Multichannel News articles from November 2010

Multichannel News archives from November 2010

Genachowski back to drawing board: FCC chairman tries to rebuild his network-neutrality coalition.(Federal Communications Commission )
November 29, 2010... WASHINGTON -- Federal Communications Commission chairman Julius Genachowski is looking to reunite network-neutrality stakeholders and move on an item as early as December, according to people familiar with the matter. Genachowski, hoping to...

Dolans Seek Gold at End of Rainbow: Cablevision CEO: Programmer's Spinoff Is about Shareholder Value
November 29, 2010... ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, ON JULY 31, 2008--after the third attempt to take Cablevision Systems private failed--CEO James Dolan vowed on a quarterly earnings call to work hard toward closing the gap between the public and private valuations of the...

Fur flies in 'cat fight' over pole access.(Alliance for Fair Pole Attachment Rules)(Brief article)
November 29, 2010... ARGUMENTS OVER CABLE-OPERATOR access to utility poles can make the eyes glaze over, despite the hundreds of millions of dollars involved. Sometimes, though, the driest petitions have moments to chuckle at, if you paw through them thoroughly...

CableLabs VIPs head to Vegas to haul in Emmy hardware.(Technology & Engineering Emmy Award)(Brief article)
November 29, 2010... The envelope, please! CableLabs' DOCSIS 3.0 high-speed specification has received a Technology & Engineering Emmy Award for enabling "the delivery of television via broadband data systems." It's the first Emmy won by CableLabs, which...

Sales get failing grade, so far: retailer: consumers will favor IPTV over 3DTV.(NewBay Media's "3DTV 2011: What's Next?" conference)(Conference news)(Brief article)
November 29, 2010... NEW YORK -- A big fat D. That's the grade given to the rollout of 3DTV by Tom Galanis, operations vice president for Sixth Avenue Electronics. In a wide-ranging interview conducted by TWICE executive editor Greg Tarr at NewBay Media's "3DTV...

3DTV production needs work.(3DTV 2011: What's Next?" conference)(Conference news)(Brief article)
November 29, 2010... NEW YORK -- Despite the strides in 3D production, there's still an enormous learning curve and much to be taught to future 3D producers, directors and camera operators. That was the shared message from the real-world experiences of executives...

Comcast taps post-merger NBCU team: lawmakers, opponents rail at announcement's pre-approval timing.
November 29, 2010... IN A LONG-AWAITED MOVED THAT still struck some as rushed, Comcast has unveiled a new executive team that will run NBC Universal when its union with the cable operator gains governmental approval. Comcast chief operating officer Steve Burke,...

What's in a name? Why companies create new brand identities.(SBC Communications )
November 29, 2010... JEFF WEBER REMEMBERS THE puzzled stares from colleagues at SBC Communications six years ago, when he announced the name for the telco's new video service. SBC, which adopted the AT&T name after acquiring the telco, spent months evaluating...

Angling for attention: outdoors channels seek to fill gap after ESPN pullback.(SPECIAL REPORT: Sports/Outdoor Lifestyle Programming)
November 29, 2010... ESPN ROCKED THE BOAT IN outdoors/lifestyle programming circles in May, when sports TV's largest player said it would drop all of its long-running outdoors shows, with the exception of Bassmasters bass-fishing events. World Fishing Network...

Charter says better days are ahead: 'more competitive' MSO targets non-video, business customers.(Charter Communications Inc.)
November 29, 2010... BANKRUPTCY BEHIND IT--ALONG with about half of its former debt load--Charter Communications is striding toward what has been unfamiliar territory for the fourth-largest U.S. cable operator: Growth. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When it was the...

Playboy TV goes mainstream: premium network plans couples block; will join TCA tour.(Television Critics Association tour )
November 29, 2010... PLAYBOY TV IS LOOKING FOR A NEW, LESS-RACY image for its adult-oriented programming. In January, officials at the programmer, which operates a premium subscription service, will add a reality-series block to that channel emphasizing...

More Martha shows coming.(Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc)(Brief article)
November 29, 2010... WITH RATINGS FOR THE MARTHA Stewart Show on a modest upswing, Hallmark Channel will add more Stewart-produced shows in 2011. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The home decorating diva's one-hour show has averaged nearly 210,000 viewers since Oct. 4,...

