Happy 50th Birthday, HBO
HBO, the first national cable network, turns 50 years old this week. The success of HBO broke barriers and changed the way TV is distributed, produced, and watched. Going Live Since its launch on November 8, 1972 when it aired the NHL game between the Vancouver Canucks and the New York Rangers, HBO has been a pioneer for new TV technologies and bold stories. Behind the Scenes: HBO was the first network to utilize satellite technology to be offered by cable TV nationwide (before this, TV networks had limited regional reaches). HBO is often credited as being the first modern cable network
Cable TV's Efforts to Produce Authentic Native American Stories
With Native American Heritage Month getting started, it's important to not only celebrate Native American culture and history, but to embrace entertainment and programming that continually speak to diversity and inclusion. Why It's Important: As NCTA President & CEO Michael Powell said at the Kaitz Dinner last month, "For too long, we have left Black and Brown people out of our stories, out of our history, or worse, portrayed them as lesser human beings. It is a tragedy we are all working to address as we work towards diversity and inclusion." He added, "We must continue the hard work of
Connecting America's Students
The fall semester for schools across the country is at its peak, and this year, unlike the last couple, looks a lot like pre-pandemic times. But in many ways, student learning has completely transformed over the past 2.5 years, with online learning becoming an important component in education. Why It Matters: With more students now connected to the internet at home, high-speed broadband is powering online instruction and virtual experiences that were far less prevalent prior to COVID. How It Happened: This is thanks to the strong partnerships forged between cable providers and school districts
Energy Efficient Equipment Saving Consumers Billions Annually
Industry-wide green initiatives are bringing tremendous savings in annual energy costs, cutting down on CO2 emissions, and exceeding energy efficiency goals, according to new independent audits that examined two voluntary energy efficiency agreements that are led by NCTA, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), and CableLabs. Set-Top Boxes Are More Energy Efficient Every Year The voluntary agreement between the pay-TV industry and energy efficiency advocates to reduce the energy required to power set-top boxes has accomplished impressive results: $2.5 billion in annual energy cost savings
Q&A: How C-SPAN Is Covering the Midterms
This November, Americans will cast their ballots in the midterm elections. For over 40 years, C-SPAN has provided Americans with an invaluable service by providing an unbiased view into not only the governing process, but the campaign process as well. With the election two weeks away, NCTA interviewed Nate Hurst, a Political Editor at C-SPAN, to learn more about how the network plays its important role in the democratic process. How is C-SPAN’s coverage of the 2022 elections different from previous election years? I feel like each cycle builds on the last one – we see that this year with
TV Stats: Live Sports Is a Heavy Hitter
As audience habits around entertainment viewing have changed over the years, with many preferring to watch some shows time-shifted, sports are one arena where live-viewing still has mass appeal. In fact, sports programming continues to set records and draw live audiences.
How Cable Providers Fend Off Cyber Attacks
Cybersecurity Awareness Month continues through October, but the cable industry's efforts to keep its networks secure and people safe online never ends. Today's Biggest Cybersecurity Threats Cybercriminals' most common attacks include: data breaches, phishing schemes which lure users to give away confidential information, denial of service attacks which prohibit users from gaining access to a service, ransomware, espionage, and botnets. An example of a recent botnet is the Mirai cybersecurity attack, which took place in 2016. A group of devices were compromised, and the wireless service attack
Cartoon Network Stands Up Against Bullying
Cable TV networks have long used their large reach and influence to move the needle on important issues, and Cartoon Network's commitment to spreading awareness about bullying issues is an example of how powerful storytelling can make a difference for young viewers. In honor of National Bullying Prevention Month this October, Cartoon Network has unveiled a new PSA, "Redraw Your World Without Bullying," which demonstrates how to help someone who is experiencing identity-based bullying because of their race, religion, disability, immigration status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or
Tour the 10G Smart Home
From smart lights to app-controlled speakers, many homes today benefit from internet-connected technologies. But as more devices become connected and as new technologies come to market, a next-generation gigabit network is critical to powering the future. How to get there: Cable internet service providers (ISPs) have been building the 10G network for years now, and with recent breakthroughs and innovations, 10G is closer than ever. In fact, a new, virtual 10G-enabled home demonstrates this coming reality by blending current and future technologies to display what might be possible. Why that’s
The Right Way to Bring Broadband to Rural Communities
Across rural America, from the most remote areas of Alaska to the grain silos of Minnesota, cable internet service providers (ISPs) continually build out their broadband networks to connect as many unserved Americans as possible. Why it matters: In today's world, a high-speed broadband connection is a must-have for everything from education, business, healthcare, entertainment, job searching, to communicating with loved ones. Simply put, broadband is today’s opportunity infrastructure. Go deeper: Virginia is one example where multiple experienced ISPs are working to ensure that hard-to-reach