Celebrating Pride Month: How the Cable Industry is Supporting LGBTQ+ Communities

As Pride Month unfolds, the conversation around LGBTQ+ equality and representation takes center stage. From vibrant Pride parades to insightful discussions and employee-led activities, the cable industry continues to embrace diversity and inclusion in meaningful ways. Learn about some of the initiatives NCTA members have instituted to recognize the importance of the month. Comcast NBCUniversal has Xfinity’s LGBTQ+ Film & TV destination with new features and content collections under the theme “Universal Truths Don’t Change. Love Unites.” To this end, Comcast’s “Newsmakers” series will feature
‘Bad River’: Comcast Chronicles a Native Community’s Fight for Sovereignty

Comcast NBCUniversal's Black Experience partnered with acclaimed filmmaker Mary Mazzio and NBA Hall of Famer Grant Hill to produce “Bad River”, a documentary that chronicles the troubled history and present struggle of the Bad River Ojibwe, a Native community in northern Wisconsin. A David vs. Goliath battle The film follows the Bad River Ojibwe as they contest a 70-year-old pipeline on the brink of rupture into Lake Superior, the largest freshwater resource in North America and approximately 20% of the entire world's freshwater supply. For the Bad River Ojibwe, a pipeline rupture would
NAMIC Vision Awards Celebrate Diversity on Screen

Earlier this month, NAMIC announced the winners of the 30th annual NAMIC Vision Awards, honoring original programming that best reflects the increasingly diverse, multi-ethnic, and multicultural viewing audience. For 44 years, NAMIC has been the premier organization that educates, advocates, and empowers for multi-ethnic diversity in the communications industry. This year, OWN, Disney+, CNN, ESPN, Nat Geo WILD, and Peacock were among the Vision Award winners, for programming ranging from documentary series to an animated children’s show. OWN The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), founded by Oprah
Americans Love Broadband-Powered Streaming

Streaming media has exploded in popularity over the last decade, as broadband has become even faster, more reliable, and ubiquitous across the United States. In fact, the rise in streaming is possible through America’s robust internet infrastructure, facilitating the ability for someone to watch whatever they want, wherever they want. To better understand Americans’ attitudes and habits around streaming media, NCTA partnered with Morning Consult to survey over 4,400 adults in mid-March. Americans give broadband and streaming high marks Broadband enables streaming media, with robust high-speed
C-SPAN Delivers Super Tuesday To New Audiences On New Platforms

In preparation for what promises to be a significant election year, C-SPAN has been rolling out new technology on the campaign trail and expanding to new platforms to reach all types of audiences. NCTA spoke with C-SPAN to learn more about how the network has digitally transformed itself behind the scenes to be a more engaging and innovative presence for new generations. The high-tech trail Earlier this year, NCTA spoke with C-SPAN Political Editor Nate Hurst about how the network has implemented new technology on the campaign trail. Bluetooth microphones and high-quality smartphone cameras
TV Stats: January Saw Highest Streaming Yet

TV entertainment can be accessed anytime, anywhere, and on almost any device. That’s a far cry from previous decades when most viewing happened around a TV set, often live for must-see shows. Today, audiences have many viewing options, a testament to innovation in the video programming marketplace and ubiquitous, powerful broadband networks. In fact, Nielsen recently reported that the first month of 2024 set records for streaming TV viewership.
“Diarra From Detroit” Signals BET Studio’s Entrée to Scripted TV

BET Studios is debuting its first-ever scripted series “Diarra from Detroit,” marking a new creative pivot from the studio and network. After a freshly divorced schoolteacher, Diarra, goes on a Tinder date with the man of her dreams, his sudden disappearance sends her on an investigation that leads her through the Detroit underworld. From executive producers Diarra Kilpatrick (who also stars in the lead role) and Kenya Barris (“Black-ish”), the comedy-drama series is set to premiere on March 21 on BET+. The plot thickens: The show follows Diarra as she and her reluctant friends work to solve
TV Networks Are Spotlighting Black Culture and History

As February unfolds, so does the celebration of Black History Month—a time to reflect, honor, and amplify the stories and contributions of the Black community throughout history. Cable TV networks play a pivotal role in bringing these narratives to the forefront, offering a platform to showcase the richness, diversity, and resilience of the Black experience. Cable TV networks have been instrumental in ensuring that these narratives receive the attention they deserve, reaching a wide audience and fostering a greater understanding of the Black experience. Here are just a handful of networks that
Dedication To Mission, Tech Aids C-SPAN’s 2024 Election Coverage

NOTE: NCTA talked to C-SPAN at the end of January, before President Biden visited South Carolina the weekend of January 27th, and before the Nevada and South Carolina nominating contests. As the 2024 election gets underway with primaries, nominating conventions, and the general election in the fall, NCTA spoke in late January with C-SPAN Political Editor Nate Hurst to learn how the network is covering this year’s elections, coast to coast. C-SPAN is a public affairs news network created by the cable industry, that covers the federal government’s day-to-day proceedings as a public service in
Celebrating 20 Years of TV One

TV One, known for its commitment to highlighting and showcasing the diversity of Black culture and entertainment, turns 20 years old today. Established on January 19, 2004, on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, by Radio One (now Urban One), TV One was founded to provide a platform for stories and voices often underrepresented in mainstream television. Today, the network serves over 44 million households. Take a look at some of the network's defining moments. Early Hits In its early years, TV One introduced a variety of shows that became instant hits. Series like "Unsung" delved into the lives and