| January 16, 2008 | News for the cable and broadband industry |
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- Martin sees no need for major changes at FCC
Although FCC Chairman Kevin Martin welcomes Congress' efforts to improve some of the agency processes, he doesn't believe that the commission needs major reforms, as has been proposed by some lawmakers. Martin has come under heightened criticism lately for, among other things, his stepped-up efforts to regulate the cable industry. Broadcasting & Cable
(1/15)      
- U.S. Supreme Court gives Charter, suppliers legal win
In a legal victory for Charter Communications and its suppliers, the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld a ruling by a lower court that investors cannot sue third-party entities in security-fraud cases. StoneRidge Investment Partners had alleged that Charter suppliers Motorola and Scientific Atlanta conspired to inflate the prices of their set-top boxes in 2000. Broadcasting & Cable
(1/15)
| Programming News | | |
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- Song, Edelstein to star in Lifetime's "Delivery"
Brenda Song of Disney Channel's "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody" and Lisa Edelstein of Fox's "House" will star in an upcoming Lifetime movie titled "Special Delivery." The film, expected in December, will feature Song as a teen with lots of attitude whom Edelstein's character, a courier, must deliver from China to the U.S. The Hollywood Reporter
(1/16)
- "Monk," "Psych" grab big season-premiere ratings
Two USA Network series that soon will be repurposed on NBC, "Monk" and "Psych," enjoyed strong ratings for season-premiere episodes recently. The sixth-season opener of "Monk" on Friday attracted 5.6 million viewers, while the beginning of season three of "Psych" drew 4.6 million people. Multichannel News
(1/15)
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| | Trying to figure out your 2008 hiring budget?
Take advantage of CTAM SmartBrief job packs! Purchase multiple listings at a time at a cost savings to you. You can use your jobs anytime throughout the year. Reach out to 29,000 cable and telecommunications industry professionals in the Who's Hiring section of this newsletter. Sign up and get started today! | |
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| Eye on Video | | |
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- Bresnan sends clear signal with Mixed Signals
Bresnan Communications, a cable firm with more than 300,000 subscribers in four western states, announced that it has selected the Sentry digital content monitor from Mixed Signals as a monitoring and troubleshooting solution. "Sentry allows us to monitor our programming all the way to the quality of experience level, thus giving us the ability to ensure service quality and identify and resolve issues before subscribers are affected," said Pragash Pillai, the company's vice president of strategic engineering. CED Magazine
(1/2008)
- Analysis: SDV could be cable's biggest ally in '08
Faced with subscribers' seemingly unquenchable thirst for high-definition programming, cable companies are increasingly looking to switched digital video technologies to free up much-needed bandwidth for new HD offerings, according to this report. With SDV, cable companies can transmit just the programming that viewers request instead of an entire package of channels. CED Magazine
(1/2008)
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| | X-play and service bundling: strategies in the US market
The US broadband, mobile and TV markets are converging, resulting in a tug of war between fixed operators and cable providers. In addition to product bundles, providers are now working towards integrated products offering a number of services. See how US operators are developing products and state-of-the-art network solutions. | |
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| Marketing Trends | | |
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- Current TV, T-Mobile ink user-generated ad deal
T-Mobile has teamed up with Current TV to invite viewers to produce ads for the mobile firm's Sidekick LX cell phone. Current TV, under its "Viewer-Created Ad Messages" program, has been shifting 50% of its ad inventory to user-generated messages, in response to research showing Current TV's viewers, by a 9-1 ratio, prefer user-generated ads, according to this article. Adweek
(1/15)
| Advanced Products | | |
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| The Buzz(CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS)
HBO's Emmy® and Golden Globe®-winning series Curb Your Enthusiasm, is back and funnier than ever. Out on DVD from HBO Video on January 29, 2008, Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Complete Sixth Season stars writer/producer/comedian Larry David as himself in an off-kilter comic vision of his life.
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Interested in learning more about advertising in CTAM SmartBrief? Contact Mark Lasser at 202-737-5500 x317 or mark.lasser@smartbrief.com.
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| Association News | | |
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Be seen with cable's top executives!
Production of the 2008 CTAM Membership Directory, listing all CTAM national members, is under way. Sign up for CTAM membership today and seize the opportunity to be listed among the cable industry's top talent. If you are already a member, go to www.ctam.com and update your listing online.
| People & Personalities | | |
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- Turner unveils corporate restructuring
Turner Broadcasting has announced that Steve Koonin, David Levy and Stuart Snyder have been elevated to presidents of separate units, and that the position of Turner Entertainment Group president, held by Mark Lazarus, has been eliminated. Koonin becomes president of Turner Entertainment, Levy will be president of Turner Broadcasting Sales and Snyder will be president/chief operating officer of Turner Animation, Young Adults & Kids Media. Mediaweek
(1/15)
- Sci Fi Channel names new president
NBC Universal's Sci Fi Channel has named Dave Howe president, replacing Bonnie Hammer, who will stay on with the network, but scale back her responsibilities. Howe now will oversee Sci Fi's global strategy, marketing initiatives and digital efforts. Variety (subscription required)
(1/15)
| SmartQuote from Warner Bros. Digital Distribution | | |
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 | What are you supposed to do when the ones with all the power are hurting those with none? Well for starters, you stand up. Stand up and tell the truth. You stand up for your friends. You stand up even when you're all alone. You stand up."
--Bill White (Woody Harrelson)
"North Country," 2005
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