Business News

• Comcast, GE reportedly forge tentative agreement on NBCU
  Comcast is closing in on a deal with General Electric that would give the country's largest cable provider majority control of NBC Universal. According to unnamed executives, the two sides arrived at a tentative agreement Friday and the deal could be signed in the next week. NYTimes.com (11/1), Reuters (11/2)

• Cogeco reports higher revenue, net income in its Q4
  Canadian cable provider Cogeco added more than 27,000 revenue-generating units in its fiscal fourth quarter, including 9,674 digital-TV subscribers and 5,619 data customers. The company reported that revenue rose 8% during the time frame, to $316 million, and operating income came in at $151 million, a 24% increase. OneTRAK (10/30), Cartt News Service (subscription only) (10/30)

Programming News

• Report: TNT takes over "Southland" from NBC
  TNT in January will add drama "Southland" to its schedule, according to this report. The show, which won critical acclaim but was canceled by NBC, will go up against NBC's "The Jay Leno Show" at 10 p.m. "We want to provide what the broadcast networks aren't," said Steve Koonin, the president of Turner Entertainment Networks. NYTimes.com (11/1)

• Fox Soccer Channel turns in a stellar October
  The Fox Soccer Channel attracted 27,000 viewers in October, a 125% increase over the comparable period in 2008, according to Nielsen figures. The network also has proved to be a big draw with the 18-to-49 male demographic group, increasing from 5,000 to 15,000 year-over-year. Multichannel News (11/2)

• HBO to debut Obama documentary
  HBO on Tuesday will premiere "By the People: The Election of Barack Obama." The documentary by filmmakers Alicia Sams and Amy Rice begins about a year before Obama announced his presidential candidacy and follows him and his team all the way to the White House. The Hollywood Reporter/The Associated Press (11/1)

Eye on Video

• Study: Viewership of HD programming on the rise
  A new study by Knowledge Network reports that 43% of HD-enabled viewers between the ages of 13 and 54 watch high-definition programming every day. That's a 65% increase over just two years ago, when 26% of viewers said they watched HD shows daily. MediaPost Communications/Media Daily News (10/30)

• Other News

• Video sites turn to multiple delivery models
  InternetNews.com (10/30)

Marketing Trends

• Discovery Channel woos advertisers looking for a younger demo
  With younger-skewing shows such as "Man vs. Wild" and "Deadliest Catch," Discovery Channel executives have been charting a subtle shift to the 18-to-49 demographic that advertisers crave. In the second and third quarters of 2009, the network said, ad revenue increased 35% from advertisers courting the demo. Mediaweek (11/1)

• Turner pitches multimedia ad packages for NBA games
  Turner Sports has started pitching multimedia advertising packages that include TV, online and mobile for its presentation of National Basketball Association games. Hyundai, Autotrader.com, T-Mobile, Gatorade and Sprite already have signed on as sponsors. Mediaweek (11/1)

• Other News

• USA, TLC try Google's new Video Plus Box ad unit
  Mediaweek (11/1)

Hot Topics

Top five news stories selected by CTAM SmartBrief readers in the past week.

• Comcast's Burke says "online video is off the charts" (Broadcasting & Cable)

• Report: Travel Channel could sell for close to $1 billion (NYTimes.com)

• IPO a possibility for NBCU, Vivendi chief says (Reuters)

• Hulu boss wants to partner with cable on TV Everywhere (Light Reading Cable)

• Comcast to launch authentication initiative by year's end (Variety)

• Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

Featured Content

Advanced Products

• Report: Arris developing multimedia gateway
  Arris Group, according to this report, is developing a multimedia gateway that will enable viewers to send video to IP devices such as personal computers and smartphones. The product, with the working title Moxi MG5000 Series Docsis 3.0 Multimedia Gateway, is scheduled for completion sometime in 2011. Light Reading Cable (10/30)

	The Buzz(CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS) At Havit Advertising, we live and breathe the cable industry. Every day, around the country, Havit executes innovative campaigns using the most current marketing tactics for cable programmers and operators. Let us translate our knowledge and experience into valuable solutions and tangible results that matter to your bottom line. Visit us online now! Interested in learning more about advertising in CTAM SmartBrief? Contact Mark Lasser at 202-737-5500 x317 or mark.lasser@smartbrief.com.

Association News

• 4 CTAM reports for the price of 1
  Get the most bang for your buck with CTAM's newest study, Life Stages & Life Styles: Turning Generational Differences Into Media Opportunities. Reports include TV and media behavior across generations, boomer segments and life stages, and a live webcast for all company employees highlighting key findings and a Q-and-A with industry experts.

• New data for your ad-sales tool kit
  Designed by research executives from across the industry, this unbiased four-part study delivers a rich description of eight segments of the broadband population, their attitudes, motivations and behaviors (via the industry currency -- Nielsen's online and TV ratings). Order now!

People & Personalities

• OWN taps Comcast's Singer for distribution, strategy
  Allan Singer has been appointed executive vice president of distribution and strategy for The Oprah Winfrey Network, the collaboration between Oprah Winfrey and Discovery Communications that is expected to debut next year. Singer comes to OWN from Comcast, where he was senior vice president of content acquisition. MediaPost Communications/Media Daily News (10/30)

• Other News

• Cable engineers recognized as pacesetters
  CEDMagazine.com (10/30)

Editor's Note

• What marketing tactic has proved most successful for you recently?
  Look for the CTAM SmartBrief Year-End Report on Dec. 8 and 15. The results of this poll will appear in Part 2 on Dec. 15.

	Interactive advertising.
	Social-media strategies.
	Product placement.
	Cross-platform advertising.
	Branded entertainment.

Coordinator, Public Affairs Time Warner Cable New York, NY Sales Manager Active Support Center Universal Electronics Central or Eastern States

SmartQuote

Accept the challenges so that you may feel the exhilaration of victory." --George S. Patton Jr., World War II general