 10, 2003 |access-date=July 16, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809112007/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0DIZ/is_10_15/ai_98654936/pg_2/ |archive-date=August 9, 2011 }}{{cite conference |url=http://elsa.berkeley.edu/~woroch/turncabl.pdf |title=Turning the Cables: Economic and Strategic Analysis of Cable Entry into Telecommunications |last1=Woroch |first1=Glenn |date=February 1996 |publisher=Consortium for Research on Telecommunications Policy |pages=27}} Later it became known as LineRunner{{cite web |url=http://listserv.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind9602b&L=nettrain&T=0&F=&S=&P=1196 |title=Time-Warner Announces High Speed Data Services |publisher=Listserv.buffalo.edu |access-date=2012-07-16 |archive-date=2022-06-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220603103540/https://listserv.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind9602b&L=nettrain&T=0&F=&S=&P=1196 |url-status=dead }} (a moniker subsequently employed by its VoIP service), before Time Warner Cable adopted{{when|date=May 2022}} the Road Runner brand name.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

Road Runner High Speed Online employed the Road Runner character from the Road Runner/Wile E. Coyote cartoons (part of the Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies franchises) distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures as its mascot and brand name. However, in 2012, it was rebranded as simply Time Warner Cable Internet, dropping the Road Runner branding that Time Warner Cable had to license from the now unaffiliated Warner Bros.{{cite web|url=http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Time-Warner-Cable-Kills-the-Roadrunner-119519 |title= Time Warner Cable Kills the Roadrunner |publisher=DSLReports.com |date=May 15, 2012 |access-date=2012-10-26}} With Charter's acquisition of Time Warner Cable in May 2016, the service was rebranded as "Spectrum Internet" on September 20, 2016.{{cite web |date=2016-09-21 |title=Charter introduces Spectrum brand in Southern California |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-charter-ceo-20160920-snap-story.html |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}

Despite raising prices of its Internet service within the previous year, Time Warner Cable announced in February 2009 that it would expand its bandwidth caps and coverage fees into four additional markets by the end of the year.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

On April 1, 2009, the cities to have metered billing were announced, which included Beaumont, Texas; Rochester, New York; Austin, Texas; San Antonio, Texas; and Greensboro, North Carolina.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

These metered-based billing plans were canceled{{when|date=May 2022}} according to Time Warner Cable "due to customer misunderstanding".{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

Caps would range from 5 GB to 100 GB with no unlimited option. The bandwidth will include downloads and uploads. If a user goes over, they will be charged $1 per additional gigabyte. Time Warner Cable announced they would provide a meter for users to monitor their usage. The new plan was set to begin in the summer of 2009; however, they had decided against the bandwidth caps due to protests. Currently, users have unlimited bandwidth usage given that it does not exceed the predetermined data service maximum as given in the "master agreement".{{cite web|url=http://www.timewarnercable.com/corporate/service_agreement.html |title=Time Warner Cable Business Class Terms and Conditions |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140214094231/http://www.timewarnercable.com/corporate/service_agreement.html |archive-date=February 14, 2014 }} Time Warner Cable would have offered unlimited data for $150/month had the plan continued.Eddy, Nathan (2009-04-10). "Time Warner to Offer Unlimited Bandwidth for $150 a Month". eWeek. April 10, 2009. Retrieved on 2009-05-05 from http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Midmarket/Time-Warner-to-Offer-150-Unlimited-Bandwidth-668524/.

Glenn Britt (1949–2014),{{Cite web|url=http://www.timewarnercable.com/content/dam/Corporate/PDFs/About-Us/Leadership/Glenn-Britt-Timeline.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113084017/http://www.timewarnercable.com/content/dam/Corporate/PDFs/About-Us/Leadership/Glenn-Britt-Timeline.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2016-01-13 |title=Glenn Britt timeline }}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-06-11/glenn-britt-hailed-by-time-warner-cable-investors-dies-at-65|title=Glenn Britt, Who Raised Time Warner Cable Shares, Dies at 65|last1=Henry|first1=David|date=June 11, 2014|work=Bloomberg News|access-date=September 6, 2014|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.|last2=Sherman|first2=Alex}} CEO from 2001 until December 2013, justified the new billing plans by claiming that the infrastructures had to be continuously upgraded and users would pay for how much they use. In February 2015, a Huffington Post article alleges a 97% profit margin on Time Warner Cable's Internet service.{{cite news| url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bruce-kushnick/time-warner-cables-97-pro_b_6591916.html | work=Huffington Post | title=Time Warner Cable's 97 Percent Profit Margin on High-Speed Internet Service Exposed | date=February 2, 2015}}