Bloomberg.(Margaret Conley joined Bloomberg Television as reporter)(Brief article)
November 29, 2010... Margaret Conley has joined Bloomberg Television as a Shanghai, China-based reporter. She comes from ABC News, where she was a Tokyo-based reporter. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Comcast.(PEOPLE)(Brief article)
November 29, 2010... Joann Shumard has been named vice president, engineering, for the company's Houston region. She had been director, network engineering in Atlanta. Also, Charlie Tzoumas was named vice president, Comcast Business Services, Western New England...

CTAM.(Mark Snow joined the Cable & Telecommunications Association as vice president)(Brief article)
November 29, 2010... Mark Snow has joined the Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing as vice president, general manager. He was VP, strategy and analytics at Swire Marketing. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Discovery.(Luis Silberwasser )(Brief article)
November 29, 2010... Luis Silberwasser was named executive vice president and chief content officer of Discovery Networks International's new production and development unit. Also, Rob Hammersley has joined Discovery Studios as development executive and executive...

The Lippin Group.(PEOPLE)(Brief article)
November 29, 2010... Alexandra Lippin was upped to senior vice president of entertainment marketing, PR and strategic communications firm The Lippin Group. She had been VP. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Martha Stewart.(Missy Foristall joined Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia as senior vice president)(Brief article)
November 29, 2010... Missy Foristall has joined Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia as senior vice president, digital programming and strategy. She comes from Razorfish, where she was managing director, experience and platforms group.

MTV Networks.(PEOPLE)(Brief article)
November 29, 2010... Meghann Wu was elevated to vice president, strategy and business development at MTV Networks Entertainment Group. She had been senior director. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

NY1 News.(New York 1 News appointed Errol Louis as anchor)(Brief article)
November 29, 2010... New York 1 News has added Errol Louis as anchor of Inside City Hall. He had been a columnist at the New York Daily News.

Seachange.(Steve Davi appointed as senior vice president)(Brief article)
November 29, 2010... Steve Davi was named senior vice president, advanced technology and office of the CTO at SeaChange International. He was head of SeaChange's back-office business unit.

TV Guide Digital.(Marcella Reginault appointed as vice president by TV Guide Digital )(Brief article)
November 29, 2010... Marcella Reginault has joined TV Guide Digital as vice president, business operations. She was VP, operations, at Sports Illustrated's digital properties. Also, David Singer advanced to vice president, product development.

Calendar.(PEOPLE)(Brief article)(Calendar)
November 29, 2010... For more listings, visit, multichannel.com/event. DEC. 8-10 National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications, Executive Development Leadership Program, UCLA Anderson School of Management, Los Angeles. Contact: Sandra Girado, (212)...

NCTA will need a uniter: Cable lobby's new leader to face some thorny issues.(National Cable & Telecommunications Association)
November 29, 2010... WASHINGTON -- National Cable & Telecommunications Association president Kyle McSlarrow will exit his post next spring--no, he said, he won't reconsider--having told the trade group's board he was ready to get a job in the industry he's been...

At the "WICT Philly Gives Back" charitable networking event.(FREEZE FRAME)
November 29, 2010... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] At the "WICT Philly Gives Back" charitable networking event, benefiting Share Our Strength and the WICT Philadelphia Scholarship Fund (l. to. r.): Michael Portugal, Scripps Networks; Food Network chef Anne Burrell;...

ReelzChannel.(FREEZE FRAME)
November 29, 2010... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ReelzChannel CEO Stan Hubbard, Salley, winner Stacy Okonoswky and Reelz host Leonard Maltin were at L.A.'s Beverly Wilshire Hotel for the network's 2011 "Brand Absorption" presentation. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Comcast SportsNet Bay Area.(FREEZE FRAME)
November 29, 2010... Producers David Koppett and Sean Maddison; executive producer Ted Griggs; and producer Doug Harris at the premiere of Comcast SportsNet Bay Area's Out. The Glenn Burke Story at San Francisco's Castro Theatre.

At the Virginia Cable Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Williamsburg, Va.(FREEZE FRAME)
November 29, 2010... At the Virginia Cable Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Williamsburg, Va. (l. to r.): VCTA president Ray LaMura; 2010 inductees Mike Ortman, Comcast, and Gary McCollum, Cox; and emcee/hall of famer Rob Stoddard, NCT [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Visiting the Middlesex County, Conn., Chamber of Commerce.(FREEZE FRAME)
November 29, 2010... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Visiting Middlesex County, Conn., Chamber of Commerce (l. to r.): chamber president Larry McHugh; John Bairos, John Sette and Kristen Roberts, Comcast; SNY New York Mets baseball analyst Keith Hernandez; Mar y...

