Once again, NCTA is attending SXSW. We go because we know that one of our most important roles is to find better, more effective ways to tell the story of America’s Internet and television innovators. SXSW is a unique convergence of creative and professional ideas that, in many ways, sets the tone for how the entire digital industry talks about itself. More than that, SXSW establishes how technology industries like ours contribute to the larger conversation of innovation, art, technology, and entertainment. This is a conversation we can’t miss.
America’s ISPs have played a crucial role in delivering the digital revolution. As representatives of the companies that provide the tools and the technologies to deliver broadband, we need to understand the cutting edge use-cases of that technology. And we need to connect with the people who rely on it for their business, their art, and their education. This is exactly what’s on display at SXSW, not only as demonstrations, but through some of the best conference panels and discussion forums on new and evolving communications technology in the world.
We also attend to support our creative partners. NCTA does more than just represent ISPs, we represent the creators of the best television on earth. Year after year, programmers like HBO, AMC, FX, and Discovery bring out their biggest, brightest, most impressive interactive displays to show off the incredible creative depth of today’s television ecosystem. It’s part promotion, part engagement, but it’s all fun! And it’s a great way to see how people are talking about TV and what to expect when the next big show launches.
We go to SXSW because it’s in the real world, outside of the policy apparatus where we spend most of our day. It’s about getting out and seeing what innovators, entrepreneurs, and media companies are doing and how we can better serve them in the future
As always, we’re looking forward to sharing our story and having a lot of fun in Austin. Keep an eye on NCTA’s Twitter feed (@NCTACable) for pictures and stories from SXSW 2016.