Facebook groups have been created in protest, in addition to an online petition and a site dedicated to stopping the movement.{{cite web |url=http://stoptwc.info/ |title=Stoptwc.info |publisher=Stoptwc.info |date=April 16, 2009 |access-date=July 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201234559/http://stoptwc.info/ |archive-date=February 1, 2015 |url-status=dead }} Other Web sites have been recently following the Time Warner Cable cap plans that were already following broadband Internet providers metering and capping plans.{{cite web|url=http://stopthecap.com/ |title=Stopthecap.com |publisher=Stopthecap.com |access-date=July 16, 2012}}{{cite web |url=http://www.meterthis.net/ |title=Meterthis.net |publisher=Meterthis.net |access-date=July 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121162700/http://www.meterthis.net/ |archive-date=2013-01-21 |url-status=dead }}

U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer and Congressman Eric Massa, both of whom represent portions of the Rochester, New York market that would be affected by the changes, announced their opposition to the plan and even went as far as to threaten legislation to ban such a scheme. On April 16, 2009, Time Warner Cable abandoned the plan.Stiehl, Renata. [http://www.weny.com/News-Regional.asp?ARTICLE3890=9144205 Time Warner Cable to Shelve Consumption Billing"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611121520/http://www.weny.com/News-Regional.asp?ARTICLE3890=9144205 |date=June 11, 2009 }}. WENY-TV. April 16, 2009. Retrieved on May 5, 2009.

As a condition of the merger with TWC, Spectrum agreed not to impose any bandwidth usage caps for seven years post-merger.{{cite news|url=https://www.dslreports.com/shownews/FCC-Approves-Charter-Merger-Conditions-Ban-Caps-For-7-Years-136817 |title=FCC To Approve Charter Merger, Conditions Ban Caps For 7 Years |newspaper=DSL Reports |publisher=DSLReports |date=April 25, 2016 |access-date=January 22, 2018}}

On January 30, 2014, Time Warner Cable announced its new TWC Maxx initiative in New York City and Los Angeles, which substantially boosted service speeds at no additional cost compared to the existing speed tiers, with the highest speed tier tripling from 100 Mbit/s to 300 Mbit/s.{{cite web|url=http://www.twcableuntangled.com/2014/01/get-the-details-on-twcs-plan-to-transform-ctv-internet-experience/|title= Get the Details on TWC's Plan to Transform TV & Internet Experience |date=January 30, 2014|access-date=April 8, 2015}}

As of mid-2016, TWC Maxx upgrades were completed in New York City up the Hudson Valley, Los Angeles,{{cite web|url=http://www.timewarnercable.com/en/about-us/press/twc-completes-twc-maxx-rollout-in-la-and-nyc.html |title=Time Warner Cable Completes "TWC MAXX" Rollout in Los Angeles and New York City |access-date=April 8, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150411073017/http://www.timewarnercable.com/en/about-us/press/twc-completes-twc-maxx-rollout-in-la-and-nyc.html |archive-date=April 11, 2015 }} Austin, Kansas City, Dallas, San Antonio, Raleigh, Hawaii, and Charlotte. Rollouts of TWC Maxx in San Diego, Greensboro, and Wilmington were completed in early 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.twcableuntangled.com/2015/07/twc-maxx-expands-rollout-in-2015/ |title= TWC Maxx Expands Rollout in 2015 |access-date=July 14, 2015}}

After the TWC acquisition by Charter in June 2016, TWC Maxx upgrades were indefinitely put on hold.{{cite web|url=http://stopthecap.com/2016/06/16/charter-indefinitely-suspends-time-warner-cable-maxx-upgrades-pending-review/ |title= Charter Indefinitely Suspends Time Warner Cable Maxx Upgrades Pending 'Review' |date= 16 June 2016 |access-date=October 13, 2016}} The TWC Maxx initiative later became moot, with the DOCSIS 3.1 platform rolling out across the entire network.

