| This week's sponsor is Amdocs. |  | Webinar: Is your strategy for small and medium-sized businesses bringing rewards?
Wednesday, December 4th, 11am ET / 8am PT / 4pm GMT Gain insights into where service providers are currently experiencing problems in the sales cycle, with a benchmark for the SMB market by sector, as well as ideas on how to increase efficiency. Register Today! |
Also Noted: Cycle30
Spotlight On... Verizon, AT&T, Google execs top list of most powerful people in wireless and wireline
The Cable Center names 2014 Cable Hall of Fame Class; Comcast grows Internet Essentials sub count and much more... 
Follow @FierceCable on Twitter! News From the Fierce Network:
1. Deutsche Telekom rolls out VDSL2 service to first 10 markets
2. Verizon strikes back at copper thieves in Pittsburgh with $50,000 reward
3. T-Mobile to sell $2B in debt to fund spectrum purchases
| This week's sponsors are Ateme, Harris Broadcast, Kontron, Ramp, Vubiquity and PacketVideo Corporation. |  | eBook | Making Money from Multiscreen Cable operators and networks are slowly building a platform that could make multiscreen programming and advertising a much bigger business. Learn more today. |
Today's Top News 1. Blue Ridge to deploy TiVo T6, Preview and Mini boxes
Pennsylvania-based cable operator Blue Ridge Communications is making a big bet on TiVo (Nasdaq: TIVO), announcing a deal to deploy every product it is marketing to pay TV distributors, from DVRs to a Web portal. TiVo said Tuesday that Blue Ridge agreed to deploy its new T6 whole-home gateway DVR along with the TiVo Mini and TiVo Stream devices. It's also offering subscribers a Web portal built by TiVo along with mobile video applications. Atlantic Broadband, the first cable operator to deploy the T6, which contains six tuners, announced a similar deal with TiVo last month. Mediacom Communications announced on Monday that it would deploy the Pace (LSE: PIC.L) MG1 gateway as its primary DVR, but that it will use TiVo's user interface and program guide. "We made a decision to leverage the expertise of a third party to meet our subscribers' needs and it was clear that TiVo, with its industry leading whole home and multiscreen solution, was really the only service that could deliver on every demand that our customers have now come to expect," Blue Ridge VP of Operations Mark Masenheimer said in a prepared statement. For more:
- see the release Special Report: Growing pains: Auto login driving advances in TV Everywhere authentication Related articles:
Mediacom to deploy Pace MG1 gateway with TiVo interface
Atlantic Broadband CMO: TiVo DVR and TV Everywhere site are 'game-changing'
Blue Ridge takes 3D VoD trip with Starz Read more about: TiVo, Blue Ridge
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2. Suddenlink: 20% of customers don't buy pay TV subscription
Suddenlink Communications lost 3,000 basic video subscribers in the third quarter, while picking up 21,900 high-speed Internet and 18,000 phone customers, according to earnings released by parent Cequel Communications Holdings last week. High-speed Internet was the hottest product in Suddenlink's portfolio, and the MSO continues to see an increase in broadband-only customers, with non-video customers now accounting for 20 percent of its total customer relationships. Suddenlink ended the quarter with 274,300 non-video subscribers and 1.19 million basic video customers. The 21,900 net broadband subscriber additions were an improvement compared to both the second quarter, when the company lost 9,000 high-speed customers, and the third quarter of 2012, when it gained 17,400 high-speed subscribers. Suddenlink generated $160.5 million in revenue from its high-speed Internet business, an increase of 14.6 percent compared to this time last year. Rate hikes helped it grow video revenue by 2.4 percent to $282.7 million, and total revenue increased by 6.2 percent to $543.8 million. St. Louis, Mo.-based Suddenlink said it had $89.7 million in capital expenditures in Q3, an increase of $2 million compared to Q3 2012. The company said it expects to post capital expenditures of $365 million to $375 million for fiscal 2013. Suddenlink posted a net loss of $8.5 million, compared to net income of $22.1 million the same period last year. For more:
- see the release Special Report: Cable in the third quarter of 2013 Special Report: Broadband only subscriptions gain steam at Time Warner Cable, Charter, Cablevision Related articles:
Suddenlink buying Northland cable systems in 3 Texas towns
Netflix 4K Ultra HD launch could boost Cablevision, Cox, Suddenlink
Comcast trial combines HBO, broadband and local TV Read more about: Suddenlink
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3. WWE recruits Fox News, TV Guide veteran to help it launch new network
WWE said Tuesday that it named Matthew Singerman EVP of programming, and that the Fox News Channel and TV Guide Network veteran may help it launch a new network.  | Matthew Singerman | The wrestling programmer, which supplies shows to Comcast's (Nasdaq: CMCSA) USA Network and Syfy, along with ION Television, noted in the announcement that Singerman's responsibilities include work on "a potential WWE Network." WWE executives told analysts on the company's third-quarter earnings call that it is developing a network but hasn't settled on whether to use traditional pay TV or over-the-top distribution to reach subscribers. "We continue developing our network, looking at growth [through] traditional and non-traditional means," WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon said on the earnings call. In February, WWE disclosed that it was considering charging $13 to $15 monthly if it launched a premium WWE network, and that it had conducted research that found it may be able to sign 2 million to 4 million subscribers at that price. CFO George Barrios said on the Q3 call that WWE expects it could also draw a big following if it pursues a direct-to-consumer approach. "Our market research and analysis indicate that potential for a meaningful subscriber base and a significant economic opportunity. This opportunity is comparable whether the network is distributed through traditional cable, satellite and telco partners or through over the top digital distribution," Barrios told analysts. Singerman has some experience launching new networks. Before joining WWE, he worked as a consultant for DirecTV's (Nasdaq: DTV) new Pivot channel, Back9 Network, NFL Network and NuvoTV. A 20-year industry veteran, Singerman worked previously as SVP of programming at Reelz Channel. He was also SVP of programming and production at TV Guide Network, and worked earlier as executive producer of morning programming for Fox News Channel. For more:
- see the release Related articles:
WWE breaks WrestleMania revenue record; Belo posts 8% gain in retrans fees
|DirecTV to launch new premium network Pivot
WWE proposes charging $13 to $15 monthly for premium channel
UFC not contemplating launch of U.S. cable channel Read more about: WWE
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4. DirecTV trademarks COPILOT second-screen app
Three years after unveiling a second-screen application, DirecTV (Nasdaq: DTV) may be preparing to launch a mobile application called COPILOT, according to a trademark application it filed last week. Offering subscribers the ability to communicate with friends while watching TV appears to be one of the features the app could offer, according to the trademark filing. DirecTV said in the filing that it wants to reserve the right to use COPILOT for "computer application software for use on tablets and other personal electronic devices; computer application software for personal electronic devices, namely, software for allowing the display of interactive sequences in the nature of text messages between and among users on their personal electronic devices." DirecTV demonstrated an app called COPILOT at its Investor Day event in December 2010, according to BTIG analyst Rich Greenfield, who reviewed the app in a YouTube video. While DirecTV has launched apps on Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) iPad and other mobile devices, it hasn't yet introduced an app called COPILOT. Officials at DirecTV declined to comment on the trademark filing. If it moves forward with the app, look for DirecTV to make an announcement at its next Investor Day event, which is scheduled for Dec. 12. Related articles:
DirecTV sees 4K TV having 'material impact' by 2016
DirecTV plans 'meaningful' rate hike in 2014
DirecTV renames Nomad product 'GenieGO' Read more about: DirecTV
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5. Bright House scores Florida Polytechnic contract
Bright House Networks announced today that it has secured a deal to provide high speed Internet, telecommunications and television services to Florida Polytechnic University. The University, which will be a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) school, will open in Lakeland, Fla., in fall 2014. The Bright House agreement includes Metro Ethernet, dedicated Internet access, hosted voice and video. "Bright House Networks' understood exactly what we wanted to accomplish, and their solution was customized to our specific goals," Bryan Mehaffey, technology consultant for Florida Polytechnic University, said in a prepared statement. "We are pleased to begin working with Bright House Networks as we prepare to open our facility, and are confident that they have the skill sets and infrastructure to support our technology needs now and into the future." Bright House also recently reached a deal, negotiated through Time Warner Cable(NYSE: TWC), to broadcast Comcast(Nasdaq: CMCSA)-backed kids network Sprout in its markets, including Orlando, Fla., as well as an agreement to launch all-news network Al Jazeera America. For more:
- see the release Related articles:
Sprout hits 60M subs with expanded TWC, Bright House rollout
TWC, Bright House to launch Al Jazeera America
Time Warner Cable, Bright House to restore Ovation
DirecTV, TWC, Bright House launching second QVC channel |
Also Noted
SPOTLIGHT ON... Verizon, AT&T, Google execs top list of most powerful people in wireless and wireline In today's spotlight, FierceWireless profiles the most powerful in the wireless and wireline industries. Verizon (NYSE: VZ) CEO Lowell McAdam tops the list, followed by AT&T (NYSE: T) CEO Randall Stephenson, Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) CEO Larry Page and Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) CEO Tim Cook. Read more Quick news from across the Web. > The Cable Center said it elected six industry executives to its Cable Hall of Fame Class of 2014. News release > Comcast said more than 6,000 families and 24,000 individuals in Massachusetts have signed up for its $9.95 monthly Internet Essentials product. News release > Time Warner Cable is reportedly offering subscribers a promotion in which it is offering Showtime for $3 monthly for one year. Article > Digi International released its XBee Wi-Fi Cloud Kit. News release Telecom News > CenturyLink has added another element to its growing cloud services portfolio by acquiring Tier 3, a Seattle-based public cloud service provider. Neither company revealed the financial terms of the deal. Read more > Verizon continues to battle a raft of copper wiring theft in Pittsburgh's North Side neighborhood. The telco is offering a $50,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and prosecution of who is responsible. Read more Wireless News > Samsung Electronics said it has shipped 800,000 Galaxy Gear smart watches in two months since its debut despite middling reviews of the gadget. Read more > Nokia is not considering a deal between the company's Nokia Solutions and Networks (NSN) unit and rival Alcatel-Lucent after gauging the possibilities for a transaction, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Read more And finally… DirecTV said it will host a webcast for its Dec. 12 Investor Day event, which begins at 8:30 a.m. ET. News release > Is your strategy for small and medium-sized businesses bringing rewards? - Wednesday, December 4th, 11am ET / 8am PT / 4pm GMT Gain insights into where service providers are currently experiencing problems in the sales cycle, with a benchmark for the SMB market by sector, as well as ideas on how to increase efficiency. Register Today! > Unraveling the LTE Roaming Puzzle- Wednesday, December 11th, 2pm ET/ 11am PT This webinar will delve into the challenges of LTE roaming as well as explore potential solutions. Register Today!
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