TV/Movie Reviews, Podcasts, Interviews, Music Reviews/Suggestions, Giveaways, Entertainment News & more!
Hey TV fans!! Earlier this week I had the chance to interview Ryan Hurst and Kyle Gallner for Variety Radio Online. We chatted about about the new series “Outsiders” on WGN America and they even answered a few Twitter questions from their fans. Talk about some really cool dudes.
“Outsiders” airs Tuesday’s at 9pm on WGN America.
Mike ‘The Movie Guy’ Interview with Ryan Hurst and Kyle Gallner
Parents can now upload videos of their children interacting with their favorite pets for a chance to be featured in a new ZooMoo TV segment called Mi Querida Mascota y Yo (My ZooMoo Pet and Me)
While Valentine’s Day has come and gone, here at ZooMoo we show our love for animals and nature every day. Children love learning with us, but now we want to learn from them while making them a part of our channel.
Does your son or daughter want to be on TV? Does s/he have a beloved pet? We’d love to hear all about that furry little friend (if he or she is funny, naughty, very intelligent, etc.) and what makes this relationship with your son or daughter so special.
Participating is easy. Visit zoomoo.tv/miqueridamascotayyo where you can upload a video of your child with his/her pet for a chance to be among those selected to appear in the new ZooMoo segment, Mi Querida Mascota y Yo (My ZooMoo Pet and Me). Don’t miss this opportunity for your kids to be featured on their favorite “all animals, all nature, all the time” learning channel!
Continue reading “ZOOMOO INVITES CHILDREN TO APPEAR ON TV WITH THEIR FAVORITE PET”
“MASTERCHEF” SEASON EIGHT BEGINS LATEST SEARCH FOR
AMERICA’S BEST HOME COOK WITH OPEN CASTING CALLS STARTING
SATURDAY, MARCH 5
America’s most-watched cooking competition show, MASTERCHEF, begins casting for its eighth season Saturday, March 5. Open casting calls will be held across the country in search of talented home cooks from all types of backgrounds and with a range of cooking styles.
The casting team is looking for home cooks who enjoy preparing everything from delightful desserts and hefty main courses to fine French cuisine, great tasting burgers and more! For anyone looking to follow their culinary dream – take this first step by preregistering on the casting website www.masterchefcasting.com and heading down to one of the open casting calls below.
Open casting calls will be held in the following cities:
This year, Xfinity TV customers will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the Oscars like never before, with access to the ultimate collection of Oscars content featuring hundreds of videos, from on demand highlights of this year’s event, previous “Best Picture” winners from the past 25 years and clips of the most memorable moments in Oscar history – from Martin Scorsese’s 2007 “Best Director” win to Sally Field’s memorable acceptance speech for “Best Actress” in 1985 to Lupita Nyong’o’s emotional speech after winning “Best Supporting Actress” in 2014.
This year’s Oscars destination on Xfinity On Demand will feature the biggest selection of Oscars-related content yet, and will be available to all Xfinity TV customers. Before the show airs on February 28, customers can get acquainted with this year’s nominees, with more than 20 nominated films available to pre-order, rent or own. Film fans can also brush up on Oscars history with every “Best Picture” winner from the past 25 years available to rent or own.
Continue reading “Xfinity Unveils the Ultimate Oscars Destination”
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and ZooMoo, the first ever interactive kids channel devoted entirely to animals and nature, wants you to celebrate!
We want to foster a lifelong love for animals and nature, so here are 10 different ways to include our wonderful fur friends of the world on this lovely day:
Continue reading “Valentine’s Day with Our Furry Friends! #ZooMoo”
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Is anyone as excited as I am to see this cast together again?? While it’s not a ‘Friends’ movie or TV show reboot…I’ll still take it!!
The cast, minus Matthew Perry, will sit down to honor legendary TV director James Burrows on NBC, February 21 at 9/8c in a special two hour event hosted by Andy Cohen.
Here’s a clip from the tribute special that was released this week:
The two-hour “Must-See TV: A Tribute to James Burrows” will air at 9 p.m. ET February 21 on NBC.
You can also catch up on all ten seasons of ‘Friends’ as the show is currently streaming on Netflix. If you’ve never seen it before, prepare to laugh uncontrollably!
