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ZCorum, a provider of broadband Internet solutions, has announced the successful integration of their cable modem provisioning system with the CATvMaster subscriber management and billing software from Azar Computer Software Services.
Shelton Technologies, Inc. (STI) has announced an enhanced version of their Stiletto billing mediation product line that allows independent cable companies to implement their own telephone soft switches without replacing their existing billing system. The Stiletto solution bridges the gap between the new telephone switch and the existing cable billing system. The standard Stiletto functionality collects the BAF files (AMA files) from the switch with one of several switch interfaces, decodes the AMA records with the DataParser, rates the calls with QuickRate, and writes the rated CDR into the DataHouse.
Transparent Video Systems, Inc., has announced their client Coaxial Cable Television Corporation, of Edinboro, Pennsylvania, has finalized the completion and installation of their Challenger all-digital platform. It is believed they are the first independent cable operator in North America to completely eliminate analog programming services and deliver an all-digital platform to their subscribers.
Comcast Media Center has introduced “Express Lane”, a new service for video on demand content providers, featuring automated workflows and remote management capabilities for allowing video television networks, advertisers, cable MSOs and other content services companies to accelerate the delivery of VOD content to near real time by publishing their VOD content directly into the CMC’s video on demand distribution platform, which currently reaches more than 30 million VOD-enabled households across the country. In addition, the CMC’s Express Lane service allows VOD content providers to direct the delivery of individual VOD assets to specific cable system headends enabling more flexibility to produce and deliver content to a particular marketplace. It also adds the functionality to post VOD programming to a “bull pen” where content providers can preview the video programming and select the cable systems that should receive a particular VOD asset. More information about the CMC is available at www.comcastmediacenter.com.
Aurora Networks Inc., an optical transport solution provider focused on delivering a cost-effective, optimized platform for next-generation cable services, has launched the first, single fiber, end-to-end RFPON solution. Aurora Networks’ new OR4168 Virtual Hub (VHub) module and CP8013U customer premises equipment (CPE), together with the company’s existing VHub, Node PON module and GEPON CPE, complete the industry’s only full RFPON solution. This solution enables cable operators to leverage existing and future fiber investments, resulting in unparalleled service competitiveness, efficiency and cost-saving benefits.
Synacor has announced that Bresnan Communications has deployed Web solutions that leverage Synacor’s content and technology portfolio to its cable broadband subscribers. Bresnan has launched an enhanced broadband presence that includes Synacor’s customizable portal and toolbar, and plans to add Family, Educational and Games premium content in the near future from the Synacor portfolio of value-added services. In addition, the Synacor solution increases the ability of Bresnan subscribers to manage their television and Web video experiences at their personal computers.Synacor’s customizable portals are designed to serve as the primary dashboard for the consumption of consumer services, including news, weather and other features, and serves as a gateway to branded news, entertainment, sports, finance and other content offerings. For more information on Synacor, visit www.synacor.com.
Central Iowa is about to realize the technological benefits of a fiber to the home deployment from Liberty Communications and Clearfield, Inc. Liberty’s FTTH initiative in West Branch, Iowa, started in June 2008 and is scheduled for completion this month. Collectively, more than 2,300 customers will potentially benefit from expanded internet, television and telephone services. To assure an efficient fiber deployment from both its Central Office and remote field sites, Liberty is using Clearfield's FieldSmart Platform of Fiber Management featuring the FieldSmart Fiber Distribution System. The FDS includes FieldSmart 288-Port Panels, 144 on-frame splice decks, and 1x16 optical splitter modules. In addition to Clearfield, Liberty is working with Finley Engineering and Calix to deploy its passive optical network architecture. More information about Clearfield can be found at www.ClearfieldConnection.com .
Rural TV—the world’s first 24-hour international television network dedicated to crossing borders with farming, equine, rural lifestyle, and traditional country music entertainment programmes—launched into over 9 million United Kingdom television homes on SKY channel 279 at high noon on March 2. Originating from offices in London, Rural TV is now available into over 20 countries throughout western Europe via broadcast satellite, and world-wide through its broadband operations on ruraltv.tv. Rural TV will gain additional television distribution into several million more UK homes with another launch on Freesat channel 403 scheduled now for March 24. For more information, visit www.ruraltv.tv.
