Honoring The Best In Cable's Communications Excellence

The Beacon Awards recog
nize the best of the best in cable communications
and public affairs. The
Association of Cable Communicators (ACC)
annually sponsors the Beacon Awards program
as part of its mission to develop and
promote cable communications excellence
through professional development to help
achieve industry and corporate goals.

The winning entries for the 2011 Beacon
Award were submitted by cable operators,
programming networks, cable associations
and cable technology providers for communications
projects in categories such as community
relations, social media and public
service announcements.

The entries submitted this year demonstrate
the hard work, innovation and
dedication of cable public affairs and communication
professionals across the nation.

It is through cable communication campaigns
and the volunteer efforts of cable
employees that many local charities and nonprofit organizations nationwide receive the
funds, materials and services they require to
further their missions and help those in need.
Cable companies are working to keep children
safe online, honor veterans and diversity,
and further education goals in history,
as well as in science, technology, engineering
and math (STEM). In local communities,
cable employees have tutored children, renovated
schools and fed the hungry.

ACC is proud to join with sponsor Multichannel
News to congratulate the 36 winners
and honorees of the 2011 Beacon Awards.

2011 GOLDEN BEACON AWARD WINNER

Annually, ACC presents the Golden Beacon
Award, the association’s highest honor,
to a communications and public affairs initiative
that has made an impact within the
cable industry while enhancing cable’s image
nationwide. The association is pleased to
announce MTV’s “A Thin Line” is this year’s
Golden Beacon Award winner.

A joint study sponsored by MTV and the
Associated Press found that 56% of 14- to
24-year-olds have been the victims of digital
abuse. Victims of digital abuse are three
times more likely to consider dropping out of
school, and those who have sent “sexts” are
four times more likely to have contemplated
suicide than those who haven’t.

COALITION OF CARE

To respond to this emerging reality, MTV
launched “A Thin Line,” a multi-year campaign
empowering America’s youth to draw
their own line between digital use and digital
abuse (bullying, dating abuse and discrimination
in the digital age). MTV and a
coalition of experts from Facebook, Futures
Without Violence, WiredSafety, the Anti-
Defamation League, Liz Claiborne Inc. and
many other top organizations are leading an
orchestrated response to digital abuse.

MTV is using all of its platforms and resources
to help young people safely navigate
the evolving digital landscape. The campaign
comes to life on-air through thoughtprovoking
PSAs that address a range of
digital behaviors and potential consequences.
PSAs premiering in 2011 were announced
by President Obama at the first-ever White
House Conference on Bullying Prevention.
These three spots, Cafeteria, Fliers and Library,
connect victims of digital abuse to resources,
encourage bystanders to support
their friends and drive home the serious impact
digital words can have in real life.

Other on-air content includes evocative
news specials like Sexting in America: When
Privates Go Public, which examined how sexting
is changing the dynamics of youth relationships;
an episode of If You Really Knew
Me; and the most-watched episode of the
2010 True Life season, True Life: I Have Digital
Drama, which illustrated how constant
connectedness is creating new trust and harassment
issues for 21st-century couples.

The campaign gives young people oneclick
access to digital abuse information
and support systems online or on their cell
phones. The website www.athinline.org
houses facts, interactive media and a running
conversation on digital abuse, as well
as connections to domestic violence, suicide
and cyberbullying resources. The site is the
No. 1 referrer of online chats to the National
Dating Abuse Helpline.

In October 2010 MTV launched “Draw Your
Line,” a crowdsourced online visualization
tool that celebrates the ways young people
are taking action to stop the spread of digital
abuse. MTV has rewarded participants
with tickets to the MTV Video Music Awards,
voicemail recordings by Justin Bieber and local
rewards through the website DailyFeats.
com. The tool is a companion piece to “Over
the Line?” (www.overtheline.org), an app that
asks users to define the line between innocent
and inappropriate digital behavior.

INSPIRING ACTION

The campaign’s on-air specials have
reached more than 30 million viewers, been
streamed online 800,000 times and helped
stoke a national conversation.

Campaign PSAs have aired more than
1,000 times on MTV, which reaches 100 million
U.S. households. “Over the Line?” users
have submitted almost 9,000 stories and
registered 325,000 ratings, and some 30,000
people have posted their positive actions to
“Draw Your Line.” In total, the campaign
has already inspired more than 1 million
young people to take action and help stop
the spread of digital abuse.