The Africa Channel lifted off on Comcast's Bay Area system at the Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland.(FREEZE FRAME)
November 29, 2010... The Africa Channel lifted off on Comcast's Bay Area system at the Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland. On hand (l. to r.): Elaine Barden, Comcast; U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.); Bob Reid, Africa Channel; and Assemblyman Sandre Swanson...

Talking social media at CTAM Rocky Mountains' "Hot Topics" event.(FREEZE FRAME)
November 29, 2010... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Talking social media at CTAM Rocky Mountains' "Hot Topics" event (l. to r.): Mar y Millar; Comcast; Doyle Albee, Metzger Associates; Michelle Honald, University of Denver; Shauna Casey, Ant's Eye View; Joe Stupp,...

Ladies Home Journal.(FREEZE FRAME)
November 29, 2010... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ladies Home Journal's Sally Lee; actress Andie McDowell; host Sherri Shepherd; Kelly Rutherford; and WE TV/Wedding Central president and GM Kim Mar tin at the first "WE Do Good Awards" in New York.

Politic's John Harris, David Gregory of NBC News and Candy Crowley of CNN talked midterms at a Politico/NCTA.(FREEZE FRAME)
November 29, 2010... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Politico's John Harris, David Gregory of NBC News and Candy Crowley of CNN talked midterms at a Politico/NCTA co-sponsored forum at Washington, D.C.'s Newseum.

Talking the "AC 360 Experience Tour: in New York.(FREEZE FRAME)
November 29, 2010... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Taking the "AC 360 Experience Tour" in New York (l. to r.): CNN's Anderson Cooper; Time Warner Cable's Gina Gutman, Heather Dworakowski and Kate Rozen; and Turner Network Sales' Doug George.

10-year forecast: cable subs down, revenue up: advanced services should help numbers even as competition culls customers: SNL Kagan.(Cable MSO Summit)
November 29, 2010... NEW YORK -- Cable subscribers will continue to erode in the next 10 years, but the sector's revenue should climb at a healthy pace during the next decade, according to SNL Kagan research. SNL Kagan senior analyst Robin Flynn, in a...

Marrying content, ITV: WE TV, Wedding Central plan 2011 apps launch.(WE TV and Wedding Central shows)
November 29, 2010... WANT TO READ JOAN RIVERS' stream-of-consciousness tweets as you watch her new show on WE TV? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] That could be coming to a cable set-top near you next year: Rainbow Media's WE TV and Wedding Central plan to launch...

EBIF and iPad, sittin' in a tree ...(TRANSLATION PLEASE)
November 29, 2010... BACK IN MAY, WHEN COMCAST CEO BRIAN Roberts first demonstrated the use of an iPad--which had only hit the market a month prior--he thanked "the magic of EBIF" for making it possible. Huh? How on earth does something as clunky-sounding as EBIF...

Netflix debuts streaming-only, hikes DVD rental plans.(FOR THE RECORD)(Brief article)
November 29, 2010... Los Gatos, Calif. -- Netflix is offering a $7.99-per-month streaming-only subscription plan to U.S. customers, while at the same time it is raising prices for its DVDs-by-mail packages by 11% to 18%. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] According to...

Is FIOS fastest residential broadband in U.S.?(FiOS Internet package)(Brief article)
November 29, 2010... NEW YORK -- Verizon Communications is blowing past cable's top broadband speeds with the debut of a FiOS Internet package that delivers 150 Megabits per second downstream and 35 Mbps upstream--although at around $200 per month, it will likely...

Mediacom board OKs privacy offer.(Mediacom Communications)(Brief article)
November 29, 2010... Middletown, N.Y. -- After two previous attempts to take the small-market MSO private failed, a special committee of Mediacom Communications' board of directors said Nov. 15 it has accepted chairman and CEO Rocco Commisso's $8.75-per-share cash...

Cox touts 'fair' edge with wireless.(Cox Communications)(Brief article)
November 29, 2010... Atlanta -- Cox Communications--hoping to siphon off customers from incumbent wireless carriers--is commercially launching its "Unbelievably Fair" mobile services Friday in Hampton Roads, Va.; Omaha, Neb.; and Orange County, Calif. Cox's...