After its merger with TWC and Bright House Networks, Charter Spectrum started offering broadband Internet plans across its entire service area. In December 2017, Charter began its rollout of DOCSIS 3.1,{{cite web|url=https://www.fiercecable.com/cable/charter-reportedly-set-to-announce-next-big-wave-1-gig-docsis-3-1-rollout |title=Charter reportedly set to announce 1-gig DOCSIS 3.1 rollouts in 7 cities |publisher=FierceCable |date=December 18, 2017 |access-date=January 22, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125132547/https://www.fiercevideo.com/cable/charter-reportedly-set-to-announce-next-big-wave-1-gig-docsis-3-1-rollout | archive-date=Nov 25, 2020}} initially in early TWC Maxx markets, which increased speeds and added a gigabit tier. As of April 2020, most of the Spectrum footprint has Spectrum Internet Gig available.{{Cite web |last=Higelin |first=Charles |date=2023-03-01 |title=Spectrum Internet: Plans, Speeds, Pros And Cons |url=https://theispfamily.com/spectrum-internet-review/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230401211352/https://theispfamily.com/spectrum-internet-review/ |archive-date=2023-04-01 |access-date=2023-04-01 |website=TheISPfamily |language=en-US}} Starting base package speeds were increased to 200/10 Mbit/s in all service areas on March 23, 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-23 |title= Charter Now Offering 200 Mbps Starting Speeds in All Markets in its 41-State Service Area |url=https://corporate.charter.com/newsroom/charter-now-offering-200-mbps-starting-speeds-in-all-markets-in-its-41-state-service-area |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=Charter Communications |language=en-US}} In September 2024, Spectrum launched their Spectrum 'Life Unlimited' (4.0) brand platform, which included Spectrum Internet Premier, running at 500/20 Mbit/s, as their base

Internet access package.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-16 |title= Spectrum Announces Unprecedented Customer Commitment, Free Internet Speed Lifts, New Bundled Pricing and Unveils New Brand Platform 'Life Unlimited'

|url=https://corporate.charter.com/newsroom/spectrum-announces-unprecedented-customer-commitment |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=Charter Communications |language=en-US}}

In late 2022, Spectrum began a three-phase plan to upgrade its network. The first phase, deploying a high-split architecture, enables gigabit upload speeds, allowing for symmetrical gigabit service.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-14 |title=Charter plots 3-year upgrade to deploy DOCSIS 4.0 by 2025

|url=https://www.fierce-network.com/broadband/charter-plots-3-year-upgrade-deploy-docsis-40-2025 |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=Fierce Network |language=en-US}} The second phase, rolling out distributed access architecture (DAA) via Remote PHY, will enable multi-gigabit download speeds, but its completion has been delayed until 2027, due to unavailability of certified hardware.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-01 |title= Charter is delaying DOCSIS 4.0 again. What happened?

|url=https://www.fierce-network.com/broadband/charter-delaying-docsis-40-again-what-happened |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=Fierce Network |language=en-US}} The third phase, deploying extended spectrum DOCSIS 4.0 (ESD), will provide even higher download speeds, up to 10 Gbps.

In late 2009 after splitting off from Time Warner (now Warner Bros. Discovery), Time Warner Cable began reselling Clearwire mobile WiMAX service as Road Runner Mobile, bundled with the company's existing broadband, TV and VoIP services. In October 2009, the company indicated that they'd be launching their incarnation of the service starting December 1 in Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill, Charlotte and Greensboro, and later, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Honolulu, and Maui.{{cite web|url=http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Time-Warner-Dallas-Customers-Get-WiMax-December-1-105615?nocomment=1 |title=DSLreports.com |publisher=DSLreports.com |date=November 24, 2009 |access-date=July 16, 2012}}

As of late 2011, Time Warner Cable stopped signing up new Road Runner Mobile customers under resold Clearwire WiMAX service. Existing WiMAX customers could continue to use the service, but TWC began signing up new Road Runner Mobile customers under resold Verizon Wireless 4G LTE services. As of late 2012, however, all mentions of Time Warner Cable-branded mobile broadband services have been removed from Time Warner Cable's website and most regional franchises, and eventually, those customers were transitioned directly to Verizon.

