Most Clicked CTAM SmartBrief Stories
1. The Cable Show: Future looks rosy for cable
CTAM SmartBrief | May 25, 2012
The threat of the Internet and its unlimited video access for viewers appears to be receding for the cable industry. That's the conclusion reached by industry experts at the recent National Cable & Telecommunications Association confab in Boston, where it became clear that content providers are in no rush to overtake cable's dominance. "We see no reason for the industry to feel anything but upbeat," said Canaccord Genuity media analyst Thomas Eagan. Hollywood Reporter, The (05/24)
2. Cable sees long-term potential in courting younger customers now
CTAM SmartBrief | May 23, 2012
Cable providers are looking to build long-term customer relationships with millennials by creating programming geared toward their interests, expanding on-demand and TV Everywhere content and developing budget-conscious pricing plans that allow bills to be split among roommates. Millennials "are worth less now but [they] will ultimately become our best customers if we treat them right," said Peter Stern, chief strategy officer at Time Warner Cable. Wall Street Journal, The (05/22)
3. Cutting channels would boost industry, Time Warner Cable CEO says
CTAM SmartBrief | May 24, 2012
The cable industry and consumers would be better served if programmers dropped low-rated channels and focused on their more popular offerings, according to Time Warner Cable CEO Glenn Britt. "There are a lot of general-interest networks that have lower viewership, and the industry would take cost out of the system if they shut those networks down and offered lower prices to consumers. The companies involved would make just as much money as they do now because of the costs," Britt said. Bloomberg Businessweek (05/23)
4. TV Everywhere vs. OTT: SNL Kagan weighs in
CTAM SmartBrief | May 25, 2012
While free TV Everywhere applications for the iPad from Disney and Viacom have been doing well with consumers, paid content continues to struggle in the competition with over-the-top video applications such as Hulu Plus and Netflix, research from SNL Kagan has found. "This is shifting emphasis toward video app advertising to generate revenue," said John Fletcher, an analyst at SNL Kagan, of the struggle surrounding paid content. MediaPost Communications (05/24) MediaPost Communications (05/24)
5. Secular networks court Christian viewers with new programming
CTAM SmartBrief | May 29, 2012
TV Land, BET, History and GSN are among the secular cable networks planning Christian-themed scripted and reality programming. Among the offerings are TV Land's sitcom "Soul Man," starring Cedric the Entertainer as a musician who becomes a pastor; the BET gospel competition "Sunday Best"; History's miniseries "The Bible"; and "The American Bible Challenge," a game show on GSN. Multichannel News (05/28)
6. Comcast exec: Cable must keep innovating
CTAM SmartBrief | May 23, 2012
Comcast and the cable industry have demonstrated the ability to compete through innovations such as high-speed data, home security services and TV Everywhere applications, and they will continue on this consumer-oriented track, according to Comcast Cable CEO Neil Smit. The key is to keep innovating, even if some initiatives don't take off, Smit said at CTAM's Executive Management at Harvard Business School luncheon at The Cable Show in Boston. "I'm really tough on execution," he said. "I don't like sloppiness. As long as the intent was there, and we went down the path and we [did] everything we could to make it happen and it failed; that's OK. That shouldn't stop us from continuing to lean into things." Multichannel News (05/22)
7. When will TV Everywhere reach critical mass?
CTAM SmartBrief | May 24, 2012
TV Everywhere offers the cable industry an important platform for delivering a variety of content while retaining ads, but it has not yet reached mass adoption, executives said at several sessions of The Cable Show. "It's all chicken and egg. Consumer adoption is slow because there's not a lot of content, and there's not a lot of content because deal cycles take time," said JB Perrette, chief digital officer at Discovery Communications. Advertising Age (tiered subscription model) (05/23)
8. Rentrak, MasterCard team up to compare viewing, purchasing data
CTAM SmartBrief | May 24, 2012
Rentrak and MasterCard, under a new partnership, will provide consumer research that blends data on TV viewing habits with information on retail purchases. The data, which will be available to marketers, agencies, networks and local TV stations, will break down buying habits by categories, such as retail, telecommunications, grocery, entertainment, travel and quickservice restaurants. Broadcasting & Cable (05/23) MediaPost Communications (05/23)
9. Discovery charts path for Destination America network
CTAM SmartBrief | May 29, 2012
Discovery Communications is relaunching Planet Green as Destination America, a digital cable channel focusing on U.S. travel, food, history and lifestyle topics. Initial programming will include the third season of TLC's "BBQ Pitmasters" and original series "Fast Food Mania," starring Howard Stern Show contributor Jon Hein. More than 100 new shows are to debut by the close of 2012. Multichannel News (subscription required) (05/28)
10. "Hatfields & McCoys" kicks off summer season for History
CTAM SmartBrief | May 29, 2012
History over Memorial Day weekend unveiled its "Hatfields & McCoys" miniseries, starring Kevin Costner and Bill Paxton as the patriarchs of the notoriously feuding families. The production offers a vehicle for History to promote its lineup of original summer programming, including the return of "Ice Road Truckers" and "American Pickers," along with the debuts of "National History Bee" and "Mountain Men." Forbes (05/27)
Sign up for CTAM SmartBrief
