Time Warner Cable Readies Internet TV Device

Britt Says New Wireless Cable Modem Available ‘Soon’

By Mike Farrell -- Multichannel News, 5/30/2008 2:41:00 PM

Time Warner Cable CEO Glenn Britt said that customers of the cable operator would be able to access Internet video on their television sets “soon,” but provided little additional detail.

“Within a relatively short time—whether it’s a year,18 months or 2 years—it’s going to be very easy to get Internet TV on your big-screen TV,” Britt said at the Sanford Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference in New York on Friday. “We’re actually going to have equipment we make available to subscribers that helps them do that.”

Asked if that equipment would be new or existing set-top boxes, Britt said it would be a new wireless cable modem that would allow customers to network everything in their house.

Britt offered few details on the product, adding that it is “coming soon.”

Computer giant Apple Inc. (through its Apple TV device) and digital video recorder pioneer TiVo already offer products that allow users to transfer Internet video to their television sets.

Britt also had little to say regarding speculation that the cable company could go on an acquisition spree after it completes the split from current parent Time Warner Inc.

“I don’t think this [split] leaves us in a much different place than we’ve been, in regard to other cable companies,” Britt said. “We like [the] cable business. We know how to operate. I think it’s a good business.”

“If there are things we can do going forward to expand, where we think there is a good return, we’ll look at those things,” he added. “I think we’re big enough now… I don’t think we’re compelled to get dramatically bigger.”