===Spectrum Mobile{{anchor|Spectrum Mobile}}===

{{Infobox company

| logo = Spectrum Mobile Logo.svg

| name = Spectrum Mobile

| homepage = {{URL|https://www.spectrum.com/mobile}}

| founded = June 30, 2018

| industry = Telecommunications

}}

On June 30, 2018, Charter launched Spectrum Mobile,{{cite web |url=https://www.spectrum.com/mobile |title=Mobile|website=spectrum.com|access-date=3 June 2023}} a mobile virtual network operator service. Spectrum utilizes their service area's Wi-Fi network for extended network coverage, while Verizon Wireless provides the network Spectrum Mobile utilizes for mobile service, both a traditional 4G network and newer 5G network.{{cite web|url=https://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Scoop-Charter-Wireless-Drops-June-30-Mirrors-Comcast-Pricing-141756 |title=Exclusive: Charter Wireless Launches June 30|publisher=DSLReports |date=May 4, 2018 |access-date=May 14, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://steemit.com/spectrum/@fvdtube/six-spectrum-issues-and-their-solutions|title=Six Spectrum Issues and their Solutions|last=Castella|first=Sarah|date=2018-08-27|website=Seemit|access-date=2019-02-16}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.buyinternetcable.com/internet|title=Common FAQs on Spectrum Internet issues |publisher=BuyInternetCable |access-date=2020-06-01}}

{{Further|List of Spectrum original programming}}

On June 26, 2018, Charter Communications announced it had given L.A.'s Finest a series order for a first season consisting of 13 episodes.{{cite web|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|title='L.A.'s Finest': Charter Communications Gives Series Order To 'Bad Boys' Offshoot|date=June 26, 2018|url=https://deadline.com/2018/06/l-a-s-finest-badboys-offshoot-series-order-charter-communication-1202415251/|work=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=July 8, 2018}} The series premiered as the cable service's first original series on May 13, 2019, marking Charter's first foray into original programming.{{cite web|last=Petski|first=Denise|title='L.A.'s Finest' Sets Premiere Date & Unveils First Trailer|url=https://deadline.com/2019/02/l-a-s-finest-premiere-date-first-trailer-spectrum-1202551294/|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=February 7, 2019|access-date=March 6, 2019}}

In August, Curfew{{Cite web|last=White|first=Peter|title='The O.C's Adam Brody Joins Sky's 'Fast & The Furious'-Style Drama 'Curfew'; Strikes U.S. Deal With Charter|url=https://deadline.com/2018/08/adam-brody-curfew-sky-1202453374/|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=August 28, 2018|access-date=February 16, 2019}} and E Is for Edie{{Cite web|last=Otterson|first=Joe|title=Charter Picks Up Dark Comedy 'E Is for Edie' From Jeanie Bergen (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/charter-e-is-for-edie-jeanie-bergen-1202922294/|work=Variety|date=August 30, 2018|access-date=February 16, 2019}} received pickups. On March 6, 2019, the service picked up a 12-episode eighth season of the 1992–1999 NBC sitcom Mad About You, which premiered six of the episodes on November 20, 2019.{{cite web|last=Ausiello|first=Michael|title=Mad About You Revival With Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt (Finally) Finds a Home|url=https://tvline.com/2019/03/06/mad-about-you-revival-spectrum-originals-premiere/|work=TVLine|date=March 6, 2019}}{{cite web|title=Spectrum Originals Limited Event Reunion Series "Mad About You" Produced by Sony Pictures Television to Debut November 20|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2019/09/05/spectrum-originals-limited-event-reunion-series-mad-about-you-produced-by-sony-pictures-television-to-debut-november-20-2012/20190905spectrum01/|work=The Futon Critic|date=September 5, 2019}}

On June 11, 2019, a series titled Paradise Lost was announced as having received a pickup.{{cite web|title=Spectrum Originals and Paramount Network Announce Pick-Up and Cast of "Paradise Lost"|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2019/06/11/spectrum-originals-and-paramount-network-announce-pick-up-and-cast-of-paradise-lost-3211/20190611paramount01/|work=The Futon Critic|date=June 11, 2019}} On February 19, 2020, it was announced that the series would premiere on April 13, 2020.{{cite web|title=Spectrum Originals to Premiere Southern Gothic Mystery Series "Paradise Lost" on Monday, April 13|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2020/02/19/spectrum-originals-to-premiere-southern-gothic-mystery-series-paradise-lost-on-monday-april-13-820413/20200219spectrum01/|work=The Futon Critic|date=February 19, 2020}}

