Time Warner Cable Inc., the second-largest U.S. cable provider, will test its cloud-based video guide in New York City, Los Angeles and Syracuse starting in September, Chief Operating Officer Rob Marcus said.
The Internet-connected video guide, which will give customers a faster and easier way to search for programming, will be rolled out officially to many of Time Warner Cable’s markets by the end of the year, Marcus said.
A new set-top box will first be offered to people who are called “Signature Home” customers and new customers, he said.
Time Warner Cable is following Comcast Corp., the largest cable operator, in releasing an Internet-connected set-top box.
Comcast, the Philadelphia-based largest cable company, began installing its X1 guide last year to mimic the search functionality and personalization of online video platforms such as Netflix Inc. and mobile applications such as HBO Go.
Time Warner Cable’s Signature Home subscribers pay about $200 a month for premium customer service along with high-speed Internet, multi-room digital video recorder and unlimited land-line telephone service.
Time Warner Cable has about 12 million video subscribers, trailing Comcast’s 22 million.
Time Warner Cable’s Akron-based unit, the company’s third-largest division, serves Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania markets.