Posted on 10/15/2025 2:47:55 PM PDT by lightman
Just started this afternoon...attempting to play Newsmax (Xfinity channel 1115). I'll get sound for about 3 seconds then it cuts off.
EVERY other channel has sound working perfectly.
If I jump channels and return to Newsmax, same thing: Two seconds of sound, then silence.
I smell a 'RAT.
And before y’all ask: Yes, I refreshed the browser. Yes, I restarted the PC.
The problem is with Xfinity.
Don’t mess with Hegseth.
There is a 1000 ways to censure conservatives.
I have noticed that youtube is running advertisements on conservative content at a much higher rate than all other content.
X-what? :D
Fine on Kloud TV streaming.
Xfinity stream is part of Comcast.
Comcast is my ISP.
I was noticing this on my Xfinity box. I was thinking I need to get a new box because it goes out every couple of years or so.
If you are watching it using a browser, Xfinity has zero control over that. Through a browser the audio is embedded in the stream, not a separate stream that Xfinity could block.
If it was over the cable, Xfinity “might” be able to block the audio at the head end (where the signal comes from the satellite. But, the chances of that happen are nil. I used to work in that business and the people in the head end only care that the needles are moving. They wouldn’t give a hoot about the politics of a particular channel.
People who see conspiracies in these types of things need to understand the workers responsible for making sure this stuff makes it from the Sat dish to the cable box are just regular Joes doing their jobs. The Executives with any political bent are literally hundreds (if not thousands) or miles away from them.
It’s likely a lose wire somewhere at NewsMax.
“Loose wire” seems to self correct at the beginning of every commercial...two to three seconds of sound, then silence.
The commercials are locally inserted…which confirms the audio is being lost at the transmission, not the reception.
It goes like this:
Studio—>Sat Up—>Sat Down—>Head End—>Commerical Insertion—> Distribution
If it sound doesn’t drop off during commercials, it is being lost before that in the process.
“And before y’all ask: Yes, I refreshed the browser. Yes, I restarted the PC.”
Did you log in?
Very helpful!
“I have noticed that youtube is running advertisements on conservative content at a much higher rate than all other content.”
Good. More revenue for the conservatives.
Yes It’s Xfinity .(customer service so bad they changed the name)
DVR’d Newsmax is the only show that hiccups at the beginning for me and sometimes doesn’t record at all.(greg kelly)
Read somewhere (cant find the article) Comcrap i mean Xfinity treats Newsmax different. AI says something similar:
Search Assist
Newsmax is available on Xfinity through both cable and streaming options, allowing viewers to access it via Xfinity’s set-top boxes or the Newsmax Plus app. However, the DVR functionality may differ based on whether you are using the cable service or streaming it online.
thedesk.net cabletv.com
Newsmax Transmission on Xfinity vs. Internet
Xfinity Cable Transmission
Availability: Newsmax is included in Xfinity’s cable channel lineup.
DVR Functionality: Subscribers can record Newsmax programming using Xfinity’s DVR service.
Access: Viewers can tune in directly through their Xfinity cable boxes.
Newsmax Plus Streaming
Availability: Newsmax Plus is available as an app on Xfinity’s X1 set-top boxes and Xumo Stream Box.
DVR Functionality: The app does not support traditional DVR features; however, it offers on-demand access to programming.
Access: Users can stream live and on-demand content, but recording capabilities are limited compared to cable.
Key Differences
Feature Xfinity Cable Transmission Newsmax Plus Streaming
DVR Recording Yes No
Live Access Yes Yes
On-Demand Content Limited Extensive
Device Compatibility Xfinity cable boxes X1 and Xumo Stream Box
In summary, while both services provide access to Newsmax, the cable version allows for DVR recording, whereas the streaming app focuses on live and on-demand viewing without traditional recording options.
It’s a known issue. Go to the xfinity forum,register and compalin.
Xfinity Community Forum
https://forums.xfinity.com › conversations › xfinity-stream-website › newsmax-channel-freezing › 67bb7b827bc6900053f6a0d9
Newsmax Channel Freezing | Xfinity Community Forum
Feb 23, 2025I use both a Roku 4K Express and a Roku stick to watch TV programs through the Xfinity Stream App. On 02/19/25 the Newsmax Channel started freezing for no reason. On 02/19/2025 the Newsmax channe...
Newsmax freezing
We are having the same problem just started about a week ago. We can only watch Newsmax for 2 minutes before it freezes and we have to switch to another channel and go back for another 2 minutes!
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Roku Community
https://community.roku.com › discussions › tv-and-players › newsmax-buffering-on-xfinity › 1045176
Newsmax buffering on Xfinity - Roku Community
Update: If you are still having issues with Newsmax channels or any other content on your Xfinity Stream app, please contact the Xfinity Stream channel provider for further assistance. They control and manage this app through the Roku streaming
>Comcast is my ISP.
I’m sorry to hear that.
Back when I had cable, the local cable company would insert their own commercials. Usually they’d be off the main feed by a second or two. This happened even during the Super Bowl.
Was that legal? If I had paid several million for a Super Bowl commercial, I wouldn’t want some local cable company pre-empting my national commercial.
It didn’t happen in the Super Bowl; at least not from the Cable Company. Those have always been on broadcast channels and we never inserted on a Broadcast Network.
It was likely inserted at the local TV station.
The commercials were triggered by a “silent” tone that started a local set of commercials. Way back in the day they used a bank of industrial VCRs to insert the ads. It was fun to watch TV and see one of the VCRs die…and send out garbled junk for 2 1/2 minutes.
So was it legal for the local station to do that?
Usually during the Super Bowl there are “local spots” so that the local owners can benefit from the game as well. This is in line with their normal agreements with broadcast networks.
You can generally tell when the “local ad slots” happen because the network will run promotions or repeat ads that have already run during the show. I know on the cable networks the local ads run at 22 after the hour, and around 40 minutes after the hour. National ads will run at the top and bottom of the hour. I imagine the local ads would run in a similar format.
My guess is that the ad insertion equipment got delayed in your example. It can be impacted by how the tone is communicated and what kind of insertion equipment is being used. These days they are all on solid state hard drives, which makes response immediate and the quality doesn’t degrade. Twenty years ago, many smaller stations were still using tape. And whenever you have “mechanical” tools you open yourself up to a lot of problems.
So, in short, the local channel had every “right” to insert their ads over the national broadcast if it was done during a designated “insert” spot. Crappy equipment would lead to what you were describing. Not knowing your market size, it is impossible to suggest if it had an impact on the national ad buyers. If this was happening in NY City, the impact could be big. If it was in Pittsfield, MA…the national numbers wouldn’t begin to notice it.
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