LUCIFER
Series premiere Jan. 25 @ 9:00/8:00C
Synopsis: Bored and unhappy as the Lord of Hell, the original fallen angel, Lucifer Morningstar has abandoned his throne and retired to L.A., where he owns Lux, an upscale nightclub.
Starring: Tom Ellis, Lauren German, Rachael Harris, DB Woodside, Lesley-Ann Brandt, Kevin Alejandro, Scarlett Estevez
You can also check out the character profile of “Dan” played by Kevin Alejandro below:
Website: http://www.fox.com/lucifer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LuciferonFOX
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LuciferonFOX
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luciferonfox/
LUCIFER is produced by Warner Bros. Television, in association with Jerry Bruckheimer Television and Aggressive Mediocrity. The series is based on characters created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth and Mike Dringenberg for DC Entertainment’s Vertigo imprint. Tom Kapinos (“Californication”) wrote and executive-produced the pilot. The series is executive-produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Jonathan Littman, Ildy Modrovich and Joe Henderson. Len Wiseman serves as director and executive producer. Kapinos will serve as executive consultant on the series.
STEVE HARVEY BREAKS HIS SILENCE IN A SPECIAL TWO-DAY TV EVENT, “MISS UNIVERSE: THE TRUTH” ON HIS SYNDICATED DAYTIME TALK SHOW, AIRING JANUARY 18 & 19
Harvey Speaks Candidly with Newly-Crowned Miss Universe From the Philippines, Pia Wurtzbach and First Runner-Up Miss Colombia, Ariadna Gutierrez
Miss Colombia Shares Her Emotional Journey in Her
First Conversation with Steve Harvey Since the Pageant
Steve Harvey puts it all on the table in a revealing two-day television event “Miss Universe: The Truth,” on his syndicated daytime talk show “Steve Harvey,” airing Monday, January 18 and Tuesday, January 19. Joined by the newly crowned Miss Universe from the Philippines, PIA WURTZBACH and first runner-up from Colombia, ARIADNA GUTIERREZ, Harvey addresses his stint as host of the Miss Universe pageant where he mistakenly announced the wrong woman as the pageant winner. He has kept silent and not done any interviews about the incident, but now he’s ready to let viewers in on the story and answer every question that comes his way.
“This has caused a lot of sleepless nights for me,” says Steve Harvey. “I didn’t do any interviews until I could talk to the two people who were affected the most, Pia and Ariadna. No matter how tough it was for me, I can’t imagine how it was for these two women. This finally gives me a chance to have a moment of closure,” he adds.
In part one of the special airing Monday, January 18, nothing is off limits during a special “Ask Steve” segment in which audience members ask the tough questions people around the world have wanted answers to. Steve welcomes the newly crowned Miss Universe from the Philippines, PIA WURTZBACH, for an honest and unfiltered one-on-one conversation, revealing what it was like to go through the incident, her reaction to winning the crown, how much contact she’s had with Miss Colombia and more. Miss USA, OLIVIA JORDAN, who was named the second runner-up in the pageant, also joins the conversation.
On Tuesday, January 19, the two-day event continues as Steve sits down with first runner-up, Miss Colombia ARIADNA GUTIERREZ, the woman that Steve mistakenly announced had won the Miss Universe pageant, only to be told a few minutes later, that there had been an error. In their emotional first conversation since the pageant, Steve will have a chance to talk forgiveness with Ariadna, and she will have the opportunity to let Steve Harvey know exactly how she feels. Tune-in to hear Ariadna speak candidly about her emotions as the ordeal unraveled, the reactions of her family and fellow Colombians, how she handled the aftermath on social media and instant fame and more importantly, if she is ready to forgive Steve Harvey.
“Steve Harvey” airs weekdays. Check local listings or go to http://www.steveharveytv.com/
for time and channel.
“Steve Harvey” is produced by Endemol Shine North America and distributed in national syndication
by NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution.
Hey everyone!!
Brancey and I recently got together to discuss the People’s Choice Awards, which aired Live on January 6, 2016 from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California. If you missed the show, never fear! We got you covered!
Listen to our podcast review and let us know what you thought of the crazy moments! Did you agree with the winners?
OR click the link here: People’s Choice Awards discussion for The VRO!