On June 26, 2019, the DirecTV Latin America original series Todo por el juego (Everything for the Game) was announced as premiering on Spectrum Originals on July 15, 2019. The original series would be offered, along with an English-dubbed version entitled Side Games.{{cite web|title="Todo por el juego," The Mediapro Studio Series, Will Be Broadcast in the United States|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2019/06/26/todo-por-el-juego-the-mediapro-studio-series-will-be-broadcast-in-the-united-states-489305/20190626mediapro01/|work=The Futon Critic|date=June 26, 2019}}

On January 18, 2020, it was announced that Manhunt: Unabomber would return as Manhunt: Deadly Games and premiere on February 3.{{cite web|title=Spectrum Originals Anthology Series "Manhunt: Deadly Games" Produced by Lionsgate Television to Debut February 3|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2020/01/18/spectrum-originals-anthology-series-manhunt-deadly-games-produced-by-lionsgate-television-to-debut-february-3-147510/20200118spectrum01/|work=The Futon Critic|date=January 18, 2020}}

On February 13, 2020, it was announced that the Sky One series Temple would premiere on March 9, 2020.{{cite web|title=Spectrum Originals Debuts Thriller Crime Drama "Temple" on Monday, March 9|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2020/02/13/spectrum-originals-debuts-thriller-crime-drama-temple-on-monday-march-9-714212/20200213spectrum01/|work=The Futon Critic|date=February 13, 2020}}

On August 11, 2022, Charter Communications announced that it would phase out Spectrum Originals due to rising production costs.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/08/charter-communications-spectrum-originals-shut-down-production-costs-video-strategy-1235090356|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811220113/https://deadline.com/2022/08/charter-communications-spectrum-originals-shut-down-production-costs-video-strategy-1235090356/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 11, 2022|title=Charter To Phase Out Spectrum Originals Amid Rising Production Costs & Shifting Video Strategy|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=August 11, 2022}}

{{Main|Spectrum strike}}

On May 23, 2017,{{Cite web|last=Bode|first=Karl|date=2021-04-15|title=Striking Telecom Workers Are Building a Community-Owned ISP|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/striking-telecom-workers-are-building-a-community-owned-isp/|access-date=2021-10-26|website=Vice News}} about 1,800 Spectrum workers went on strike in New York City, following the company's efforts to take control of workers health insurance and pension plans.{{Cite web|last=Khafagy|first=Amir|date=2020-05-28|title=The Longest Strike In U.S. History Is Fighting To Survive Coronavirus|url=https://talkpoverty.org/2020/05/28/coronavirus-charter-spectrum-strike/|access-date=2021-10-26|website=talkpoverty.org}} The strike, which ended on April 18, 2022,{{Citation needed|date=April 2023}} is currently the longest strike in United States history. Spectrum has refused to negotiate with the workers' union, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 3, instead, hiring a large temporary workforce of strikebreakers, and attempted to launch a vote to decertify IBEW Local 3. Spectrum's efforts to decertify the union has faced legal challenge, including a March 2020 decision by the National Labor Relations Board, which found "a serious and substantial issue" regarding Spectrum's efforts to decertify the union.{{Cite web|last=Wallender|first=Andrew|date=2020-03-19|title=Striking Spectrum Workers Granted Review of Decertification (1)|url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/striking-spectrum-workers-granted-review-of-decertification-vote|access-date=2021-10-26|website=Bloomberg Law|language=en}}

In 2018, Charter agreed to a $174 million fine with New York state, in lieu of the state completely revoking its franchise to operate throughout the state, which would have inconvenienced much of the state's residential and commercial operations. According to New York State, Charter did not provide new high-speed internet service to as many homes as they had promised during merger discussions with Time Warner Cable.{{Cite web|last=Gartenberg|first=Chaim|date=2019-07-12|title=Charter gets to stay in New York, reaches new deal with state to roll out internet service|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/12/20691853/charter-spectrum-new-york-deal-roll-out-internet-service|access-date=2020-10-12|website=The Verge|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2018-12-18|title=Charter settles New York internet suit with record fine and Spectrum refunds|url=https://venturebeat.com/2018/12/18/charter-settles-new-york-internet-suit-with-record-fine-and-spectrum-refunds/|access-date=2020-10-12|website=VentureBeat|language=en-US}}

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{official website|https://www.spectrum.com/}}

{{Time Warner Cable}}

{{Internet service providers of the United States}}

{{CATV USA}}

Category:Broadband

Category:Charter Communications

Category:Internet service providers of the United States

Category:Companies based in Stamford, Connecticut

Category:American brands