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Co-hosted by The Cable Center and Silicon Flatirons Telecommunications Program
October 10, 2006, 3:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Over the next 5-10 years, the cable industry must embrace what may well be its most challenging set of opportunities. The increasing adoption of digital technologies, and the powerful forces unleashed by the Internet, will undoubtedly reshape the industry. This transformation promises new product opportunities, including Digital Video Recorders (DVRs), new functionalities such as a “start over” service (enabling consumers to restart programs), and services that integrate wireless devices into a digital home experience (e.g., programming a DVR from afar).
The innovations now being developed for the cable platform, particularly those using broadband as a facilitator of consumer product offerings, are often pioneered by upstart firms. The digital video recorder (e.g., a Tivo), the remote viewing device (e.g., a Slingbox), and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) all emerged from the efforts of entrepreneurs acting outside of the established firms. Consequently, for established firms, remaining at the cutting edge of innovation, and being open to adopting the innovations of outside firms, will increasingly present business strategy challenges.
The opportunity to provide content in new forms, and allow users a greater degree of control over their viewing experience, is a byproduct of the digital age. At the same time, concerns about digital piracy threaten to kill the golden goose. How firms embrace digital technology and provide valuable enhancements to their existing content, in addition to how they protect against piracy, remain a fundamental questions for network operators and program developers.
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