ZOOMOO, THE WORLD’S FIRST INTERACTIVE KIDS CHANNEL DEVOTED ENTIRELY TO ANIMALS AND NATURE, NOW AVAILABLE IN THE U.S. EXCLUSIVELY ON DIRECTV
DIRECTV’S ONLY CHANNEL IN SPANISH FOR PRESCHOOL-AGE AUDIENCES ALREADY AVAILABLE IN 23 COUNTRIES WITH WORLDWIDE AUDIENCE OF 140+ MILLION
ZOOMOO CHANNEL AND FREE COMPANION ZOOMOO APP OFFER A FULLY INTERACTIVE MULTIPLATFORM EXPERIENCE
January 6 – 2106 – Following its highly successful launches in Mexico and throughout Latin America, ZooMoo, the world’s first children’s channel devoted entirely to animals and nature, is now available in the U.S. exclusively on DIRECTV, now part of the AT&T family. Available to nearly a million homes throughout the country, ZooMoo is now the only channel in Spanish for pre-school age children and their parents available to DIRECTV Spanish base package subscribers on channel 432.
Designed to foster a lifelong love for animals and nature through a safe and unique television experience that is both entertaining and educational for young viewers and parents alike, ZooMoo interweaves puppetry, animation, and the world’s best natural history footage available in HD to tell stories about the animal world.
The channel is complemented by a free downloadable App to provide a one of a kind multiplatform experience that allows ZooMoo channel viewers to automatically collect animals they encounter on the TV screen and bring them to life on their tablet or smart phone with games, music, puzzles and other activities.
Karin Simoncini, ZooMoo’s head of programming and production said, “As a Latina mom of young children I’m personally thrilled that we at ZooMoo are partnering with DIRECTV to bring ZooMoo to Spanish-speaking audiences in the United States, where today, according to Pew Research Center, there are nearly twice as many Hispanic preschoolers as non-Hispanics in the U.S. DIRECTV deserves to be commended for its commitment to offering this audience a fully interactive ‘all animals, all the time’ entertainment experience that will be educational and incredibly engaging.”
“DIRECTV is passionate about offering high quality children’s programming to its Spanish-speaking customers in the U.S.,” said Emma Brackett, vice president of Content and Programming, AT&T. “We’re proud to be the exclusive provider of ZooMoo and a leader in entertainment to audiences of all ages.”
The standalone revolutionary ZooMoo App, which when synced to the channel enhances the interactivity by also turning smartphones and tablets into an extension of the channel, was recognized earlier this year with a Parents’ Choice Approved Award Seal of Approval from the Choice Foundation in the United States. In bestowing the award, the Foundation lauded the ZooMoo App as “a safe, intuitively-designed and entertaining way for young children to learn facts about animals and habitats, as well as the importance of caring for them.” EducationalAppStore.com echoed a similar endorsement in its review calling the ZooMoo app “one the most professionally, thoughtful, intelligent apps out there…deeply engaging…edutainment in its finest form…cannot be recommended highly enough.”
ZooMoo was developed by its CEO and former president of Fox Networks Group, David Haslingden. In 2012 he identified a niche in the market for children’s channels. “ZooMoo was born out of research that indicated that preschool-age children are hardwired to be interested in animals – 80% of their dreams are about animals – and that if early on they don’t develop a sense of respect and caring for the natural environment they are at risk of never developing such attitudes. We saw a tremendous need to show children the wonders of the animal world and seized the opportunity to create a bespoke channel specifically for 3-6 year olds that unlike any other channel provides a foundation for lasting knowledge and growth by fostering the love and caring for animals and nature,” said Haslingden.
Supported by the rich tradition of natural history programming by international producers Beach House Pictures and NHNZ, ZooMoo is brought to life by a creative team personally assembled by Haslingden comprised of 45 producers, animators, graphic artists and computer programmers in dedicated production hubs including Mexico, New Zealand, China (Beijing), Singapore and Brazil.
Already seen in 23 countries with a worldwide audience of more than 140 million, ZooMoo’s programming comprises 7,000+ separate animal stories and more than 500 hours of original content. ZooMoo’s signature, wholly original animal stories have been scheduled into unique one hour blocks under a structure developed in consultation with a team of leading childhood learning specialists from New Zealand’s University of Otago led by Professor Jeff Smith, Ph.D.
