| October 30, 2009 | News for the cable and broadband industry |
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- Report: Travel Channel could sell for close to $1 billion
Cox Communications' Travel Channel initially expected to fetch between $600 million and $700 million at auction, and now may bring in close to $1 billion, according to unnamed sources cited in this report. News Corp. and Scripps Networks are said to have the inside track for the network, with at least one of the parties reportedly bidding more than $900 million. NYTimes.com
(10/30)      
| Programming News | | |
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Disney Channel developing animation series: Disney Channel has ordered 21 episodes of "Fish Hooks," a series that will blend two-dimensional animation and photo-collage techniques to chronicle the trials and tribulations of high school from a fish-eye perspective. The show represents the network's first foray into animation since the launch of "Phineas and Ferb" in 2007. The Hollywood Reporter
(10/29)
| Eye on Video | | |
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- Comcast to launch authentication initiative by year's end
By the end of the year, Comcast will make its new authentication product, dubbed Comcast on Demand Online, available to its nearly 24 million subscribers. The news comes after a successful test of the system with about 7,000 customers who, according to Comcast Chairman and CEO Brian Roberts, spent an average of 21 minutes with the system per visit. Variety (subscription required)
(10/29)
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CableLabs wants input on TV Everywhere standard by Dec. 11: CableLabs has asked industry vendors to provide their input by Dec. 11 on a common technical approach for TV Everywhere-style systems. CableLabs President and CEO Paul Liao said the organization's members felt "a common technical approach will offer greater choice to consumers, and will enable competition among technology providers to support the market." Multichannel News
(10/29)
- SMPTE group preps for first meeting on 3-D TV standards
A 60-member working group of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers soon will convene its first meeting as it sets out to take a leading role in the development of standards surrounding 3-D television. "An important part of this is not just going to be the images and the sound, but to make sure that we have the appropriate information for all the potential coding systems and distribution," said Peter Symes, the director of standards and engineering for the SMPTE. TVNewsCheck (free registration)
(10/29)
| Marketing Trends | | |
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- Canoe to be test kitchen for latest interactive-ad interfaces
Canoe Ventures, the cable company-backed consortium for advanced-advertising applications, likely will be the first benefactor of so-called Stewardship and Fulfillment Interfaces that will provide the backbone for the next generation of interactive marketing on TV. "SaFI is really meant to be an enabling set of interfaces that sit between the MSOs and the trunk systems, or to Canoe and other external third parties that want to conduct business with one or more MSOs," explained Comcast's Walt Michel. "It really enables accessibility to our platforms and our capabilities, things like ETV and tru2way." CEDMagazine.com
(10/29)
- Knicks ad campaign plays out on national and local cable
Long-suffering New York Knicks fans are getting a new marketing blitz as the team opens the 2009-10 NBA season. TV spots for the campaign, which is titled "Declare," will run on national cable outlets such as ESPN, TBS, TNT and BET, while local cable will be covered with buys on MSG and MSG Plus. Mediaweek
(10/29)
| Advanced Products | | |
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- Report: Suddenlink, Mediacom order DTAs from Huawei
Suddenlink Communications and Mediacom Communications have struck deals to receive digital terminal adapters from Huawei Technologies, according to this report. Suddenlink, which had no official comment, is believed to have ordered 7,000 DTAs from the Chinese vendor and could order up to 70,000 more. Light Reading Cable
(10/29)
| Competitive Watch | | |
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- Now showing on Verizon FiOS: Epix broadband movies
Verizon FiOS will be the first service provider to launch Epix -- the joint venture featuring movie studios Paramount, MGM and Lions Gate Entertainment that features an online, on-demand component. The programming will be free through Nov. 1, but thereafter will cost $9.99 per month. Contentinople
(10/28)
| Association News | | |
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Keeping up with consumers through research
Researchers are sharing their knowledge through a guest column series, made possible by CTAM and CableFax.com. Most recently, Colleen Fahey Rush, executive vice president, strategic insights and research, MTV Networks, discussed how social networks, DVRs and online video have changed the way people watch content and created new challenges for the industry's researchers.
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CTAM West invites you to "Cork N' Connect"
Hear from thought leaders at Facebook, YouTube, Comcast and TV Guide Networks and learn how these trends will affect the cable industry. Then connect for a special private evening of wine tasting and a charity auction benefiting DonorsChoose.org in the Meritage Resort Estate Cave. Register today.
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