How Wi-Fi Has Changed America
World Wi-Fi Day is here, and it's a time to celebrate and reflect on the game-changing technology that has enhanced the lives of Americans in just about every way. We all rely on a strong Wi-Fi connection for business, entertainment, and personal needs, so much so that an overwhelming majority of U.S. broadband households–9 out of 10–used Wi-Fi to connect to the internet as of March 2018. Since its humble debut in 1985, Wi-Fi has become a staple in American life. As the technology landscape evolved and the number of connected devices in homes and businesses multiplied, Wi-Fi networks
Three Questions: ESPN Executive Shares How the Network is Super-Serving Sports Fans
The way that people watch sports has changed drastically in the past several years. Cable programmers have provided audiences with easy and new ways to access thousands of hours of their favorite programming and sporting competitions, and via almost any connected device, through apps that make watching TV an anytime, anywhere experience. And now, ESPN just might be the driving force behind more change ahead for digital sports viewing. The network launched ESPN+ earlier this spring on the ESPN app, its first direct-to-consumer streaming service and one which delivers a much more personalized
Another Step Towards Closing the Digital Divide in Rural America
There is hardly any region in the country that hasn't been touched and influenced by broadband connectivity in some shape or form. From coastal cities to small villages in Alaska, America's cable internet service providers have invested more than $275 billion over the past two decades to build robust broadband networks that reach over 90 percent of U.S. homes. High-speed internet is boosting local economies and giving residents the opportunity to succeed in just about every area of their lives. But there are still areas of the country that do not have access to broadband. For this reason
Telemundo Deportes President Says it Will be 'World Cup Great'
The time has come! Every four years, the world comes together to celebrate the greatest soccer sporting event on the planet—the FIFA World Cup tournament. Starting tomorrow, viewers will watch their favorite world-class players take the field on Fox Sports, or on NBCUniversal's Telemundo Deportes for its exclusive Spanish-language broadcast—the network’s World Cup debut. Americans will miss the USA team this year, but that won't stop people from getting in on all the fun, especially not Telemundo's Spanish-speaking audience who are known to be some of the biggest fans out there when it comes
Why the Internet Will Remain Neutral and Open
June 11, 2018 is the day that the internet returns to the light-touch regulations that marked most of its history and gave rise to its tremendous growth. It was under this system that over $1 trillion in private capital was invested, leading to more than 90 percent of Americans getting access to fast internet. With lighter and less burdensome regulation of their business, ISPs are investing in better and faster networks. Very soon a majority of consumers will have 1Gbps speeds available. What consumers will notice today, tomorrow, next month, next year or pick your date, is quite literally –
Connecting More Americans to the Internet
While the majority of Americans are fortunate to enjoy all of the benefits that the internet offers, a digital divide still exists in the U.S. for people who live without an internet connection. But the good news is that ISPs are reaching more people than ever before. A recent survey from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration revealed that 78 percent of Americans used the Internet in 2017, up from 75 percent in 2015. This means that an additional 13.5 million—including low-income families, seniors, African Americans, and Hispanics—are now going online. Pew Research
Showtime's Inclusive Storytelling Shines a Light on the LGBTQ Community
As LGBTQ Pride Month celebrations continue through June, we took the opportunity to check in with Showtime's president of programming, Gary Levine, to find out how the network has become a leader in inclusive storytelling. According to GLAAD's "Where We Are on TV" report from the 2017-18 seasons, Showtime is one of the top networks with the highest number of LGBTQ characters (21) across its shows. It is also home to "one of the most prominent non-binary characters on TV," who appears on Billions. See our Q&A with Levine below to find out how the network's shows are impacting LGBTQ audiences
World Environment Day and a Look at Cable's Energy Saving Innovation Efforts
Today is World Environment Day, a global awareness day started by the United Nations. It's also the perfect time to celebrate the ongoing green efforts throughout the cable industry that are making a nationwide environmental impact. Earlier this year, NCTA, along with all of the largest pay-TV providers and energy efficiency advocates announced a four-year extension of the award-winning Voluntary Agreement for Ongoing Improvement to the Energy Efficiency of Set-Top Boxes (VA). The landmark agreement has saved consumers more than $3 billion and avoided millions of metric tons of CO2 emissions
From Dialup to Gigabit: America's Internet Story
Cable has a long history of bringing Americans the connectivity they need and of keeping pace with consumer demand as technology evolves. Over the past 20 years, internet service providers have invested over $275 billion in infrastructure, introduced ultra-fast gigabit networks, and reached millions of people in communities of all sizes throughout the country. Technology innovations like DOCSIS 3.1 have enabled consumers to download and stream faster and more conveniently than they ever had before. And as more devices entered the market and the Internet of Things expanded, ISPs continued to
BBC America's Killing Eve is a Ratings Marvel
"We have a show still in production right now, starring two female leads [Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer], and underpinning it are some feminist themes around women and friendships. It’s a constant conversation that centers around the representation of women, and a really vital and energetic one," said BBC America President Sarah Barnett in a Q&A with NCTA on gender diversity on television back in September. She was referring to the new drama Killing Eve, which has become one of the network's top shows since its premiere in April, and a ratings rarity in today's competitive TV marketplace. Though