Archive for June, 2011

Dr. Jill Biden, wife of the Vice President, spoke during the Cable Show general session about Joining Forces, a program she and Michelle Obama created to recognize, honor, and support military families.

Amid all that has been written about Brian Roberts buttoned-down and tight-as-a-drum demo of Comcast’s new Next Generation Xfinity TV, I offer these few additional observations.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Oprah Winfrey’s interview with Paula Zahn; shame on me for that. I should have known Oprah was not going to talk about reach and penetration.  She wasn’t going to talk about launch dollars or affiliate fees.  She wasn’t even going to talk about advertising revenue or cable households.

Even though I was already looking forward to the Day Two General Session, featuring the one-on-one conversation between Michael Powell and FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, I was surprised at how much I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Policy talk turned to consumer privacy at the Cable Show as representatives of the FCC, White House, think tanks and Canoe Ventures came together to discuss the need for privacy protection for consumers.

It’s always befuddled me a little how the worlds of cable ad sales and cable operations seem to sometimes run on parallel tracks.  I know I’ve had personal conversations with cable ad sales people here in Chicago, a Comcast town, in which I use the name “Brian Roberts,” only to find it draws some blank stares.

Backstage, moments before the start of the Thursday General Session on June 16. To catch the General Session, visit www.thecableshow.com/VOD.

The Cable Show’s third day continues.  Following the Paula Zahn interview with Oprah Winfrey, America’s second lady, Jill Biden, addressed the general session. Biden, a blue star mother, has a family member serving in the military.  She has made the mobilization of support for military families a priority during her tenure as America’s number-two wife.

Rumors have been swirling at The Cable Show about Brian Roberts’ keynote and the new initiative Comcast would be rolling out.  Roberts had several announcements to make and didn’t disappoint.

As the final day of the Cable Show gets underway, special guest Oprah Winfrey joined Paula Zahn for a discussion of what it is to be a brand and starting her own television network – the Oprah Winfrey Network.

Anyone who has watched any CEO-centric General Session over the years knows that as men (and occasionally women) running companies that are, more often than not, publicly traded , there’s not a whole lot of time spent taking the gloves off and — if you’ll excuse the mixed metaphor — lobbing hand-grenades.

In welcoming Cable Show attendees to his incredible city, new Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel called upon the industry to bridge the digital divide between rich and poor.  After detailing the positive impact the industry continues to have on his state’s economy, Hizzoner talked about the importance of bringing broadband to all Chicagoans.

As we bring day two of the Cable Show to a close, the Spring Technical Forum brings cable CTOs together to discuss industry innovation. Craig Moffett of Sanford Bernstein brings Michael Lajoie, Chuck Pagano, Tony Werner, and Bob Zitter together to discuss where cable goes next.

Following on the Public Policy lunch discussion between the FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn and and FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz, the  bureau chiefs joined NCTA’s Rick Chessen for a discussion of the telecom sector.

FTC Commissioner Jon Leibowitz and FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn sat down at the Public Policy lunch with NCTA’s James Assey to discuss the regulatory challenges facing cable and the challenge of getting America connected.