USA salutes eight 'characters'.(USA Networks Inc)(Brief article)
November 29, 2010... New York -- USA Network is honoring eight individuals with its "Characters Unite Award" for combating prejudice and discrimination and promoting tolerance and acceptance. Honored at hometown ceremonies, each winner gets $5,000 from USA and...

TWC readies 'white glove' service.(Time Warner Cable )(Brief article)
November 29, 2010... NEW YORK -- Time Warner Cable will charge high-end customers $199.99 per month for a new "white-glove" service option that it has dubbed Signature Home. The No. 2 U.S. cable operator is expected to start testing the service in Charlotte,...

Cable nets carry torch for TV diversity.(PICTURE THIS)
November 29, 2010... ADVOCATES OF DIVERSITY ON TV BEMOANED the recent cancellation of NBC's drama series Undercovers, one of the few broadcast-TV series with African-Americans in leading roles. But advocates can be thankful that, in the coming year, several cable...

Tuned in.(VIEWPOINT)(Cartoon)
November 29, 2010... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I WANT SOMEONE AS GOOD AS KYLE MCSLARROW

Get in retrans game, FCC.(ACCESS)
November 29, 2010... LAST MONTH'S DISPUTE BETWEEN Fox Networks Group and Cablevision Systems over retransmission rights represents a grand opportunity for the Federal Communications Commission. It should feel free to step in and remedy a situation in which no one,...

Genachowski approaches the Rubicon: Nov. 19.(VOICES)
November 29, 2010... A few days ago, after attending the NARUC Convention, I wrote this blog piece, "Genachowski at NARUC." Based on the fact that Chairman Genachowski at NARUC emphasized an FCC mission focusing on catalyzing private investment, creating jobs and...

Affiliates pick up more network spots.(THIS WEEK ON broadcastingcable.com)
November 29, 2010... Networks making ad time available to partner stations in high-demand times is gaining steam--and cash.

Over-the-top fears drag TV stocks.(THIS WEEK ON broadcastingcable.com)
November 29, 2010... Despite little evidence, Wall Street remains wary of online video's effect on subscriber revenue.

25%.(Numbers)(Brief article)
November 29, 2010... Percentage of surveyed TV viewers who said they expect to upgrade to 3DTV in the next 18 months, while 75% either own an HD set or plan to buy one in the same time frame. SOURCE: Motorola Mobility, Nov. 17

No fan of Netflixs streaming movies.(TALKBACK: www.multichannel.com)
November 29, 2010... (RE: "Netflix Debuts Streaming-Only Option, Hikes DVD Rental Plans," Nov. 22): "There are several shortcomings to 'instant play' of movies via the internet that are rarely addressed in the media. 1. The video quality is lacking, compared to a...

Mediacom stabilizes, gains subs: overall, pay TV lost 108K subs in 3rd quarter: estimate.
November 15, 2010... MEDIACOM COMMUNICATIONS CLOSED OUT the cable earnings season last week, returning to more solid ground with a net gain of about 53,000 customers following its first full quarter of negative subscriber growth in June. Mediacom, the last...

Cisco cable sales get hammered: set-top orders in North America plummet 40% year over year.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)(Brief article)
November 15, 2010... CABLE'S HARDWARE duopoly may finally be losing its grip. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Cisco Systems sales to North American cable operators fell 35% year-over-year in the quarter ended Oct. 30, with the networking giant blaming the drop on lower...

D.C rematch for Fox, Cablevision: retrans foes will meet again before a senate panel.(Conference news)
November 15, 2010... WASHINGTON -- Cablevision Systems chief operating officer Tom Rutledge and News Corp. president Chase Carey are slated to be in the same room here next week, but not under the circumstances Cablevision had been hoping for. They are among the...

Comcast hits keep on coming.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)
November 15, 2010... WASHINGTON -- Comcast is still expecting the Federal Communications Commission to approve its $30 billion content joint venture with NBC Universal by next month, according to a company source. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] And if the energy with...

Why the NHL is suddenly cool: ratings draw Comcast-NBCU--and ESPN.
November 15, 2010... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE IS SUDDENLY looking like a contender. With ratings rocketing, better viewing on HDTVs and a power-play marketing push from national carriers NBC and Comcast-owned Versus, the league has...

