Getting More American Families Online
It's easy to take the internet for granted. From entertainment to education to healthcare to business, there's no area of life that the internet doesn't touch, and as technology and consumer habits evolve, internet service providers deliver faster internet connections than ever before. But not everyone is privy to a high-speed connection in their home and ISPs are also actively working to ensure that every American family has access to high-speed internet connectivity. Through cable industry broadband adoption programs, more than 1.25 million low-income families are now connected to the
Hollywood Creative Forum: Inspiring and Developing Diverse Voices in Film and TV
The 9th annual Hollywood Creative Forum (HCF) concluded this week in Beverly Hills, and while every year brings intriguing discussions around diversity in TV and mentorship for diverse content creators, this year the conversation opened up even more. The Forum, hosted by The Walter Kaitz Foundation, is a once-a-year event when mid-career creatives along with veterans in the industry gather to foster diversity and creativity in the media and entertainment industries. “It’s an event designed for proven content creators who are looking to advance in Hollywood through career development and
Data Shows Americans See the Internet As Key to the Economy
According to a recent Morning Consult survey, the majority of Americans agree that high-speed internet is integral to the economy not just because of the many jobs that it provides for people of all backgrounds and education levels, but also for the opportunities that connectivity offers for healthcare, education, and small businesses. This is an issue that impacts people personally, from the jobs they work in to the communities they live in to the larger state and national economic implications that connectivity brings. The internet has become routine to people's daily lives, but responses
Winter Olympics Brings TV “Firsts” and Streaming Records
The 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang have begun, and fans have more opportunities to watch the competitions from their own personal devices, and while on the go, than ever before. NBC is providing over 2,400 hours of coverage, 1,800 of which will be dedicated to live streaming on NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports app for subscribers. And if the opening ceremonies last Friday–which were streamed live for the first time–and the first Saturday of the games are any indication, fans will eagerly tune in and take advantage of all of the different ways to watch their favorite winter sports
On the Front Line: How Mediacom Approaches Customer Care Issues
The cable industry supports millions of employees in a wide variety of fields and roles, such as the engineers highlighted last month, but customer service representatives are the front line, people that interact with customers the most and the ones responsible with leaving a lasting impression. "You have to enjoy helping people, and solving problems. It's not for everyone. You have to enjoy being able to turn things around for people," said Jon Coscia, Group Vice President of Customer Service at Mediacom. Coscia, who oversees more than 1,000 employees in the customer service arm of Mediacom
Working Towards Creating a Safer Internet
Kids are practically born with screens in their hands and will never know a world where they can’t swipe, post a selfie, or watch TV on any device with a screen. With this level of access, it’s important to equip kids with the knowledge and understanding of appropriate online behavior and how to manage their digital reputations, while also giving them the ability to combat and evade online dangers like cyberbullying, risky social media sites, and cyber scams. Making all of this all the more challenging is how some online services are being specifically designed for overconsumption by creating
How the Science Channel Delivers ‘Mindblowing’ Content to Curious Audiences
Science concluded 2017 with its highest rated year in the 20-year history of the network, according to General Manager Marc Etkind. With shows and documentaries about cutting-edge discoveries and exciting technological developments, the network is obviously doing something right. During a recent interview with NCTA, Etkind shared his network’s content strategy to cater to audiences of all demographics, which, given the current competitive TV climate, is no easy feat. Could you describe your content and what grabs your viewers the most? We superserve our audience with great shows about space
Building the Next Generation of Cable Leaders
Technology and media are constantly changing. Internet speeds get faster, owning multiple internet-enabled devices is now commonplace, watching TV on the go is rampant and programming has never been richer and more exciting. And it’s all thanks to the innovators who come and go, those who challenged convention, shared big ideas, and sparked inspiration, forever changing how people think about and use technology. But how does one continue to foster a crop of big influencers and leaders in an age that can often seem much more fragmented and fickle and when change is constant? The Cable Center
Viewers Say TV is Growing More Diverse
More than two-thirds of TV viewers say that the TV programming they watch reflects people of different races, ethnicities, gender and sexual orientation, according to a recent poll from Morning Consult. Specifically, the survey asked whether viewers considered the actors seen on TV shows to be of diverse backgrounds, to which 68 percent responded agreeably. The survey also asked viewers whether they are able to find shows that speak directly to their backgrounds and lifestyles, and 70 percent answered yes. These findings seem to reflect the impact of the growing number of new TV shows in
A Community Full of Jobs: Cable Engineers
The cable industry provides millions of jobs across a myriad of disciplines. This week cable engineers take the spotlight. Cable engineers span the full gamut when it comes to bringing Americans the connectivity they need and demand. “Cable used to be just used for watching TV shows, but today’s network is supporting all types of internet traffic including people who work from home, home monitoring, and commercial traffic to business in addition to telephony and security services," explained Dean Stoneback, senior director of engineering and standards at SCTE•ISBE. Whether it's a technician