2011 Beacon Award Winners
Best of the Best Small System
Communications Efforts: Cable System 1
Suddenlink Connecting to Those
in Need

Suddenlink Communications
Alexandria, La.
Cause Marketing: Cable System 3
Time Warner Cable Mobile Internet
4G Launch Events

Time Warner Cable
Columbus, Ohio
Cause Marketing: Cable Network 2
The Royal Pains Summer Shirt Exchange

USA Networks
New York
Community Relations: Cable System 1
Suddenlink Connecting to Those in Need

Suddenlink Communications
Alexandria, La.
Community Relations: Cable System 3
Time Warner Cable: News 14 Carolina Community Recovery Drive

Time Warner Cable
Morrisville, N.C.
Community Relations: MSO
Time Warner Cable's Connect a Million Minds

Time Warner Cable
New York
Community Relations: Cable Network2
Characters Unite National Storytelling Tour

USA Networks
New York
Education: Cable System 3
Bridging the Gap in the Digital Divide

Cox Louisiana
Baton Rouge, La.
Education: MSO
Time Warner Cable's Connect a Million Minds

Time Warner Cable
New York
Education: Cable Network 2
Civil War 150th Anniversary Commemoration

History
New York
Events and Observances: Cable System 1
DVDs for Troops

Charter Communications Inc.
Newtown, Conn.
Events and Observances: Cable System 2
True Blood Greensboro: A Fangtastic Event

Time Warner Cable
Greensboro, N.C.
Events and Observances: Cable System 3
Operation GOTH! Math, Science and the Future of Our Nation

Time Warner Cable
West Region
Events and Observances: MSO
Math, Science and the Future of Our Nation: A Global Online Town Hall

Time Warner Cable
New York
Events and Observances: Cable Network 1
Big Ten Icons

Big Ten Network
Chicago
Events and Observances: Cable Network 2
Characters Unite Month

USA Networks
New York
Government Relations: Cable System 3
Making Connection to California Legislature

Time Warner Cable
El Segundo, Calif.
Government Relations: Cable Network 2
America: The Story of Us

History
New York
Government Relations: Other
Bridging the Gulf: Perception Meets Reality

Florida Cable Telecommunications Association
Tallahassee, Fla.
Integrated Communications: Cable System 3
Time Warner Cable Colors Wisconsin Green & Gold

Time Warner Cable, Wisconsin Division
Milwaukee
Integrated Communications: Cable Network 2
GYT: Get Yourself Tested

MTV
New York
Internal Communications: Cable System 3
Conan the Cable Installer

Time Warner Cable
El Segundo, Calif.
Media Relations: Programming Publicity: Cable System 3
Coolest Creations Viewer's Choice Contest

Time Warner Cable
Columbus, Ohio
Media Relations: Programming Publicity: Cable Network 2
ESPN 2010 FIFA World Cup Publicity

ESPN Inc.
Bristol, Conn.
Media Relations: Technology/Product: Cable System 3
Live Free

Cox Louisiana
Baton Rouge, La.
Media Relations: Technology/Product: Cable Network 2
ESPN 3D Media Campaign

ESPN Inc.
Bristol, Conn.
Multicultural Public Relations: MSO
Mi Cultura Campaign

Time Warner Cable
New York
Programming: Cable Network 1
Big Ten Icons

Big Ten Network
Chicago
Programming: Cable Network 2
A Characters Unite Special: Tom Brokaw Presents Bridging the Divide
 
USA Networks
New York
Public Service Announcement: Cable Network 2
A Thin Line

MTV
New York
Reputation/Brand Management: Cable System 3
Time Warner Cable MVP Campaign
 
Time Warner Cable
Midwest Region
Social Media Communications: Cable System 3
Time Warner Cable: Step Thru the Screen Exhibit at NHL Fan Fair

Time Warner Cable
Morrisville, N.C.
Social Media Communications: MSO
Mi Cultura Campaign

Time Warner Cable
New York
Social Media Communications: Cable Network 2
A Thin Line

MTV
New York
Websites: Cable System 3
In the Community
 

Time Warner Cable
Cincinnati, Ohio
Websites: MSO
Time Warner Cable's CAMM Worldwide
Microsite

Time Warner Cable
New York