Golf Channel’s Monday premiere of The Haney Project, the network’s real-life series featuring Charles Barkley, was the most-watched premiere episode of a Golf Channel original series in the network’s history. More than 800,000 unique viewers watched an airing of the program Monday night. The 9 p.m. show garnered a .40 household rating and also set records with Men 25-54 (.45). The previous high for a Golf Channel premiere was episode one of Big Break III: Ladies Only in 2005. The Haney Project follows one of the world’s best golf instructors, Hank Haney, in his attempt to fix one of the world’s ugliest swings. The seven-part series air Mondays at 9 p.m. ET, when Barkley allows cameras to chronicle a game gone south and follow Haney’s efforts to improve a swing that has been laughed at by millions.
BlueHighways TV, the multi-platform network that explores the people, stories, traditions and music of America, has announced an distribution agreement with JetBroadband. The company will begin rolling out BHTV to its Rustburg, Crewe, Wytheville, Redwood, Bedford, and Radford, Virginia cable systems. “We added BlueHighways TV to our programming line-up because we saw the value of offering a channel that focuses on the culture and values that are the bedrock of the communities we serve,” said Dave Baum, President of JetBroadband. “Bluegrass and Gospel music and the Americana culture flourish in our coverage areas.” BHTV’s original programming features roots music, including bluegrass, blues, folk, western, gospel and traditional country, outdoor adventure and agriculture, lifestyle, cooking, equestrian and a variety of other subjects valued by a wide and growing audience. For more information, visit bluehighwaystv.com.
Retirement Living TV’s participation in the fall 2008 Beta Research Cable Operator Carriage Study resulted in significant news for the emerging network. Among operators with 200,000+ subscribers, RLTV ranked 2nd as the network they were most interested in carrying by the end of ‘09. The study which gauges the popularity of emerging networks among cable operators revealed that 39% of operators are fairly/very interested in carrying RLTV. In addition to those findings, it was determined that 42% of operators plan to add one or more networks to their digital tier.
Mediacom Communications has announced completion the previously announced repurchase of all of its Class A common stock owned by an affiliate of Morris Communications. Under the terms of the agreement signed last September, Mediacom exchanged 100% of the shares of stock of a wholly owned subsidiary, which held approximately $110 million of cash and non-strategic cable television systems serving approximately 25,000 basic subscribers, for 28,309,674 shares of its Class A common stock. As of December 31, after giving effect to this transaction, Mediacom’s total Class A and Class B outstanding shares were approximately 66.5 million.
In the worst economy since the depression, Secure Signals significantly impacted the bottom line of its cable operator clients by adding 20,000 paying subscribers to their books, generating $60 million in net revenues, and preventing a $12.5 million inventory loss in 2008, the firm reports. Secure Signals delivered these results with a portfolio of services including a program that converts cable pirates into paying customers. The firm provides this revenue-generating service at no cost to the cable operator. Instead, the firm retains a small percentage of the cash settlements and two-year service contracts it generates, and cable operator receives the rest. In 2008, Secure Signals converted 20,000 pirates netting participating cable operators $60 million in cash flow.
Comcast Media Center and Motorola, have announced an enhanced version of their original HITS Quick Take Plus service to allow HITS affiliates to launch programming from the HITS Quantum HD and SD channel platforms, as well as other content sources. In addition, Motorola has announced the inclusion of impulse pay-per-view capability to the HITS QT+ headend management system.
RBC Daniels has announced that they acted as exclusive financial advisor to Charter Communications in the divestiture of certain cable systems to Midcontinent Communications. The systems include approximately 14,200 basic video customers in Fairmont, Bemidji, International Falls, Ely, Glencoe, Canby, Balaton and other communities in Minnesota. <
Accedian Networks, a provider of Packet Performance Assurance solutions for telecom, cable and wireless communications providers, has announced customer revenue and profit gains by up to 65% when the company’s solutions are used to deliver premium Ethernet business services. The combination of Ethernet service creation, service assurance, and the new Plug & Go auto-provisioning feature allow EtherNID & MetroNID packet assurance demarcation units to efficiently enable these services over existing networks.
Approximately 60 MSOs are now using HD channels available through the HITS Quantum platform of linear digital video services, the Comcast Media Center has announced. The HITS Quantum platform is now available to over 2,000 cable system headends and more than 20 million digital subscribers across the U.S. CMC also announced the addition of FX (East and West Coast feeds), FX HD, HorseRacing TV (HRTV), Speed and Speed HD to the HITS Quantum programming lineups, which now encompass more than 285 channels of digital video and audio services.