Kudos to PTC for pointing out rise in '$#*!' on TV.
November 15, 2010... THE WIRE GIVES THE PARENTS TELEVISION Council props for coming up with a catchy title for its latest broadside at TV content, a comparison of broadcast-network primetime profanity in early 2010 versus five years ago. "Habitat for Profanity:...

AdKeeper's Scott Kurnit: cable schooled me on what to do, and avoid.(TROUGH The Wire)
November 15, 2010... "I've learned my lessons from the cable industry," Scott Kurnit said. Famous last words, possibly. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] But Kurnit's experience as a programmer (Showtime Event Television) and cable operator (Warner Amex/Qube) before...

Vote results are in: Dems more likely to watch cable fare.(TROUGH The Wire)
November 15, 2010... Voters who vote Democrat are more predisposed to favor cable television shows than their Republican counterparts, a new survey suggests. Experian Simmons, in a consumer survey concerning non-news and non-music programming from the 2009-10...

Channeling the future: 30 leaders to watch during cable's next 30 years.(MULTICHANNEL NEWS 30TH ANNIVERSARY)
November 15, 2010... Welcome to the final installment of a three-part series celebrating 30 years of Multichannel News' coverage of the cable-TV industry. In the past two weeks, we've honored 30 cable legends who helped change cable history and 30 who are...

Growth will have a Latin flavor: Hispanic demographic offers much to a maturing cable sector.
November 15, 2010... LET'S START WITH THE OBVIOUS: HISPANICS ARE THE FASTEST-GROWING consumer base in the U.S. The 2010 Census will show that population passing 50 million. Over the past decade, Hispanics have accounted for half of all population growth in the...

Fulfilling sports fans' passion: how bonding with an audience led to three decades of success.
November 15, 2010... IN 1979, A NEW ENTERPRISE WAS LAUNCHED IN BRISTOL, Conn., by a small group of people filled with energy, hope and a conviction that millions of people in the United States were just like them--passionate sports fans. They were met with great...

Bravo.(PEOPLE)(appointment of Lara Spotts)(Brief article)
November 15, 2010... Lara Spotts advanced to vice president, East Coast development at Bravo. She had been director, programming and development.

Comedy Central.(PEOPLE)(promotion of Val Boreland)(Brief article)
November 15, 2010... Comedy Central has promoted Val Boreland to senior vice president, programming, promotion and multiplatform strategy. She had been VP, program and promotion scheduling. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Discovery.(PEOPLE)(Discovery Communications Inc. appoints Elisa Freeman )(Brief article)
November 15, 2010... Elisa Freeman has been elevated to senior vice president, global distribution operations and education business development at Discovery Communications. She had been VP, strategy and business development at Discovery Education. [ILLUSTRATION...

ESPN.(PEOPLE)(appointment of Kevin Martinez )(Brief article)
November 15, 2010... Kevin Martinez has joined ESPN as senior director, corporate outreach, based in Bristol, Conn. He comes from KPMG in New York where he was executive director, corporate social responsibility. DID YOU KNOW? Kevin Martinez is a two-time winner...

NBC Universal.(PEOPLE)(appointment of Alyssa Corcoran )(Brief article)
November 15, 2010... Alyssa Corcoran was elevated to senior vice president, communications, TV Networks & Digital Distribution at NBC Universal. She joined NBCU in 2003 as director, media relations. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Mega TV.(PEOPLE)(appointment of Carlos Hererra )(Brief article)
November 15, 2010... Mega TV has named Carlos Hererra sales manager of its infomertial sales department. He comes from America TV in Miami, where he was a sales executive.

OCTA.(PEOPLE)(Oregon Cable Telecommunications Association appoints Sanford Inoye )(Brief article)
November 15, 2010... Sanford Inoye was named president of the Oregon Cable Telecommunications Association. He is vice president, government affairs for Oregon and Southwest Washington at Comcast. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Rural Media Group.(PEOPLE)(appointment of Steve Campione and Dave Randell )(Brief article)
November 15, 2010... RFD-TV parent Rural Media Group has added Steve Campione as New York-based chief financial officer. He comes from RBC Daniels, where he was responsible for programming and content transactions in the Communications, Media and Entertainment...

