Cable operators

Rockefeller Calls for a Permanent Solution

June 2, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Senator Jay Rockefeller, Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, commended the deal reached between Comcast Cable and West Virginia Public Broadcasting (PBS) as an important first step to allow Comcast subscribers to continue receiving West Virginia PBS at no additional charge for two years. Senator Rockefeller strongly pushed for such a solution, and is urging further discussions for a permanent solution.    » read more »

Company Cites Denial of Consumer Choice

May 28, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - Armed with a new federal court ruling that further strengthens the legal basis for action, Verizon is calling on the Federal Communications Commission to act promptly to stop incumbent cable television companies from illegally denying competitive video providers access to "must have" regional sports programming.

In a filing with the FCC on Thursday (May 28), Verizon told the commission that "the cable incumbents' documented history of abusing their control of regional sports networks and other regional sports programming to deny consumers a meaningful competitive choice is a real and ongoing problem that must be addressed."    » read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C., 5/27/2008 – Sony Electronics and major cable operators which together pass over 105 million U.S. homes have negotiated and signed an agreement that will enable consumers to purchase innovative “two-way” digital televisions and other devices that can receive interactive digital and high-definition video services without a set-top box, Sony and the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) announced today.

The terms of the agreement are embodied in a binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) negotiated by Sony Electronics and the six largest cable companies – Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox, Charter, Cablevision and Bright House Networks – which serve more than 82 percent of all U.S. cable subscribers.    » read more »

5/8/2008 -- NCTA President & CEO Kyle McSlarrow: “NCTA has previously indicated our support for the concept of a test market, and the cable industry has been working closely with broadcasters and other stakeholders to ensure that the February 2009 transition is seamless for television viewers. We applaud Commissioner Copps for proposing the concept of a market trial, and we look forward to working closely with the FCC so that local cable operators are able to help make the Wilmington test pilot – and the full February 2009 broadcast transition – a good experience for consumers.”    » read more »

4/8/2008 -- Statement of NCTA President & CEO Kyle McSlarrow:

“Chairman Martin’s proposal is a positive step forward for small cable systems that do not have the capacity to carry broadcast signals in both digital and analog formats. We would like to thank all the Commissioners and a bipartisan group of Members of Congress for their recognition that this exemption is critical for small cable systems. We look forward to working with members of the Commission toward swift adoption of an order that advances the DTV transition and provides appropriate relief and needed certainty to all owners of small cable systems.”    » read more »

LONDON/BRUSSELS/WASHINGTON, D.C./NEW ORLEANS, 4/8/2008 – The cable industry’s main trade bodies in the US and Europe are pleased to announce a wide-ranging partnership providing preferential rates to their members and delegates attending their respective industry conferences.

Cable Congress 08, organised by Cable Europe, and The Cable Show ’08, organised by the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA), offer the most exciting networking opportunities for cable professionals on either side of the Atlantic, as well as providing exclusive insights into the future of the cable industry.    » read more »

Paul Allen included in this year’s honor roll of nine winners to be recognized during The Cable Show ’08

WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/31/2008 – Matthew Blank, Chairman and CEO, Showtime Networks Inc. and Anne Sweeney, Co-Chair, Disney Media Networks and President, Disney-ABC Television Group, are the 2008 recipients of the cable industry’s top honor, the Vanguard Award for “Distinguished Leadership,” the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) said today.    » read more »

3/26/2008 -- Comment from Brian Dietz, Vice President, Communications, NCTA, in response to Verizon's request that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) "make it as easy for consumers to choose a new video provider as it already is for them to switch voice providers."    » read more »

3/26/2008, WASHINGTON, D.C. – As cable operators nationwide continue to deploy tru2way™ technology supporting new interactive TV services that will work without a set-top box, content innovators, applications developers and new media visionaries will join together for a conference in conjunction with The Cable Show ’08 that will enhance deployment of this platform.

Formerly called the “OpenCable Applications Platform,” tru2way represents an exciting new era for interactive television that will allow consumers to access creative applications anywhere within cable’s footprint in which the software platform has been deployed.    » read more »

2/15/2008, WASHINGTON, D.C. – FCC Chairman Kevin Martin’s continued use of incomplete data about cable prices paints a picture that is both deceptive and false because it omits critical information about the competitive marketplace, ignores the dramatic enhancements to video service over the last ten years and relies on outdated, flawed and much criticized methodology, National Cable & Telecommunications Association President & CEO (NCTA) Kyle McSlarrow said in a letter sent today to members of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.    » read more »

1/28/2008, WASHINGTON , D.C. – The Cable Hope Fund, the non-profit foundation created to provide cable industry support for relief to victims of natural disasters, has donated $20,000 to the San Diego Food Bank and Santa Clarita Valley Disaster Coalition to aid those affected by the fall 2007 wildfires in southern California. The donations were made possible by contributions from cable industry companies, organizations, and individuals wishing to provide support to the local communities affected by the devastation.    » read more »

2008 Grants Exceed Previous Year’s Funding by 25 Percent

1/17/2008, WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Walter Kaitz Foundation today announced that more than $1.5 million was awarded for 2008 to fund programs and activities of three cable diversity organizations: the Emma L. Bowen Foundation, the National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC), and Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT). The 2008 grants exceed the previous year’s funding by more than $300,000, or 25 percent.    » read more »

1/8/2008, WASHINGTON, D.C. – CableTechTalk.com, a new blog that will focus on the changing broadband technology landscape, was launched today by the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA). The blog will highlight telecommunications policy, cable’s products and services, and other high-tech products that operate in conjunction with cable’s robust infrastructure.    » read more »

Date: 12/18/2007 -- Statement of NCTA President & CEO Kyle McSlarrow regarding today’s FCC Meeting:

“We are pleased that a majority of Commissioners again rejected a plan to consider a multicast must carry mandate. Consumers will be better served if we could all focus on getting ready for the digital broadcast transition instead of repeatedly having to reject stale ideas that would harm consumers, undermine the digital transition and violate the Constitution.    » read more »

- Public Service Announcements, Webpage, Hotline and Comcast Foundation grants to diverse organizations headline campaign
- Comcast, Time Warner, Cox Communications, Inc. and Bright House Networks to support effort

12/13/2007, PHILADELPHIA, PA – Comcast, the nation’s leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services today announced the launch of “Our Time to Vote,” a year-long, non-partisan voter education and registration campaign that is designed to increase voting in diverse communities served by the cable industry.    » read more »