* Scopus appoints Leitman to board
By Brian Santo

Scopus Video Networks has appointed Orit Leitman as a member of its board of directors. Leitman recently served as vice president of finance at Paradigm Geophysical Ltd. Prior to joining Paradigm Geophysical in 1999, she spent seven years as corporate treasurer of Scitex Corporation Ltd.

* SureWest aims for 38 HD channels by December 
By Brian Santo

SureWest Communications said it plans to provide its subscribers with at least 38 HD channels by the end of November 2007. Recently SureWest Broadband, the company’s cable subsidiary, launched A&E, Fox Business Channel, and the History Channel in HD, bringing its current HD total to 26.

Being prepped are the HD versions of Biography, Bravo, CNN, SCI FI Channel, TBS and USA Network.

Currently, SureWest’s fiber-optic network reaches more than 103,000 homes in the Sacramento region, with more than 21,000 taking video services, according to the company.

* Thomson releases version 4.7 of Sapphire VOD solution 
By Traci Patterson

Thomson has launched version 4.7 of its Sapphire VOD solution, offering operators the ability to maximize viewing quality and increase subscriber capacity.

Each Sapphire server provides a solution for ad insertion, program play-out, recording, playback and on-demand applications. The new release brings additional features, including jitter-free streaming, IP packet loss recovery and support of variable bit streams. And the Sapphire Cluster Manager is now available to manage groups of Sapphire VOD servers located either in points of presence (PoP) or nodes.

* Zhone’s MSAP gives Cavalier triple-play 
By Traci Patterson

Zhone Technologies’ multi-service access platform (MSAP) has been chosen by Cavalier Telephone and TV for the operator’s triple-play service, Three On.

Cavalier is a CLEC with 650,000 lines in a 16-state region.

The operator’s selection follows a phase-one deployment of Zhone’s MALC, which simplifies the provisioning and management of multi-play services. Zhone’s consolidated platform allows Cavalier to deliver voice, video and data services from a single, high-density and compact MSAP architecture that is provisioned, monitored and controlled through a single management interface.

* In memory of Nick Meko of Coast CATV Supply

Nicholas (Nick) Meko, president of Coast CATV Supply, a Trilithic Company, passed away Monday Oct. 15 after a three-and-a-half year battle with cancer. He was 62 years old. 

Starting as a linemen in 1962, Nick worked for Jerrold, Buckeye, Texscan and others before starting Coast CATV Supply in 1990. A member of the SCTE and The Loyal Order of the 704, Nick loved the cable industry and the people in it that gave him back so much.

Nick is survived by his wife Saundra, son Nick Jr., and daughter, along with many grandchildren.