TransUnion and SubscriberWise have entered into a joint marketing agreement designed to promote the benefits and utilization of subscriber risk management solutions for the cable industry. The joint marketing efforts will focus on sales and educational initiatives aimed at independent cable operators.
Buckeye CableSystem has expanded its fight against service theft beyond pay per view and digital video piracy to include theft of Internet Protocol services. The cable operator launched a company-wide beta test of a collaborative solution provided by PerfTech and Secure Signals. The one-two punch against IP service theft features PerfTech’s Audit Sentry application, a component of its Bulletin System, and Secure Signals’ piracy conversion program.
Aurora Networks, Inc. has announced the AT3520G, a high-performance analog Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) narrowcast transmitter designed to provide the narrowcast channels required by operators to support expanding and in-demand high-speed data, Video on Demand and telephony services. By increasing the number of narrowcast channels carried on one transmitter, the AT3520G expands narrowband services without the need for additional transmitters in headend and hubs where space is constrained.
Hallmark Channel has closed 2008 on a high note, delivering its best year ever. The family-friendly network ranked #8 in Prime Time for the full year, #8 for the fourth quarter, #5 for the month of December and #6 for the final week of the year (Dec. 22-28). The channel attributes its performance to its entertaining slate of original movies beloved by millions of families across the country.
The TG787 from Thomson, a worldwide leader in video solutions, is the first residential gateway product to receive certification from the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA). The DLNA is an industry-wide body set up to promote simple but comprehensive digital interoperability, which guarantees consumers that a compliant device will work out of the box. This first accreditation for a residential gateway underlines Thomson’s commitment to open standards as the route to powerful, easy to use and cost effective device connectivity and true home networking.
Harmonic Inc. and Scopus Video Networks Limited, a global provider of digital video networking solutions, have signed a definitive agreement under which Harmonic will acquire Scopus. The acquisition will extend Harmonic’s worldwide customer base and strengthen its market and technology leadership, particularly in international video broadcast, contribution and distribution markets.
Concurrent, a worldwide leader in real-time Linux-based computing technologies, has announced that it has successfully integrated its Myriad line of advanced advertising products with systems from three leading technology providers to develop advanced advertising solutions based on SCTE-130 and EBIF (Enhanced TV Binary Interchange Format) standards. Concurrent, This Technology, INVIDI and BIAP are working on solutions which enable cable and broadband providers to deliver advanced advertising functions such as targeted VOD ad insertion, bumpering, telescoping and reporting. Over the next year, the four companies will collaborate on product interoperability and integration and pursue joint marketing initiatives, including interoperability demonstrations at some of the leading industry trade shows and summits.
Electroline Equipment Inc. has announced that Winston Rodrigues has been appointed as President of the company. Rodrigues replaces John Vincent who resigned late last year.
Prior to his appointment as president, Rodrigues was VP of Operations for Electroline, serving in that capacity for approximately 7 years. Chairman Kevin Chen said: “Winston’s experience in directing an efficient manufacturing organization and his intimate knowledge of all aspects of the company makes him the perfect choice for Electroline at the point in time”
Motorola, Inc. has announced that it has been positioned by Gartner, Inc. in the Leaders quadrant in the “Magic Quadrant for Fiber-To-The-Home Equipment” research report. The Gartner Magic Quadrant positions vendors according to their “ability to execute” and “completeness of vision” in FTTH equipment.
Carlsen Resources, Inc., a leading executive search firm in cable, telecommunications and new media, is launching new division as a strategic complement to its 20-year-old retained executive search practice. This division, dubbed Executives-on-Demand, will offer a ready-access opportunity to collaborate with senior-level professionals on an as-needed, interim basis.
The Cable Center has announced the promotion of Diane Christman to Senior Vice President of Marketing and Development, from Vice President of Marketing and Development. As Senior Vice President of Marketing and Development, Christman is responsible for planning, developing and directing all marketing and communications programs, as well as comprehensive fundraising initiatives for The Cable Center, including the solicitation and stewardship of prospective donors, establishing in-kind donations, and helping to develop and build revenue-generating programs. Christman, a fundraising professional with 16 years of non-profit experience, joined The Cable Center in 2006 as Vice President of Development. |