Small Cable Ops: We Need More HDTV: Cable executives say they must compete against more high-def from satellite.
Washington, D.C. (July 31, 2007) -- Small and mid-sized cable operators are making High-Definition TV a priority despite limited system space.
That's according to an article in Multichannel News.
Several large cable operators, such as Comcast and Time Warner, have announced plans to expand their high-def lineups to stay competitive with satcasters DIRECTV and EchoStar. DIRECTV plans to offer 100 high-def channels by year's end.
However, some smaller cable systems do not have the bandwidth to expand their HD menus at this time. Still, at a panel session at this week's conference, The Independent Show, cable executives said they have no choice but to find a way to expand high-def.
"It's a race against satellite to get more HD on," said Steve Weed, CEO of WaveDivision Holidings, according to Multichannel News.
Jeff Ross, president of the Armstrong Group, a small cable system in Ohio, echoed Weed's concerns but said cable can win by offering the "right content."
"Looking at some of of the competitive threats that are present and are coming, I think it's important for us to continue to grow our HD product," Ross said. "We are the choice for HD product today, but I do think (DIRECTV) come out with tonnage ... but we as cable operators have the ability to pick the right content. It's ours to lose.
(Read Original Article - Via tvpredictions.com .)