ZooMoo’s leading cast consists of funny, furry puppet characters who help young children develop a knowledge and affection for animals, leading to a lifelong love of conservation, including:
· Flash, an engagingly good-natured photographer, dedicated, dependable and very charming, he is a keen adventurer with genial humor and a constant can-do attitude who explores the world and often ends up in unknown places in “Lost” and travels to different habitats to find out what animals are really thinking in “Look Who’s Talking?”
· Piglet, a high-energy blast of boundless, breathless enthusiasm, who invents amazing solutions in her awesome workshop and explores the planet in her “Adventure Machine.”
· Owl, who’s smart, wise, particular and slightly precious, as he guesses which animals Flash has sent him in “Download This!”
· Ninja Gorilla, who uses his astounding ninja super-powers to turn everyday objects into amazing balloon creations in “Ninja Pop.”
· Baby DJ, a little monkey with headphones, bling and a cheeky grin whose mission is to turn the tables on all things animal and get everyone up dancing.
ZooMoo’s U.S. operations are headed by Los Angeles-based General Manager Julio Sobral, a longtime Fox Networks Group executive, alongside Miami-based Marketing Manager Alvaro Krupkin, former director of creative services and production for Telemundo Cable Networks.
The ZooMoo channel made its worldwide debut in Brazil in September 2013. In September 2014, DIRECTV began offering ZooMoo to customers in Argentina, the Caribbean, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Uruguay.
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Alright, Marvel fans!! Prepare for a weekend of binge watching! Netflix is set to release its anticipated first season of Marvel’s Jessica Jones on November 20, 2015.
Jessica Jones is a New York City detective who is haunted by her street-hero past. She is tormented by her mind-controlling nemesis, Kilgrave, who knows about her past and special powers.
The first season (13 episodes) will be available Nov. 20 at 12:01 a.m. PT.
Krysten Ritter will play Jessica Jones alongside David Tennant (Kilgrave), Mike Colter (Luke Cage), Rachael Taylor (Trish Walker), and Carrie-Anne Moss, Eka Darville, Erin Moriarty and Wil Traval.
ALSO…keep your eyes open for further news about the other confirmed upcoming series’ (also on Netflix) featuring Luke Cage (2016), and Iron Fist. There is also supposed to be a series, The Defenders, which will feature Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and possibly others characters from the Marvel universe teaming up!
Which character(s) are you most excited to see??
Check out the newest trailer for the series below:
A group of passengers experience the outbreak aboard a commercial plane. A new installment of the 16-part series is available every week in the AMC Mobile App and on-air during premiere episodes of The Walking Dead.
You can find more information about Fear the Walking Dead, and the 16-part webisode series HERE.
COMCAST’S XFINITY FREE VIEW LATINO, THE LARGEST LATINO ON DEMAND EVENT EVER, RETURNS WITH MORE CONTENT THAN EVER BEFORE
Xfinity TV Customers Get Two Weeks of Free Access to More than 3,500 Hours of Latino On Demand Programming from September 21 to October 4
Third Annual Event Includes More Content Available Across Platforms Than Ever Before, Ability to Navigate Content in English or Spanish
Comcast today announced the return of Xfinity Free View Latino, a two week all-access pass to discover and enjoy thousands of hours of the best Latino entertainment available in the U.S. for free on Xfinity On Demand. Xfinity Free View Latino will take place from September 21 through October 4 and will be available to all Xfinity TV customers across platforms, on Xfinity On Demand, Xfinity.com/Latino and on the Xfinity TV Go app.
This year, with more than 3,500 hours and more than 5,000 On Demand content choices in Spanish and English from premium, cable and broadcast networks, Xfinity TV customers will have access to the biggest selection of entertainment options yet.
This year’s programming highlights include:
“Xfinity is the best place to consume your favorite Spanish or English language entertainment on demand across devices, at home or on the go. With Xfinity Free View Latino, our customers have the opportunity to enjoy the most anticipated series before they air on TV and also discover the great selection of on demand programming,” said Javier Garcia, Vice President and General Manager, Multicultural Services for Comcast Cable. “In addition, with the recent announcement of the X1 Spanish Guide, Spanish-speaking X1 customers will have the option to discover all the great Free View Latino content in the language of their choice.”
