A College Student's Account on Learning Remotely in the Time of COVID
When the pandemic forced schools and universities to close across the country this past spring, many turned to distance learning in order to salvage the remainder of the semester for students. NCTA members worked with school districts and colleges across their footprints to help get as many students as possible connected, and teachers and students alike had to adapt to this new learning experience. And while there is no substitute for the benefits that come from in-person learning in schools, there is no denying that a high-speed broadband connection can open up opportunities for students to
CNN Reporters Share Their Perspectives as Women of Color Covering an Election Year
As the Democratic National Convention wrapped up last night, and with the Republican National Convention approaching, general election season is just around the corner. Television plays an especially important role during election seasons, as millions of Americans tune in to stay informed of the news, learn, and get perspective on the country's state of affairs. It's therefore the job of those TV network reporters and journalists to report the facts and to bring a comprehensive and inclusive view of current events. In a CNN film recently released on HBO Max, On the Trail: Inside the 2020
HBO's Lovecraft Country Takes New Approach in Telling America's Story of Racial Injustice
Imagine it's 1950s Jim Crow America. A Black man and Black woman are traveling together in search of his missing father, while simultaneously battling white racists, and big, monstrous creatures that look like they came straight out of a sci-fi film. Today's rap and hip-hop music play in the background. Sounds … different, right? This is the story of HBO's Lovecraft Country, a series which premieres this weekend and will roll the horror, sci-fi, and drama genres into one while exploring the racial injustices of the time period. There are many elements that go into making the show a unique
Tracking Cable's Broadband Performance During the Pandemic
Broadband networks were put to the test like never before when they experienced a surge in internet traffic during state stay-at-home orders this past spring, especially during March and April. But fortunately, cable ISPs are constantly upgrading their networks and staying ahead of consumer demand to provide Americans with a robust and reliable connectivity experience, no matter the time of day or how many people or devices are online. So in order to be as transparent as possible about the ability of ISPs to handle this kind of internet usage surge, NCTA began tracking the performance of
Behind Lifetime's Mission to 'Stop Violence Against Women'
At this week's Television Critics Association press tour, conducted virtually this year, Lifetime brought together a panel on the network's upcoming two-night documentary, Surviving Jeffrey Epstein, which premieres this coming Sunday. Panelists included the filmmakers and real-life sexual assault survivors of the late financier's crimes. These women spoke to the challenges of sharing their trauma for television, as well as the empowerment that came with having worked on the film. The documentary is a follow-up to the Peabody Award-winning Surviving R. Kelly, which brought to the forefront the
Supporting Education During COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed just about every aspect of our daily lives and the upcoming school year is no exception as many schools will remain closed throughout the fall. The school closures mean that millions of students will remain at home and begin round two of online learning which first kicked off last spring as the pandemic set in. As teachers and school administrators have been preparing throughout the summer for the continuation of virtual education, America's cable broadband providers have also worked hard to ensure that their networks are meeting the increased surge in online
National Geographic Showrunners Share How They Film in a COVID World
This past March, along with countless other businesses and industries, numerous TV and film productions were forced to shut down when it became clear that COVID-19 was becoming a widespread health threat. National Geographic alone had to shut down nearly 77 productions in countries all over the world. Yesterday, at CTAM's portion of the Television Critics Association press tour, held virtually this year, National Geographic Senior Vice President of Communications Chris Albert explained that it's been equally as challenging for the network to get production back up and running. But audiences
Parenting With Screens During COVID-19
Since the start of the pandemic, kids have spent more hours at home than they ever have before. And as schools struggle with the decision of whether or not to reopen this fall, it is very likely that many children will continue to distance learn and spend most of their days at home for the foreseeable future. In many ways, the internet has acted as a source of comfort for kids (and adults) during this time as they use it to not just complete school work, but to also connect with teachers and peers on a personal level, stream entertaining shows, or play interactive games. But what are the
Virtual Reality, Virtual Sets, Real Entertainment
While 2020 has forced many industries to quickly adapt to new ways of working, TV and film have always sought creative solutions to create amazing programming. These challenges, more recently, have been made easier with new technologies that require high-capacity broadband connections. How would different parts of a TV or film crew, be it the set design department or post-production team or visual effects team, learn to work together, remotely? That conundrum was at the center of a panel discussion at this year’s Comic-Con, which was held remotely this year due to COVID-19. “The main thing I
What Will the Future of Entertainment Look Like?
The COVID-19 pandemic has no doubt accelerated the speed at which most people are adopting next generation technologies and applications. Broadband has also proven to be the enabler of these technologies, as networks continue to run at full capacity and power the amazing virtual interactions that Americans are engaging in as they spend more hours at home. And with 10G around the corner—the cable industry's commitment to bringing ultra-fast speeds to U.S. households—these technologies and experiences will get that much closer to becoming staples in American life. During a virtual panel at the