CRM News: Cable & Satellite

How Industry Analysts View the Changing Tech Marketplace
April 19, 2012

Just like 10 years ago, and then again five years ago, the technology industry is changing. That means companies are enjoying new opportunities and wrestling with new challenges. Only some will win. I'll offer my perspective as an analyst on who is winning, who is losing and why. I believe you will find this column both interesting and valuable.

Customer Relationship Metrics Takes On the Unstructured Data Challenge
April 02, 2012

Customer Relationship Metrics has launched Text BI, its latest offering in its suite of managed analytics solutions. Text BI enables companies to take unstructured text-based data from surveys, emails, social media, CRM systems and other applications, and organize it into a format that makes it easier to analyze.

Congressional Hearing Pits Small Fries Against Comm Giants on Spectrum Buy
March 22, 2012

Executives from Verizon and Comcast went before a U.S. Senate judiciary subcommittee Wednesday to defend Verizon's plan to purchase $3.6 billion worth of spectrum from cable industry joint venture SpectrumCo. They were met with opposition from other wireless providers and consumer advocacy groups.

Cable TV, Wireless Phones and the Great Spectrum Hunt
March 15, 2012

Comcast has grown from a small cable television company in the 1990s to the largest conglomerate in the space, all thanks to Brian Roberts and his father Ralph Roberts. It was a real bootstrapping, entrepreneurial, family-run company that did many great things over the years and helped to transform the industry. Has it now grown too large? Will Comcast's current growth plans help or hurt the wireless and television industry?

Has Intel Been Bitten by the Pay-TV Bug?
March 13, 2012

Intel is rumored to be considering entering the pay-television service market. The chipmaker reportedly has reached out to media companies and cable channels as part of its research. The service would be based on a Web-connected set-top box that could offer both streaming TV and video-on-demand programming.

iPad: What's in a Name?
March 10, 2012

Apple finally drew the curtain on its next-generation iPad, revealing a device that looks a whole lot like last year's model but is definitely packing some heavier guts. First of all the screen is now a super-sharp Retina display, so named because theoretically you shouldn't be able to spot the individual pixels with a naked eye.

Kansas City May Become Epicenter of Google's Big TV Disruption
February 24, 2012

Speculation that Google is going to disrupt yet another industry -- this time cable television -- is circulating, prompted by an application the search engine giant filed with the Missouri Public Service Commission, seeking a franchise to provide video service in Kansas City, Mo. A similar application was filed in Kansas City, Kan.

FCC and ISPs Join to Get Low-Income Families Online
November 10, 2011

Several cable companies and the U.S. FCC have launched a program that will assist low-income families in getting access to broadband and low-cost computers. The initiative is part of the FCC's push to increase broadband adoption across the U.S.

Will Google Upend Moldy Cable-TV Business Model?
November 07, 2011

Google may be taking aim at one of the few digital screens and content sources it doesn't dominate -- paid television. The search engine provider is reportedly considering offering paid cable-TV services to leverage its high-speed Internet access project under way in Kansas City, where it is planning to distribute stations over fiber optic lines.

Xbox Gets Set-Toppy With Cable Deal
October 05, 2011

Verizon and Microsoft are teaming up to bring new FiOS TV-powered entertainment offerings to the Xbox 360 gaming console, a move that highlights the rapid expansion of diverse content across multiple platforms. The deal will use Verizon's FiOS TV application to allow Xbox Live Gold members to watch live TV from participating partners through their video game consoles.

Sprint May Swing for 4G Boost With Clearwire Buy
August 22, 2011

Sprint is reportedly in talks with Clearwire and cable companies regarding the possible acquisition of the wireless Internet provider to help build its 4G LTE network. The talks are allegedly happening between Sprint and cable providers such as Comcast, according to a Bloomberg report. Clearwire is looking for an investment of $600 million to expand its high-speed wireless network and upgrade to 4G LTE technology.

CNN News Fans Run Into Brick Pay Wall on the Web
July 18, 2011

Live streaming of CNN's and HLN's 24-hour television networks became available on CNN.com, the CNN App for iPad, and the CNN App for iPhone and iPod touch on Monday -- but only to a limited audience. CNN's rollout of its version of TV Everywhere for consumers reaches AT&T, Comcast, Cox, DISH Network, Suddenlink and Verizon subscribers. Those who are customers of other cable or satellite companies are out of luck.

ISPs Agree to Mete Out Punishment for Illegal File-Sharing
July 08, 2011

Comcast, Cablevision, Verizon, AT&T and Time Warner Cable have promised to be more proactive in alerting possible copyright violators using their networks in a voluntary agreement with the music and film industries. The antipiracy model they've adopted has been pushed for some time by the Recording Industry Association of America and Motion Picture Association of America.

Sprint Nextel and Lightsquared: Uh-Oh
June 30, 2011

I have been impressed with the recovery that Sprint Nextel has shown over the last few years, but now it has struck a deal with LightSquared that puts the cart way ahead of the horse. Is Sprint making a big mistake while trying to bounce back from another body blow it just took?

Skype Video-Calling Will Require Comcast Customers to Think Different About TV
June 15, 2011

A new partnership between Comcast and Skype will let Comcast subscribers place video calls through their television sets. The new service will require some setup -- customers will need to install Comcast-provided equipment including an adapter box, video camera, and special remote with a QWERTY keyboard that connects to the service.

Visions of Android@Home Dance in Google's Head
May 19, 2011

Let's take a peak into the future. Over the next few years, we will see the industry continue to transform itself. Industry leaders may change. We have seen that happen in the smartphone industry already. Are telephone and cable television companies next? Companies like AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, Time Warner and Cox have a target painted on them, and Google is an expert shot.

Note to TV Nets: Steer Clear of Music's Painful Path
April 07, 2011

New technology may be cool, but it can also be a double-edged sword. Different industries are starting to overlap, and even though the blending of different technologies can be very exciting, it can also be very confusing. One example is how cable television companies have been starting to use the Apple iPad and other tablet computers as a super-powered remote control.

Comcast OK With Feds' Conditions for NBC Merger
January 19, 2011

After a year-long review, the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice have approved Comcast's proposed merger with NBC Universal -- but only if a variety of conditions are met. Chief among them is that Comcast must give up management control of the video website Hulu.