More Spectrum, Better Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi has transformed connectivity in America in just about every way possible. People rely on the technology to access the internet to conduct their business transactions, connect with their peers, for educational or healthcare purposes or for pure entertainment value. But the traffic lanes that allow Wi-Fi to travel have become much more congested in the last few years. In order to allow Americans to continue enjoying a rich and unhindered Wi-Fi experience, especially as high-quality video streaming becomes prevalent and new technology like VR and AR continue to rollout, the nation needs
30 Years of Shark Week: How Discovery Created a Cultural Phenomenon
No summer would be complete without taking a "TV swim" with a shark! It's that time of year when Discovery showcases its annual Shark Week extravaganza, and this week marks the 30th anniversary of the fearsome fish's debut on the network. In a Q&A, Discovery Senior Vice President of Programming Donna D'Alessandro shared with NCTA what goes into making one of the longest running events on television, and how the network continues to "wow" viewers year after year. Give us an overview of Shark Week's history. Why was it conceived? The legend goes that a few executives were sitting around a table
Fast Facts About Cable's $421 Billion Impact
What other industry employs nearly 300 people in every congressional district in the United States? America's cable internet providers and TV programmers are known for innovative solutions and advances in broadband and entertainment that they bring to millions of consumers everyday, but the cable industry also leaves its mark in another very important way–the nation's economy. From Alaska to Hawaii to Wyoming, the cable industry accounts for an astounding $421 billion total economic impact and supports 2.9 million jobs. And as we learned earlier this year from CTHRA's 2017 Annual Compensation
Reaching the Last Mile: Hearing on Rural Broadband Examines Solutions to Closing the Digital Divide
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives holds an important hearing to discuss the challenges and benefits of rolling out broadband to rural regions across the country in order to reach communities that are currently affected by the digital divide. We applaud members of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology for opening up a dialogue that brings to the table innovative broadband solutions and approaches to connect more Americans. As we have seen, high-speed and reliable connectivity is the key to improving a community's economic vitality, education, healthcare, and growth, and rural
World Cup Coverage Sets New Records for Telemundo and FOX Sports
This year's FIFA World Cup, which concludes this Sunday with the France versus Croatia final, was always bound to pose challenges for American audiences. With the tournament taking place in Russia, the time difference makes watching the games stateside challenging, tacked onto the fact that the U.S.A. men’s team did not qualify this year. But viewership ratings from FOX Sports and Telemundo are proving that despite these obstacles, Americans are reveling in the exciting matches, stories, and coverage that the tournament has to offer—and they are watching in a variety of ways. Telemundo reports
Fast Internet Opens Doors to New Ways of Educating Students
In most cases, the way that students learn today is completely different than how they received classroom instruction, or did their homework, from even just five years ago. Internet expansion and the rise of digital devices inside and outside of the home have led to new ways of learning in schools, and its also given people who live in the most remote regions of the country the opportunity to learn from experts through distance learning. Cable broadband providers have invested more than $275 billion over the past 20 years to upgrade connectivity and improve internet access, and education is an
New Poll Shows Americans Satisfied with Quantity and Quality of Cable TV
When it comes to what people appreciate most in a TV service, the quality of programming and the vast menu of shows that are available to them prove to be critical factors that contribute to consumers' overall satisfaction with their entertainment packages. According to a recent Morning Consult survey, an overwhelming majority of people—83 percent—reported that they are satisfied with their cable or online streaming subscription. For those who subscribed to a cable TV service, 81 percent said they were specifically satisfied with the content quality, while 78 percent reported satisfaction with
Data Usage Up for Homes with Wi-Fi
As America's internet service providers reach more people than ever before—over 90 percent of households in the U.S.—in turn, Americans are consuming more content than ever before. According to comScore's latest report on the "State of OTT," the average consumption in a U.S. Wi-Fi household spiked by 26 percent in one year alone. Streaming video is up, and speeds are only getting faster as new technologies and experiences like VR, AR and 4K become mainstream and usher us into a whole new era of connectivity. Wi-Fi has ingrained itself in everyday life, carrying the vast majority of U.S
Celebrating 30 Years of CableLabs and Its Contributions to Internet and TV
Did you know that approximately 500 million people use CableLabs technology on a daily basis? Thirty years ago, no one could have foreseen the significant impact that CableLabs would have on consumers, the industry, and companies worldwide. CableLabs was founded in 1988 as a collaborative research and development consortium working to execute cable technology projects and drive industry standards. Its collaborative approach uses an open model to create better technology. Since its start, the organization has been granted over 200 patents—a feat that takes a hefty team of dedicated and creative
Taking Pride In Cable TV Programming
According to the 2017-18 GLAAD “Where We Are on TV” report, cable programming hit a record-setting 173 number of LGBTQ+ characters at the start of the current television season. That’s ahead of broadcast and streaming, who saw 86 and 70 LGBTQ+ characters respectively. The trend also mirrors the sea change of public opinion in recent years in favor of LGBTQ+ acceptance; from 2010 to 2017 the number of LGBTQ+ characters has more than tripled on cable from 53 in 2010 to 173 in 2017. In fact, this year cable has more than double the amount of diverse characters than either broadcast or streaming