Business

Broadband adoption up in Q1

May 21, 2013 2:03 pm | by Brian Santo | News | Comments

Broadband adoption continues to increase, with the biggest Internet service providers in the U.S., estimated to have attracted a net of 1.1 million additional subscribers in the first quarter of 2013. Meanwhile, the most recent quarter’s results indicate total video subscribership may actually be shrinking.

Comcast Business’ VoiceEdge dials up Denver

May 21, 2013 12:34 pm | by Mike Robuck | News | Comments

Comcast Business’ VoiceEdge, which is a cloud-based VoIP and unified communications platform, is now available in the Denver area. Launched last year, VoiceEdge allows mid-sized business to replace their legacy PBX equipment while adding unified communications features without the need for on-site gear.

Netflix's Hastings: People don't love linear TV

May 20, 2013 2:06 pm | by The Canadian Press | News | Comments

Speaking in Canada, the Netflix CEO says his biggest challenge there is competition from the likes of Videotron, Rogers and perhaps the combination of Bell and Astral should that merger happen. Netflix recently published an 11-page letter to shareholders entitled "Netflix Long Term View," outlining how the company believes it will thrive in the years ahead at the expense of conventional broadcast TV.

Total video subs decline for first time

May 20, 2013 1:54 pm | by Brian Santo | News | Comments

In aggregate, the 13 largest multichannel video program distributors (MVPD) in the U.S. added about 195,000 net additional video subscribers in Q1 2013. But the number of new subscribers in the most recently completed quarter was not enough to offset customer losses in the second and third quarters of 2012.

Mansour boards Cablevision as EVP, customer service

May 20, 2013 12:48 pm | by Mike Robuck | News | Comments

With the hiring of Frank Mansour as its new executive vice president for customer service, Cablevision continued to tweak its executive team. The announcement of Mansour’s hiring this morning came on the heels of James Nuzzo’s promotion to senior executive vice president, operations and business planning last week.

Britt: McCain's bill should open a discussion

May 17, 2013 1:38 pm | by Brian Santo | News | Comments

Time Warner Cable chairman and CEO Glenn Britt threw his support behind updating the rules and regulations that govern communications services providers, and also reiterated guidance on some of the company’s business priorities for the next year and beyond.

Rogers Business Solutions extends network with Cologix

May 17, 2013 12:53 pm | by Mike Robuck | News | Comments

Rogers Business Solutions completed a point-of-presence (PoP) deployment within Cologix's new data center in downtown Toronto. Through its PoP, Rogers Business Solutions can now offer connectivity services on its network to enterprises and carrier organizations globally.

Arris reorganizes following Moto purchase

May 16, 2013 2:30 pm | by Brian Santo | News | Comments

Arris announced a reorganization following its purchase of Motorola Home from Google. The company will establish two major divisions, a Network & Cloud unit and a CPE (customer premise equipment) unit. Arris execs asserted that even though Motorola Home has been struggling, it is set to bounce back.

Service provider segment powers Cisco's Q2

May 16, 2013 1:36 pm | by Brian Santo | News | Comments

Cisco reported that second quarter revenue in its Service Provider Video segment grew 30 percent year over year, in its Wireless segment by 27 percent, and in its Data Center segment 77 percent; the average for the company as a whole was 5 percent.

Cranky broadcasters could get their licenses yanked

May 15, 2013 2:08 pm | by Brian Santo | News | Comments

TV broadcasters who pull their signals off the air might risk forfeiting their spectrum licenses, Sen. Mark Warner this week warned. Fox CEO Chase Carey last month vowed to pull Fox off the air and distribute exclusively through pay TV services if Aereo were allowed to proceed with its current business model.

ABC app to require authentication

May 15, 2013 2:04 pm | by Brian Santo | News | Comments

In another small victory for MVPDs, ABC said it will make its content available through its newly renamed app only to authenticated pay TV customers, effective July 1. ABC said it has deals in place with Comcast, Cablevision, Cox, Charter, Midcontinent and AT&T.

Another Senator weighs in on cable prices

May 15, 2013 1:57 pm | by Brian Santo | News | Comments

Sen. Rockefeller has asked the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study the impact of TV station shared services agreements (SSAs) on consumers. The request is a response to complaints that local broadcasters collude in order to keep retrans fees artificially high.

Dish chair dares Softbank to raise bid for Sprint

May 10, 2013 1:20 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

The chairman of satellite broadcaster Dish Network Corp., which is trying to buy Sprint Nextel Corp., is daring Sprint's other suitor to raise its bid. Dish's Charlie Ergen told investors and reporters Thursday that based on the benefits Japan's Softbank says it would get from buying Sprint, it should be paying a higher price.

YouTube's new pay channels go from campy to kids

May 10, 2013 1:17 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Although the world's largest video site has rented and sold movies and TV shows from major studios since late 2008, YouTube is introducing all-you-can-watch channels that require a monthly fee. The least expensive of the channels will cost 99 cents a month but the average price is around $2.99.

McCain bill takes aim at cable practices

May 10, 2013 1:02 pm | by Brian Santo | News | Comments

Senator John McCain has introduced a bill that aims to fix a grab-bag of problems in the TV industry. His bill proposes to bar programmers from offering channels only in bundles; it aims to make retransmission consent arguments easier to adjudicate; and restricts sports blackouts, among other measures.