For more details on Xfinity Free View Latino including the full programming list, please visit Xfinity.com/Latino to sort through the thousands of hours of content available and check the Xfinity Latino Entertainment Channel daily for recommendations on what to watch, or join the conversation on www.facebook.com/XfinityLatino and twitter.com/XfinityLatino using hashtag #FreeViewLatino. Content availability may vary across platforms. For more information on the Xfinity Latino Entertainment channel, Multilatino packages and Xfinity On Demand, please visit www.comcast.com/Espanol. Comcast has had a longstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion since its founding nearly 50 years ago and focuses its efforts in five key areas: diversity in governance, attracting and retaining a multicultural workforce, developing a diverse supplier base, offering a wide selection of multicultural programming, and community investment in national, regional and local diverse organizations. For more background on diversity and inclusion at Comcast please visit www.comcast.com/diversity.
X1 En Español: Xfinity Customers Can Now Access First-Ever Spanish-Language TV Interface
By: Javier Garcia
Today the majority of U.S. Hispanics consider themselves bicultural– with 55 percent identifying as a mix of both Latino and American. This is impacting the types of entertainment they watch in the home and according to Horowitz Research, it’s more about cultural relevance of programming than language. However, Spanish is still the predominant spoken language in bicultural homes, as it remains a component of family culture long after English proficiency is gained.
As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re making some changes to our next-generation X1 platform designed to offer bicultural Hispanics an immersive viewing experience centered on language choice and greater flexibility to discover and watch their favorite programming.
First and foremost, we’re thrilled to announce that the X1 interface is now available in both Spanish and English. This new experience lets our Latino customers find and discover their favorite programming in the language of their choice and helps bridge the content divide for millions of Spanish-speaking households within the Comcast service area.
And we’re not stopping there. When the interface is set to Spanish, our voice remote will soon be updated to recognize commands spoken in this language, so our Spanish-dominant customers can more easily navigate the guide and find programming. We’ve also added new features and filters within the guide, including one-touch access to turn on/off the SAP feed via the video toolbar, to help viewers more easily discover Spanish-language and SAP-enabled content available on Xfinity On Demand.
And just in time for the start of soccer season, we’ve significantly updated our X1 Sports app to track more soccer leagues and will soon add an “Extras” experience that allows soccer fans to follow the game and stay updated with all the latest in-depth stats and analysis right on the TV screen.
We are constantly innovating to build products and services that change the way people consume entertainment and communicate, and encourage our Latino customers to get in on the action today by accessing the programming of their choice, wherever and whenever they want, in whichever language they prefer.
California Events Manager Earns the Sixth Season Trophy,
A Cookbook Deal and the $250,000 Grand Prize
Season Six of MASTERCHEF came to an unforgettable conclusion as host, executive producer and judge Gordon Ramsay, along with fellow judges Graham Elliot and Christina Tosi, named Claudia Sandoval the winner of FOX’s hit home cooking competition series. Sandoval, 31, is an events manager from La Mesa, CA. In addition to earning the MASTERCHEF title, Sandoval walked away with a cookbook deal and the $250,000 grand prize.
Watch/Share Sandoval’s reaction to winning MASTERCHEF:
“To be crowned the first Latina MASTERCHEF is a dream come true,” said Sandoval. “This hard-earned title represents success over every struggle I’ve ever had as a first-generation American and a single mom. I can’t wait to move my daughter and myself out of our one-bedroom apartment and get started on sharing our family collection of authentic Mexican recipes in my cookbook! I hope you’re ready America, this Latina has BIG plans! Si Se Puede!”
“Claudia was a strong competitor from the beginning,” said Ramsay. “Her passion and unique dishes were what impressed us the most, and we look forward to seeing where her new culinary career will lead her.”
In the sensational season finale episode, Sandoval competed in two head-to-head competitions. First, she competed in the MASTERCHEF classic dishes challenge against Stephen Lee, which earned her a place in the finale. Then, Sandoval faced the intense culinary showdown with Derrick Peltz, a 28-year-old drummer from Fort Myers, FL. For the final challenge, Sandoval created an elevated three-course meal: an appetizer of Huatilacoche Tamale with Crispy Pork Chicharone, Cactus Salsa and Avocado Crème; a main course of Grilled Swordfish with Chayote, Chickpeas and Mexican Squash; and a Poached Pear with Key Lime Custard, Candied Lime and Pepita Cinnamon Brittle. In the end, it was Sandoval’s exquisite flavors and thoughtful dishes that won over the judges and earned her the MASTERCHEF title.
