Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) is expected to announce details about its new live TV and on-demand video play for the Xbox 360 as early as Wednesday (Oct. 5), according to AllThingsD. Comcast Corp. (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) and Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) are said to be among the first service providers to support the console's video streaming platform, which won't be much of a cord-cutting tool because it will require users to be authenticated pay-TV subs. (See Microsoft's Pursuit of 'Input 1' and Microsoft Sees Xmas Debut for Xbox TV .)
The National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) and the American Cable Association (ACA) have pitched proposed changes to a telco-led America's Broadband Connectivity (ABC) plan for Universal Service Fund reform. They claim their proposal is "more competitively neutral" than ABC. (See Why USF Reform Matters .)
Comcast's recent purchase of a Chicago-based CLEC and New Global Telecom has helped the MSO form its strategy to go up-market to serve mid-sized businesses, but don't expect the company's businesses services unit to go on any more M&A binges soon. Comcast Business Services President Bill Stemper tells SNL Kagan that the MSO will instead look to increase market share and revenues organically. "There aren't necessarily that many [buying opportunities] out there that look very appealing, but we keep our eyes open," he said. (See Comcast Snares a CLEC and Comcast to Acquire New Global Telecom .)
Midcontinent Communications has closed a deal to acquire 113 Minnesota and Wisconsin franchises from US Cable that pass 86,000 homes and serve about 33,000 customers.
Comcast has extended MyTV Choice, a programming package with à la carte aspirations, in Charleston, S.C., following earlier debuts in parts of Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont, with Seattle on deck. MyTV Choice features a "Get Started Plus" package with about 50 channels for $24.95. (See A la Carte Coming to Cable's Menu? )
Avail-TVN has scored deals to manage video-on-demand (VoD) services in Chile for Liberty Global Inc. (Nasdaq: LBTY)'s VTR, which has 1.1 million subs, and Bazuca, an over-the-top video service with 360,000 subs. Avail-TVN will handle VoD encoding, asset and metadata management and content acquisition and licensing for both.
The National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) and the American Cable Association (ACA) have pitched proposed changes to a telco-led America's Broadband Connectivity (ABC) plan for Universal Service Fund reform. They claim their proposal is "more competitively neutral" than ABC. (See Why USF Reform Matters .)
Comcast's recent purchase of a Chicago-based CLEC and New Global Telecom has helped the MSO form its strategy to go up-market to serve mid-sized businesses, but don't expect the company's businesses services unit to go on any more M&A binges soon. Comcast Business Services President Bill Stemper tells SNL Kagan that the MSO will instead look to increase market share and revenues organically. "There aren't necessarily that many [buying opportunities] out there that look very appealing, but we keep our eyes open," he said. (See Comcast Snares a CLEC and Comcast to Acquire New Global Telecom .)
Midcontinent Communications has closed a deal to acquire 113 Minnesota and Wisconsin franchises from US Cable that pass 86,000 homes and serve about 33,000 customers.
Comcast has extended MyTV Choice, a programming package with à la carte aspirations, in Charleston, S.C., following earlier debuts in parts of Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont, with Seattle on deck. MyTV Choice features a "Get Started Plus" package with about 50 channels for $24.95. (See A la Carte Coming to Cable's Menu? )
Avail-TVN has scored deals to manage video-on-demand (VoD) services in Chile for Liberty Global Inc. (Nasdaq: LBTY)'s VTR, which has 1.1 million subs, and Bazuca, an over-the-top video service with 360,000 subs. Avail-TVN will handle VoD encoding, asset and metadata management and content acquisition and licensing for both.
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