California PUC commissioner opposes Comcast-TWC merger; cable pioneer Wendell Woody dies

More news bytes from around the World Wide Web.

> Comcast has rolled out an update to its X1 set-tops that automatically defaults to the HD version of rented and purchased movies. Story

> Longtime Disney/ABC TV Group digital chief Andy Cheng, who has overseen ABC's TV Everywhere initiatives, among other projects, will step down at the end of May. Story

> California Public Utilities Commission chief Mike Florio has spoken out against Comcast's proposed $45.2 billion purchase of Time Warner Cable. Story

> Longtime cable-industry executive Wendell Woody, an 11-year member of the SCTE board, died on April 8 at the age of 80. Story

> Charter Communications says it will issue $1.5 billion in unsecured notes to retire existing debt. Press release

> Media-services company Deluxe and multiscreen specialist Xstream have teamed up to deliver what they're billing as an end-to-end solution for the over-the-top delivery of programming. Press release

And finally …  Cox Communications executives met with FCC commissioners last week to voice their competitive concerns regarding the proposed merger of AT&T and DirecTV. Story