At the end of its sixth season, MASTERCHEF ranks as the season’s No. 1 cooking show on television, among Adults 18-49 and Total Viewers.
MASTERCHEF is once again giving talented home cooks the chance to prove they have what it takes to make their marks on the culinary world. Auditions for Season Seven of MASTERCHEF continue this fall, with open casting calls in Chicago and Louisville (Sept. 26); Jackson, MS, and New York City (Oct. 3); and Los Angeles (Oct. 10). Visit masterchefcasting.com to pre-register and for the most up-to-date audition information.
MASTERCHEF is produced by Endemol Shine North America and One Potato Two Potato, and is based on a format created by Franc Roddam and Endemol Shine. Elisabeth Murdoch, Eden Gaha, Robin Ashbrook, Gordon Ramsay, Adeline Ramage Rooney, Patricia Llewellyn and Ben Adler serve as executive producers. “Like” MASTERCHEF on Facebook at facebook.com/MasterChef. Follow the series on Twitter @MASTERCHEFonFOX and join the discussion with #Masterchef. Follow the judges on Twitter: Gordon Ramsay – @gordonramsay; Graham Elliot – @grahamelliot; Christina Tosi – @christinatosi.
Hey everyone!!
If you’re a huge fan of Justin Timberlake and can’t control your laughter when he’s with Jimmy Fallon, you’ll love this post! Justin paid a visit to The Tonight Show last night and it was nothing short of hilarious! There was even an epic lip sync battle segment with Jimmy and Ellen DeGeneres. Those three together are definitely trouble!! I gathered some of the videos and posted them below…in case you missed it OR want to see them again! 🙂
AND…check out the short clip below of Justin and Jimmy taking a dance break at the US Open!
If that wasn’t enough…feast your eyes on Justin’s adorable son, Silas! (Photo courtesy of: Fallon Tonight)
You can find the full episode as well as all of these clips HERE
Here it is, AHS fans!! The first full trailer of American Horror Story: Hotel!
Feel free to tweet me your thoughts!
American Horror Story: Hotel premieres on Wednesday, October 7 at 10 pm EST on FX.
Comcast also doubles Internet speed and offers Wi-Fi at no additional cost
Comcast today announced several significant enhancements and milestones for Internet Essentials, the nation’s largest and most comprehensive high-speed Internet adoption program. The company said it plans to conduct a pilot program for low-income senior citizens in Palm Beach County, and is doubling the service’s download Internet speed and providing a Wi-Fi router for no additional cost.
Now entering its fifth year, Internet Essentials has connected more than 275,000 low-income Floridians to online access at home, of which more than 182,000 live in the South Florida area. However disparities in Internet connectivity rates continue to persist and for the senior population the digital divide is wide. According to Pew Research Center, just 47 percent, or less than half, of seniors (aged 65 and older) have high-speed Internet at home. But when it comes to income level, only 25 percent of seniors with household incomes below $30,000 have home broadband, compared to 82 percent of seniors with household incomes at or above $75,000.
“We have made significant progress toward closing the digital divide for low-income parents and children across the country. In less than four years, Internet Essentials has connected more than 500,000 families, or more than 2 million low-income Americans, to the power of the Internet at home,” said David L. Cohen, Comcast Corporation Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer. “With the increase in the program’s Internet speeds and the addition of Wi-Fi, these families will have even easier access to the Internet and its life-changing resources for education, employment, healthcare, communication, and entertainment.”
The Internet Essentials pilot program for senior citizens is designed to better tackle the unique challenges of helping low-income seniors cross the digital divide and learn how to use the Internet. The first senior pilot program will take place in Palm Beach County, where Cohen was joined by City of West Palm Beach Mayor Jeri Muoio, Palm Beach County School District Superintendent Dr. Robert Avossa, and Urban League of Palm Beach County President and CEO Patrick J. Franklin to make the announcements.
