Breakdown of Cable Systems

1

• Breakdown of Cable Systems
• Think of it as a distribution system
• Fiber-optic (fiberglass) lines have replaced
  coaxial cable, providing greater band width,
  higher-quality video/sound, more program choices
  
• Fiber also allows digital transmission more
  channels, greater distance w/o amplification

2

• Digital HDTV
• Fiber-optics well-suited to HDTV, but economic
  issues have caused delays
• Merger Mania and Shakeouts
• Horizontal and vertical integration
• Top 10 cable systems p. 56

3

• Storm Clouds for Cable
• Morality in media
• Cable has more freedom from censorship than
  broadcast TV. Why?
• Criticism over language, sexuality, violence
• Electronic Soapbox
• Public access and public- educational-government
  (PEG) channels First Amendment concerns (click
  image)

4

• Cables Chronicle of Regulation
• Tug of war -- broadcasters, cable, government
• Legal Flip-Flops
• Originally considered a common carrier, FCC
  hands-off
• Cables Early Orders
• First Report and Order, 1962 Cable ancillary
  to broadcasting, banned distant channels

5

• Must-carry Rules
• Cable operator must carry all TV stations in
  its market.
• Unless broadcaster demands payment
  (retransmission consent).
• Digital Must-carry
• In September, FCC rules cable systems must carry
  new digital broadcast TV channels.

6

• Alternatives Satellite competition
• Sputnik, 1957 Telstar, 1963.
• Up to 49 transponders per sat, each beaming a
  footprint.
• Satellites Rising
• 18-inch dishes evolved from TVROs
• DirecTV and DISH launched, 1994
• SMATV and MMDS
• Telephone companies
• 96 Telecommunications Act, phone companies
  compete w/ cable