The Cable Channel

Bob Zitter, Chief Technology Officer for HBO, spoke with me (with Times Square in the background, for real!) about how the premium network views the market for mobile video.This segment aired at the 2007 Consumer Electronics Show.

Video courtesy The Cable Channel.

These two parts were filmed in 2006 at the SCTE Expo, and aired at the CTAM Summit. (Back in the days when the Expo was always in June, and CTAM in July.) In this segment, I check in with three QoS pros — Susie Riley, of Camient, Doug Jones, then with Big Band, and Bob Cruickshank, then with C-COR (now Arris) — to make the acronym more approachable for non-engineers.

Quote of the segment: “Quality of service is an amazing tool for marketers. Instead of taking 2 hours to download a movie, you can do it in 20 minutes. It’s a dream.”

Video courtesy The Cable Channel.

These two parts were filmed in 2006 at the SCTE Expo, and aired at the CTAM Summit. (Back in the days when the Expo was always in June, and CTAM in July.) I ask three QoS-savvy individuals – Susie Riley of Camiant, Doug Jones of Big Band Networks, and Bob Cruikshank of C-Cor – to not only explain the attributes and importance of QoS, but also why it matters to cable marketers. Short version: The ability to run unflawed applications at higher speeds helps assure a quality consumer experience, and will take the broadband industry by storm.

Video courtesy The Cable Channel.

At the 2006 National Show, I interviewed CableLabs executives Mike Schwartz and Don Dulchinos about that year’s CableNet exhibit highlights. Hot tickets: OCAP-enabled boxes, OCAP apps (not just the guide, new stuff too!); Downloadable conditional access (remember DCAS?); ETV & ITV.

Video courtesy The Cable Channel.

At the 2006 National Show, I interviewed CableLabs’ Ed Miller, to discuss what’s happening in CableNET exhibit area relative to the IP (Internet Protocol) side of the house. Hot tickets: PacketCable 2.0, and new ways to do more stuff with your phone. Big then: Caller ID on TV, to see an incoming call, then transfer it from the cell to the land line (or vice versa).

Video courtesy The Cable Channel.

Prior to the 2005 Consumer Electronics Show, I visited CableLabs to discuss the intersections between CE devices and cable services. In this second segment, VP of Advanced Platforms and Services Don Dulchinos discusses the need to work with more manufacturers; Jenifer Cistola talks about “Go2Broadband.”

Video courtesy The Cable Channel.

At the 2001 SCTE Cable-Tec Expo, I wandered the show floor in search of the new and interesting. In this segment, Ken Kraft, Director of Business Development for Tellabs Broadband, explains the company’s voice-over IP migration strategy and shares some of the changes he’s seen in telephony over the last eight years.

Video courtesy The Cable Channel.

Before leaving the ’01 SCTE Expo, I caught up with Jim Farmer, of Wave7 Optics, to discuss why fiber to the home is viable now. He explains the growing demand for bandwidth, why fiber-deep isn’t as tough on the wallet as you’d think, and the technical processes behind their product. Jim is one of my all-time favorite engineers.

Video courtesy The Cable Channel.

In the fourth and final segment of this Western Show 2000 panel, we delve into that big gap between press releases and actual consumer deployments. What needs to happen in 2001 to change that? Stump: Broadband marketing and moving services faster. Baumie: VOD as an application cable’s competitors can’t easily emulate; HDTVs are a CableNET feature but they’re not in consumer homes.

Filmed by Steve Nelson for The Cable Channel.

In advance of the 2000 Western Show, I interviewed CableLabs Senior VP of Communication Mike Schwartz, and tech editors Jeff Baumgartner and Matt Stump, to discuss the goings on at CableNet 2000. Schwartz reminisces back to the first CableNet; Stump’s looking for TV applications, photo related services, and streaming; Baumie’s looking for in home networking technology.

Video courtesy The Cable Channel.