“Senior citizens can be an afterthought when it comes to addressing digital literacy and use of the Internet,” said Franklin. “However, the Internet has a tremendous power to help change their lives for the better by tearing down the walls that geography may have put between them and the ones they love. It can also help restore a sense of community and inclusion, bonds that can weaken as we grow older.”
Comcast also announced it is doubling the speed for Internet Essentials to 10 Mbps downstream, which is enough to power multiple devices simultaneously. This is the third time in four years Comcast has increased speeds for customers. In addition, by offering Wi-Fi routers, customers will be able to connect any Internet-enabled device, such as a tablets or smartphone, which could help save money on monthly wireless bills.
To receive the faster Internet speed, customers simply need to reboot their cable modems. Existing customers who would like a Wi-Fi router just need to call the dedicated call center and either request to have one shipped to them for free, or they can schedule a professional installation, also for no additional cost. New customers will have the option to receive a Wi-Fi router when they sign up.
Internet Essentials Investments
In 2014, Comcast launched four new Internet Essentials Digital Learning Zones in South Florida at ASPIRA, Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade, Chapman Partnership and Overtown Youth Center (OYC), which provide additional opportunities for low-income students and families to access the Internet and receive digital literacy training. Comcast aims to help complete the continuum of connectivity, in which students spend the school day in wired classroom, stay connected after school in Internet Essentials Learning Zones and end their days connected at home, where families have online access through the Internet Essentials program. Comcast has dedicated $1 million in grants to create these zones across the country.
Through a partnership with The Urban League of Palm Beach County, Comcast offers a Digital Connectors Program that provides digital literacy training for students in Palm Beach County. Almost 60 low-income local youth have graduated from the program, which was launched in 2007.
Through Internet Essentials, Comcast has invested more than $240 million in cash and in-kind support to help fund digital literacy and readiness training and education, reaching nearly 3.2 million people through national and local non-profit community partners. Through the end of June 2015, Comcast has:
Follow all the news about Comcast Florida on Facebook at Facebook.com/ComcastFlorida and on Twitter @ComcastFL
La Compañía Agrega a México a su Plan de Llamadas Más Popular Sin Costo Adicional
Comcast anunció que agregó a México a su plan de llamadas más popular, Xfinity Voice Unlimited, un cambio que se ofrece sin costo adicional y que brinda a los usuarios la posibilidad de ahorrar cientos de dólares cada año. A partir de hoy los clientes pueden hacer llamadas ilimitadas desde dentro o fuera de su hogar a teléfonos fijos o móviles en el territorio mexicano. El servicio ahora también se extiende a India, China, Hong Kong, Singapur y Corea del Sur, además de las otras seis regiones ya incluidas fuera de Estados Unidos.
Este nuevo plan se encuentra disponible hoy en la División Central de Comcast que incluye mercados importantes como Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Miami y Nashville. La próxima semana estará disponible en la División Noreste de la Compañía – que incluye 14 estados, desde Maine hasta Virginia y el Distrito de Columbia – y ya para finales del mes de agosto estará disponible para todos los demás clientes de Comcast.
Los hispanos de origen mexicano, representan el 64% de la comunidad hispanoparlante de Estados Unidos, además constituyen el 57,6% y el 79% de las poblaciones hispanas de Atlanta y Chicago. Otras ciudades de Estados Unidos con una importante presencia hispana, tienen a su vez un gran porcentaje de personas de origen mexicano entre las cuales se encuentran McAllen (97,7%), El Paso (95,6%), Fresno (94,1%), San Antonio (89,6%), Denver (81,1%), Houston (77,5%), San Francisco (69.5%), Atlanta (57,6%), Washington DC (16,3%), y Orlando (13,9%).
“Es importante mantenerse en contacto con familiares y amigos sin consideraciones geográficas. Pero a veces hasta las conversaciones telefónicas más breves pueden resultar muy caras”, expresó Patti Loyack, Vicepresidente de Comunicaciones de Comcast Cable. “Esperamos que los cambios que estamos realizando en Xfinity Voice Unlimited ayuden a más personas a mantenerse conectadas por menos dinero”.
En la actualidad los norteamericanos gastan miles de millones de dólares en cargos por llamadas internacionales desde teléfonos móviles y millones más en tarjetas para hacer llamadas internacionales. Los datos de la Federal Communications Commission (Comisión Federal de Comunicaciones) demuestran que muchas de estas llamadas son a la India, México y Canadá.
