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| CTAM SmartBrief Special Report |
| April 15, 2009 |
A look back at Cable Show 2009
Attendance numbers surpass expectations
The Cable Show 2009, which ran April 1 to 3 in Washington, exceeded expectations, attracting more than 12,000 attendees, which were presented with a full conference slate. For the first time, the Cable Show was packaged with other industry events in the inaugural Cable Connection Week, which also featured the CTAM Research Conference.
National Cable and Telecommunications Association President and CEO Kyle McSlarrow during his keynote remarks at the onset of the show talked about cable's extraordinary journey over the past 15 years. "Our industry listened to the consumer, invested the capital and built a broadband platform that is now available to 92% of all American households ... a platform that enables spectacular applications ... a platform that can help our country achieve other critical economic and social goals," he said.
The Cable and Telecommunications Association for Marketing made a splash at the conference, running several business-services sessions, including "Economic Elixir: Growing Cable's Business
Services Share" and "Plugged Into Business: Ethernet's Role in Driving Business Services Market Share." CTAM President Char Beales took the reins of the MSO marketing panel Friday: "Welcome to the Jungle: Marketing to Win."
The cable sector plans to once again stick together for a series of events and conferences this fall. The Cable Connection -- Fall event is set for Oct. 25 to 30 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. The suite of events include:
Cable Show 2009 attracts more than 12,000 attendees
Attendance at the Cable Show 2009 was more than 12,000, far greater than the 10,000 that organizers expected for the Washington event. NCTA Chief Executive Officer Kyle McSlarrow said the big turnout could be credited to local visitors such as elected officials and their staff as well as employees of cable firms with operations in Washington, particularly Cox and Comcast. Multichannel News (4/4)
Analysts talk up cable's forward momentum
Despite the ongoing recession, cable companies have significant momentum going forward, according to several analysts who attended the Cable Show. After the event, Sanford C. Bernstein analyst Michael Nathanson said that the cable business "is growing everywhere," and Miller Tabak analyst David Joyce added that "subscriber growth was trending better in the first quarter than in the fourth quarter" of 2008. The Hollywood Reporter (4/3)
Industry considers its wireless future
The cable industry sees value in wireless, but the jury is still out on what role the technology will play for cable firms. "A seamless connection between inside the home and outside the home will be a must-have," said Craig McCaw, chairman of Clearwire, which has received backing from the cable sector in its WiMAX efforts. "We see the obvious elements of change are on the horizon." Cox Communications chief Patrick Esser, however, said, "The most valuable asset I own is the last mile to the house. Wireless won't change that." The Wall Street Journal/Dow Jones Newswires (4/2)
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Cable looks to increase ethnic audience
A panel of experts at the Cable Show said that cable needed to take the ethnic market back from providers of satellite television. With new channels and multicultural marketing efforts, Comcast's David Jensen said: "We have a perfect opportunity to level the playing field with the satellite guys and really to take back the ethnic segment for the first time." Multichannel News (4/2)
Analysis: Interactive TV forges onward
Cable is committed to interactive TV as was apparent by the several times the technology was mentioned during conference sessions and on display at the exhibits, according to an analysis by Peter D. Shapiro, founder and principal at PDS Consulting. CableFAX.com (4/9) Broadcasting & Cable (4/4)
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Trinity Broadcasting Stations Will Shutdown Analog April 16
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NCTA boss eyes cable's role in the economic recovery
NCTA Chief Executive Officer Kyle McSlarrow got the 2009 Cable Show off to an optimistic start, saying that the cable industry will continue its upward trajectory despite the recession. "We have every reason to believe that our industry will continue to be resilient and grow," he said. "And I would go further ... and say that we have a central role to play in our economic recovery as well." Cartt News Service (subscription only) (4/2) CNET (4/1)
Roberts: Cable on the Web is "friend not foe"
Despite some technical challenges that lie ahead, offering cable programming on the Web will be part of the future as providers look to give customers what they want, said Brian Roberts, Comcast's chief executive officer, at the 2009 Cable Show. "I think it's a friend not foe," he said. "I don't think we should put our heads in the sand ... we want to get that video to customers wherever they want it." Reuters (4/2) TVWeek.com (4/1)
Rep. Boucher lauds cable industry, McSlarrow
Speaking at the 2009 Cable Show, Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Va., chairman of the House subcommittee on communications, technology and the Internet, praised the cable industry, in general, for its role in the DTV transition and NCTA Chairman Kyle McSlarrow, specifically, for his "thoughtful, solution-oriented leadership." Boucher also urged cable providers to apply for funding from the economic-stimulus package that has been set aside for broadband expansion, saying: "The simple message I have today is: Please be very aggressive in applying for funds." Broadcasting & Cable (4/2)
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"During 2008, our industry added 7 million net customer connections for video, broadband or phone service. Broadband customers jumped 10%. Digital video customers increased by 9%. Prime-time ratings for ad-supported cable-program networks were up 4%. And our phone customers grew by 30%."