Time Warner offers low-cost option

Staff report

AKRON

Time Warner Cable will launch TV Essentials, a lower-priced option, in coming weeks. The new package will be rolled out in two markets —Northeast Ohio and New York City — but will expand to other markets in 2011, according to the company.

Valued at $49.99 per month, TV Essentials will be discounted to $29.95 in Northeast Ohio, for a promotional period of 12 months.

The package includes local channels from ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and PBS and also: A&E, AMC, Animal Planet, BET, Biography, Boomerang, Bravo, CNN, Cartoon, Centric, Cooking Channel, Discovery, Disney, ESPNews, FX, FitTV, G4, GAC, GSN, Gospel Music, HGTV, HLN, HSN, Hallmark, History, Jewelry TV, Lifetime, MTV, Military Channel, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr, QVC, Shop NBC, TBS, TV Guide, TV One, Teen Nick, USA and VH1. It does not include ESPN, Fox Sports networks, Fox News, MSNBC, TLC, Food Network or The Weather Channel.

Customers will receive two standard-definition digital cable set-top boxes, featuring an on-screen guide and Music Choice.

Enhanced TV features, including StartOver and LookBack; and access to new movies through paid Video On Demand.