Sesame Workshop.(PEOPLE)(appointment of Palak Solanki and Laura Smith )(Brief article)
November 15, 2010... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Palak Solanki has joined Sesame Workshop as vice president, business planning and analysis. She comes from MTV Networks, where she was director, digital sales strategy and business development. Also, Laura Smith...

Turner Sports.(PEOPLE)(appointments)(Brief article)
November 15, 2010... Turner Sports has hired Dave Moll to senior director, business operations at NCAA Digital. He had been senior director, national university relations at CBS College Sports. Also, Alex Vargas has joined Turner Sports as senior director,...

WICT.(PEOPLE)(Women In Cable Telecommunications appoints Christina Vergara )(Brief article)
November 15, 2010... Christina Vergara has joined Women In Cable Telecommunications as vice president, education and program development. She comes from the National Association of Broadcasters, where she was director, convention education.

Woodstock Film Festival.(PEOPLE)(Brief article)
November 15, 2010... Greg Brodsky has joined the Woodstock Film Festival as marketing director. He comes from ESPN, where he was marketing director for ESPN New York. DID YOU KNOW? Greg Brodsky's 20-year media career included stints at Warner Bros. Pay TV and MSG...

Viamedia.(PEOPLE)(appointment of Dan Budzinski )(Brief article)
November 15, 2010... Dan Budzinski was upped to area vice president, advertising, in rep firm Viamedia's Great Lakes region, representing WideOpenWest and Verizon Communications.

Calendar.(Calendar)
November 15, 2010... For more listings, visit, multichannel.com/event NOV. 15 New York Women In Communications Foundation, Benefit Concert featuring Rosa Antonelli, Steinway Hall, New York. Visit: www. nywici. org/events/steinway-hall-2010. NOV. 18 3DTV 2011:...

Freeze frame.
November 15, 2010... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] At Sundance Channel's luncheon at MIPCOM in Cannes (l. to r.): Ed Palluth, Rainbow Media Global Distribution; Ed Carroll, Rainbow Entertainment Services; Robert Redford; Elisabeth Moss and Jon Hamm of Mad Men; Joshua...

Disney, Viacom on upswing: ad sales, pricing show gains over July-September span.
November 15, 2010... ADVERTISING SALES CONTINUED TO RETURN to form in the third quarter, with Viacom reporting a strong 8% increase in domestic ad sales and double-digit ad gains posted at The Walt Disney Co. Viacom, which has lagged behind programming peers the...

O'Brien's return is red hot for TBS.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)(Turner Broadcasting System Inc.)(Conan O'Brien)
November 15, 2010... TBS' LATE-NIGHT GAMBIT ON CONAN O'BRIEN has paid off in spades--at least this first week. The "very funny" network hit paydirt last week when Conan opened big, averaging 2.9 million in its first four days on-air. O'Brien, who earlier this...

MTV's Janollari believes in Snooki.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)
November 15, 2010... NEWLY-NAMED MTV PROGRAMMING chief David Janollari said he'll keep today's millennial viewers engaged with the 30-year old network through original scripted shows and reality programs, like ratings powerhouse Jersey Shore. [ILLUSTRATION...

iO puts on its game face: Cablevision launches free service via vendor ActiveVideo.
November 15, 2010... IT'S PLAYTIME FOR CABLEVISION SYSTEMS. The New York-area cable operator--looking to give subscribers a new reason to pay for cable-TV service--last week launched an interactive gaming platform with 17 titles, available for no extra charge to...

Cablevision knits net DVR.(NEWS & ANALYSIS)
November 15, 2010... ISRAELI STARTUP FABRIX.TV, MAJORITY OWNED by telecommunications and energy provider IDT, is one of the key vendors in the mix behind Cablevision Systems' closely watched Remote Storage-Digital Video Recorder project, according to industry...

The next big thing: getting to know 'DPoE'.(TRANSLATION PLEASE)
November 15, 2010... THIS WEEK'S TRANSLATION DIPS INTO THE TERMINOLOGY of cable-provided services to businesses--a wonky pedigree of tech talk, but important as the Next Big Thing to attract revenue. We'll start with "DPoE," a double-nested acronym that stands...

Change is good.(COLUMN)(Column)
November 15, 2010... READERS MAY HAVE NOTICED A FEW changes in the design of our magazine over the past few weeks. We didn't want to make a big fuss about it, but as we prepared to celebrate our 30th year, we wanted to bring our look into the future as well. ...