Once Again, ISPs Top Investment Heroes Ranking
According the latest Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) report U.S. Investment Heroes of 2015 issued today, ISPs (really, the cable and telecom industry as a whole) are investing more capital into infrastructure improvements than any other industry in America. In 2014, ISPs were the leader as well with $46 billion. In 2015, the number leapt to $48.7 billion, an impressive jump of nearly six percent. This is particularly significant as the United States continues to suffer through an investment drought. In fact, PPI cites capital per worker-hour has fallen since 2010. As the report says, “Given
Cable Prepares to Celebrate Diversity Week
“We need diversity of thought, experience, product and people. To best reflect the customers and communities we serve, we’re infusing diversity and inclusion into our governance, workforce, sourcing, programming and community investment practices,” writes David Cohen, the Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer of Comcast. In anticipation of Diversity Week, which will be held in New York City next week, we’d like to take a moment to recognize these types of commitments and initiatives taking place across the cable industry. The Walter Kaitz Foundation, also known as cable’s
CableLabs Report Concludes LTE-U Risks Disrupting Consumer Wi-Fi
Yesterday, CableLabs, the cable industry’s non-profit research and development consortium, published a blog that highlighted an important question that many in the tech policy community are talking about: Does the lack of effective politeness protocols in LTE-U technology risk disrupting consumer Wi-Fi and other devices that rely on unlicensed spectrum? In short, the conclusion was yes. As the blog makes clear, the LTE-U “specification” provides only a limited, half-page discussion of potential approaches to testing sharing but no actual sharing requirements. If this is LTE-U’s answer to
Cable Sweeps Emmy's with 24 Trophies, 69% of Wins
It was as close to a rout as a Primetime Emmy Awards night could possibly be. With a whopping 24 wins, cable took home the big kudos for being the most awarded platform for television. Broadcast left with 6 wins and online programers like Netflix and Amazon took a shared 5 wins. All told, 69 percent of Primetime Emmy Awards went to cable programs. Nods for perhaps the most competitive and highly sought awards, Outstanding Comedy and Outstanding Drama, went to HBO’s Veep and HBO’s Game of Thrones. Veep broke ABC’s Modern Family’srecord-tying five win streak (shared with Frasier). Had Modern
Timeline: The Impressive Rate of Broadband Deployment And Adoption In America
After Big Wins at Creative Arts Emmy's, Cable Looks to Primetime Emmy's
Last week the Television Academy presented the 2015 Creative Arts Emmy Awards, honoring the many artists and craftspeople behind the scenes who create amazing television experiences. Cable programs captured 59 percent of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards, not only confirming that some of the greatest television is happening on cable, but also acting as a precursor to this Sunday’s big event: the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards. When nominations were revealed in July, we pointed to cable’s impressive 315 nominations – more than half of the total available. This is extra impressive as new programming
Cable Prepares for Next Week’s Superstar, Pope Francis
The Emmy’s might be coming up this weekend, but Pope Francis is sure to steal the stage as cable’s superstar starting early next week. The Pope will begin his trip to the United States on September 22nd, going through the 27th and will hit Washington, D.C, New York, and Philadelphia. Thanks to our highly connected society, millions of people will be along for the journey, in person and over television sets, computer screens, iPhones and social media platforms, and especially on cable networks nationwide. In addition to the many national news and religious networks that will be broadcasting the
Don't Hit Rewind on TV Revolution
Originally posted on September 15, 2015 in USA TODAY as an opposing view to this USA TODAY editorial. A government effort to power up a cable box market is backward looking. USA TODAY regularly writes about how online video is transforming the TV experience, allowing consumers if they wish to “cut the cord.” The marketplace has attracted lots of innovative and well-heeled companies to the video business. Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, Apple TV and Roku are now firmly established video offerings. The result is invigorated competition and expanding choices for consumers. What screen we watch TV on also
Choice in Cable Programming Means Diversity, Inclusivity, Flexibility
As temperatures begin to cool, we’re ready for another round of television premieres. What used to be a tiered premiere schedule with broadcast followed by cable networks is now a year round high-quality television bonanza. Too busy these next few months while starting that new job? You can catch up on the fourth season of Homeland in the new year when you’ve settled in a bit more. Not ready to make the emotional commitment and focus that some of those heavily scripted dramas require? Perhaps you’d rather sit back and have a few laughs by going back and re-watching past episodes from South
A Peek Behind Cable’s $1 Billion in Charitable Donations
The cable industry is integral to helping charities and non-profit organizations gain enough momentum to make an impact. Last year, contributions totaled more than $1 billion in industry cash, in-kind donations and public service announcements in 2014, with both cable operators and program networks included. A few of the initiatives which the cable industry was involved in include: closing the digital divide through low-cost and discounted broadband services and digital literacy classes for those who need it most; training and supporting military veterans; encouraging students to participate