Disney Channel and Disney Junior Are Building a More Inclusive Future
TV networks have a large reach and heavy influence on kids, which is why it is so critical for children's programming to help kids understand more about people's differences and the world around them. Disney Channel and Disney Junior have long stood out from the crowd in their quest to create diverse and inclusive programming, and their animated shows continue to step up for the youngest audiences. At this year's Television Critics Association summer press tour, producers and cast members of some of their most popular animated kids shows spoke about the importance of having programming that
Broadband Data: Infrastructure
As Congress moves forward on the bipartisan infrastructure package, America’s broadband leaders are continuing their work to extend superfast networks to all Americans, from large urban communities to far-out mountain towns. And while federal funding will be important to help close gaps and jumpstart projects in traditionally difficult-to-serve regions, these areas are just a small percentage of the country. That’s because cable (and other) internet service providers have been investing in and upgrading networks in urban and rural communities for decades. In fact, cable internet providers
How Broadband Networks Fared During the Internet's Biggest Stress Test Ever
As America (hopefully) begins its climb out of the COVID-19 pandemic and many offices and schools are reopening, it's worth reflecting over the past 17 months how broadband networks performed and enabled our country to stay engaged and productive during this unprecedented public health crisis. After all, considering how quickly stay-at-home orders forced tens of millions of workers and students home, COVID-19 was undoubtedly the biggest stress test that the internet has ever faced. When the outbreak of COVID-19 caused states to issue stay-at-home orders across the country in March 2020, NCTA
The Kids Are Alright: Kids Street Delivers Fun, Educational Programming for Children and Families
As television has changed over the past decade, the same goes for children’s entertainment. Just like other media sectors, new technologies and distribution methods have ushered in a boom of rich educational kids’ content. One of NCTA’s newest members, cable TV network Kids Street (whose parent company, Condista, is also an NCTA member), is leading the way in providing diverse, education focused content for kids and families. Recently, NCTA interviewed Kids Street to find out more about their mission: NCTA: Talk a bit about Kids Street and what you do? Kids Street: Kids Street is an
Broadband Data: Closing the Digital Divide With Broadband Adoption Programs
While the COVID-19 pandemic has shone a light on the digital divide in the United States, cable internet service providers have long been committed to providing connectivity to as many Americans as possible. Using a multi-pronged approach, at the start of the pandemic in 2020 cable ISPs responded to the global health crisis by further expanding their successful broadband adoption programs to more qualifying households. Over the past decade, low-cost broadband adoption programs have connected over 14 million Americans to the internet. These low-cost programs offer broadband service for as low
How Rural Broadband Can Help Agriculture Into the Future
The COVID-19 pandemic drove many to rely on America’s broadband networks like never before. Despite being a sudden shift, the story is a successful one. While European networks had to work with video streamers to reduce the file quality in order to facilitate the sudden shift in network usage, American broadband networks never experienced those issues. In fact, they adapted to changes in consumer behavior as cable internet service providers continually added capacity. For sure, one thing the last year and a half highlighted is how important a broadband connection has become in our daily lives
NBCUniversal Is Set to Produce the 'Most Meaningful Olympic Games of our Lifetime'
The Tokyo Olympics officially kick off tomorrow with the opening ceremonies, and NBCUniversal is more than ready to pull off the first major global media event since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. (In fact, the network has already been covering the start of the Olympic Games in softball and soccer for the past few days.) Despite the lack of in-person audiences due to the ongoing pandemic, there is no doubt that the world will be watching as the Games unfold, especially after the event was postponed last summer. "We are going to deliver the most comprehensive—and accessible—coverage
New Study Examines Internet Traffic Patterns and Bandwidth Requirements
As America climbs out of the COVID-19 pandemic, cable's broadband networks continue to prove their ability to handle unprecedented spikes in internet traffic—from the state lockdowns of last spring when more people than ever before connected online, to the present day as businesses and schools begin to experiment with new hybrid working models. But no matter what the “new normal” will be, one certainty is the importance of a reliable and robust broadband connection. As we step back and assess how networks handled the pandemic surge in traffic, a new report by Cartesian, a consulting group with
TV Stats: Excellence On Screen
The last decade for TV has been nothing short of a revolution. New technologies and new distribution methods have changed how audiences consume their entertainment and have resulted in an explosion of new shows. In fact, 493 original scripted shows premiered in 2020, according to FX Networks. More competition for eyeballs means networks are eager to tell powerful stories and elevate authentic voices. With a healthy, competitive TV marketplace, audiences are the winners. Cable TV networks have a long history of leading the pack with award-winning programming. From “The Sopranos” to “Mare of
Take a TV Dive with a Shark
It's that time of year when sharks rule not just the waters, but America's TV screens. Sharks have always been a fan favorite, and two cable TV networks are combining science and research with nonstop thrills and entertainment to teach audiences about these fascinating sea creatures. National Geographic kicked off its ninth annual SHARKFEST programming special earlier this week, which runs for a total of six weeks. Meanwhile, Discovery is in its third decade of SHARK WEEK, with its 33rd annual production launching July 11 and running for seven days. National Geographic's programming includes