Comcast ofrece servicios telefónicos a más de 11 millones de clientes y casi la totalidad de sus clientes telefónicos residenciales están suscritos al plan Xfinity Voice Unlimited. Además de los cinco nuevos países que se agregaron hoy, el plan ya ofrece llamadas ilimitadas a Canadá, Puerto Rico, Guam, Islas Marianas del Norte, las Islas Vírgenes de Estados Unidos y Samoa Americana, alcanzando un total de aproximadamente la mitad de la población mundial. Xfinity Voice Unlimited también incluye servicios como identificación de llamadas en diversos dispositivos, llamada entre tres y llamada en espera.
Las llamadas internacionales ilimitadas son sólo una de las formas en que Xfinity Voice ahorra dinero a sus clientes. Con la aplicación Xfinity Connect app los clientes pueden utilizar hasta cuatro números telefónicos virtuales para hacer y recibir llamadas y mensajes de texto gratis desde un teléfono inteligente, tableta, o dispositivo con conexión Wi-Fi. Esta función permite ahorrar dinero en la factura de telefonía móvil y en cargos internacionales durante viajes al extranjero. A través de esta aplicación los clientes también pueden revisar su email, leer o escuchar el correo de voz de su hogar, así como tener acceso a sus contactos.
Company Adds Five New Countries to Most Popular Calling Plan For No Additional Cost; Mexico, India, China, Singapore, and South Korea Now Included
Comcast today announced it added five new countries to its most popular home phone plan Xfinity Voice Unlimited a change that comes at no additional cost and has the potential to save users hundreds of dollars each year.
These changes allow customers to place unlimited calls from home or on the go to mobile and landline phones in Mexico, India, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and South Korea, in addition to the six regions outside the United States already included.
The updated plan is available today in Comcast’s Central Division, which includes major markets like Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Miami, and Nashville.
Next week, it will be offered in the company’s Northeast Division, which includes 14 states from Maine to Virginia and the District of Columbia, and it will be available to remaining Comcast customers by the end of August.
Hispanics of Mexican heritage, who represent 64% of the U.S. Hispanic population, make up 57.6% and 79% of Atlanta and Chicago’s populations, respectively. Other U.S. cities with large Mexican populations include McAllen (97.7%), El Paso (95.6%), Fresno (94.1%), San Antonio (89.6%), Denver (81.1%), Houston (77.5%), San Francisco (69.5%), Atlanta (57.6%), Washington D.C. (16.3%), and Orlando (13.9%).
“Staying in touch with family and friends is important, regardless of geography. But sometimes even the shortest phone conversations can get expensive,” Patti Loyack, Vice President of Communications, Comcast Cable, said. “We hope the changes we’re making to Xfinity Voice Unlimited helps more people stay connected for less money.”
Americans spend billions of dollars on cell phone charges related to international calling and millions more on worldwide calling cards. Data from the Federal Communications Commission shows that many of these calls go to India, Mexico, and Canada.
Comcast has more than 11 million phone customers, and nearly all of its residential phone customers subscribe to the Xfinity Voice Unlimited plan. In addition to the five new countries being added today, the plan already allows unlimited calling to Canada, Puerto Rico, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa, totaling nearly half of the world’s population. Xfinity Voice Unlimited also includes features like caller ID across multiple devices, three-way calling, and call waiting.
Unlimited international calling is just one way Xfinity Voice saves people money. With the Xfinity Connect app, people can use up to four virtual phone numbers to make and receive calls and texts for free from a smartphone, tablet, or device connected to Wi-Fi. This feature helps save money on wireless bills and on international charges when traveling abroad. Customers can also check email, read or listen to home voicemail, and access contacts through the app.
The terms of service for Xfinity Voice Unlimited are available here.
About Comcast Cable:
Comcast Cable is the nation’s largest video, high-speed Internet and phone provider to residential customers under the XFINITY brand and also provides these services to businesses. Comcast has invested in technology to build an advanced network that delivers among the fastest broadband speeds, and brings customers personalized video, communications and home management offerings. Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) is a global media and technology company.
Visit comcastcorporation.com for more information.
According to Kristin 