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ViaSat Building Speedier Broadband Bird

ViaSat-2 Satellite To Fly in Mid-2016, Deliver Fiber-to-the-Node-Like Speeds and Broader Reach
By: Jeff Baumgartner May 17 2013 - 8:51am
ViaSat-2 Satellite To Fly in Mid-2016, Deliver Fiber-to-the-Node-Like Speeds and Broader Reach

ViaSat has tapped Boeing to build ViaSat-2, a next-gen, Ka-band satellite that will “double the bandwidth economics” of its current broadband satellite while also increasing its coverage footprint by seven-fold as it targets a spate of markets, including residential and government services and in-flight connectivity.

CEA Ponders Challenge to Charter Waiver

Critics of the Move Have Until the End of the Week to Petition for Review
By: John Eggerton (Broadcasting & Cable) May 16 2013 - 3:11pm
Critics of the Move Have Until the End of the Week to Petition for Review

Opponents of the FCC's conditional waiver to Charter Communications for set-tops with downloadable security, which includes notably the Consumer Electronics Association, have until end of day Monday (May 20) to appeal that decision to the full commission, according to an FCC spokesperson. A spokesperson for CEA said it was "considering all options," but FCC staffers are anticipating that it will appeal the Media Bureau-level decision.

ESPN Aces Exclusive U.S. Open Tennis Rights

Starting in 2015, Sports Progammer Gains Marquee Matches from CBS as Another Property Migrates to Cable from Broadcast
By: Mike Reynolds May 16 2013 - 1:57pm
Starting in 2015, Sports Progammer Gains Marquee Matches from CBS as Another Property Migrates to Cable from Broadcast

After adding exclusive coverage of Wimbledon to its portfolio with last year’s fortnight, ESPN has aced a similar long-term deal for the U.S. Open tennis championships, starting in 2015.

ESPN has reached an agreement with the United States Tennis Association on an 11-year pact that gives its North and South American rights from the initial serve to championship point at the U.S. Open. Under its current deal that expires in 2014, ESPN has been televising about 100 hours annually from the Grand Slam event since 2009. That total will grow to around 130 with the new pact.

Cisco Video Revenues Surge 30%

NDS Acquisition Leads the Way in Q3
By: Jeff Baumgartner May 16 2013 - 11:40am
NDS Acquisition Leads the Way in Q3

Cisco’s $5 billion acquisition of NDS paid dividends in the vendor’s third quarter as service provider video revenues hit $1.29 billion, up 30% year-over-year, and represented a 10.6% slice of Cisco’s revenue pie.

The quarterly surge was “driven largely by NDS,” Cisco chairman and CEO said on Wednesday’s earnings call. He said the integration of NDS, a company that specializes in video software, security, and product integration services, “continues to go well.”

Upfronts 2013: USA Network Greenlights Scripted Comedies

Journalist Cat Greenleaf To Host Network's Daytime Block
By: R. Thomas Umstead May 16 2013 - 9:46am
Journalist Cat Greenleaf To Host Network's Daytime Block

USA Network will venture into the scripted comedy arena with the development of two half-hour sitcoms and one comedy pilot, the network announced Thursday in advance of its upfront presentation this afternoon.

"The major messaging for us is the expanison of the portfolio," USA Network co-president Jeff Wachtel told Multichannel News. "We've talked about entering the reality and comedy space and this is the year that we're really walking the walk."

TiVo Gets Personal with the iPad

‘Watch to Watch Now’ Feeds Link Personal Preferences to a Recommendation Engine
By: Jeff Baumgartner May 16 2013 - 9:40am
‘Watch to Watch Now’ Feeds Link Personal Preferences to a Recommendation Engine

TiVo, the DVR pioneer that helps users record their favorite shows, is about to help them find something good to watch on live TV, as well.

TiVo has added a “What to Watch Now” dashboard to its iPad app that combines recommendations with personal preferences to create a handful of customizable, finely-filtered "feeds" to help viewers find that video needle in the haystack without exploring the vastness of the program guide.

TW Cable Weighs Stake in Hulu: Report

UPDATED: Out-of-Market TV Rights Viewed as a Driver
By: Jeff Baumgartner May 16 2013 - 8:10am
UPDATED: Out-of-Market TV Rights Viewed as a Driver

Time Warner Cable and at least one other MSO is in talks about taking an equity stake in the Hulu video hub, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.

USA, NFL Expand 'Characters Unite' Collaboration

Weekly Anti-Discrimination Vignettes to Feature NFL Stars
By: R. Thomas Umstead May 16 2013 - 7:02am
Weekly Anti-Discrimination Vignettes to Feature NFL Stars

USA Network will once again team with the National Football League for the network’s “Characters Unite” anti-discrimination initiative.

Arris CEO: M&A ‘Distractions’ Took Toll on Motorola Home

Says Q2 Revenues Will Be Light, but Expects Sales to Accelerate in the Second Half of 2013
By: Jeff Baumgartner May 16 2013 - 5:55am
Says Q2 Revenues Will Be Light, but Expects Sales to Accelerate in the Second Half of 2013

The distractions and uncertainties that surrounded the sales process of Motorola Home division will show up in lower than expected sales in the second quarter of 2013, Arris chairman and CEO Bob Stanzione said Wednesday night during a guidance call coming about a month after Arris closed its acquisition of the set-top and broadband gear supplier.

Upfronts 2013: NuvoTV Names Jennifer Lopez Chief Creative Officer

Latino-Targeted Network Announces Six New Shows
By: R. Thomas Umstead May 15 2013 - 11:14pm
Latino-Targeted Network Announces Six New Shows

New York -- Actress/singer Jennifer Lopez will serve as Latino-targeted cable network NuvoTV’s new chief creative officer, the network announced during its upfront presentation here.

In her new role Lopez, who partnered with NuvoTV last September, will be involved in network programming and on-air decisions as well as the development of several original shows for the English-language network, according to NuvoTV CEO Michael Schwimmer.

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