Time Warner Cable begins trial replacing cable boxes with Roku

The goal is to transition cable from a box customers lease from TWC and onto internet-powered apps and devices. That remains to be seen, but it’s an interesting change of direction to say the least. Time Warner Cable is trialing a new TV service in NY City and New Jersey that will allow customers to replace their old school cable box with a small, power efficient Roku streaming device. The Roku test is the first step to establishing how well that might work. Not only that, but now there will be once central location for your cable TV, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Instant Video and all the other streaming apps you have. This plan will have 20 plus channels including CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox and TBS. you can also get a few more popular channels like ESPN and Disney if you are ready to pay $50 per month. Those that participate in the trial will get a free Roku 3 box, along with a choice of several subscription plans.

According to Time Warner Cable, “company research shows” that customers tend to be happier in markets where the company has upgraded its network (go figure). “This trial will help us build a better experience for our customers, while making cable television programming even more affordable, accessible and relevant to a new generation of consumers”. Time Warner Cable users living in these cities can use a Roku box instead of company’s traditional cable box. He also said that this won’t matter much in future “whether [users] use a Roku or they use ultimately another IP-enabled device”, According to him the ideal TWC world means that every screen in your home becomes television, when you are connected to Wi-Fi.

“We’re excited to extend our outdoor WiFi network to Greensboro and Wilmington”, said Rob Cerbone, VP of Wireless Product Management for Time Warner Cable.