'08 Forecast: Cable Execs Offer Up Their Predictions

It’s that time again when we ask cable execs to weigh in with their predictions for the coming year. This year’s prophecies range from the serious, semi-serious to the hilarious. Here’s a sampling of what may be on cable’s horizon in ’08: Time Warner Cable pres/CEO Glenn Britt: “In 2008, customers are going to demand what they want, when they want it, in HD.” Charter evp, Chief Marketing Officer Bob Quigley: “Since cable marketers may be the closest the industry’s got to psychics, here’s my prediction: Small business owners will discover they have a better high-speed Internet and phone alternative than telecom providers; one that can save them a bundle. I see cable providers gaining significant market share. I see a cable customer epiphany regarding HD VOD kicking in during the New Year.” Sanford Bernstein’s Craig Moffet: “That ticking sound you hear is a clock… and it’s counting down to the DTV transition in February 2009. By the end of 2008, that’s all anyone in this industry will be talking about.” CTAM pres/CEO Char Beales: “Media will continue to fragment, competition will continue to escalate, consumers will continue to demand more—and marketers will continue to lose sleep over all the above.* Boston will experience unseasonably warm and sunny weather during the CTAM Summit in November.” TV One pres/CEO Johnathan Rodgers: “Kyle McSlarrow becomes the chairman of the FCC and Kevin Martin goes to work for Comcast in Mobile, AL! * The NFL Network aligns itself with Lifetime to increase distribution! * Discovery goes public for a day before John Malone takes it private again! * The new all- inclusive Cable Show (NCTANAMICWICTCTAMSCTE) lasts from Jan 10 to Nov 15! * In order to show how green it is, the cable industry decides to stop wasting paper. No more bills. Cable is free!” Vyyo evp, corporate strategy & IR Walt Ungerer: “2008 will be a ‘breakout year’ for business services.” TV Guide Network pres Ryan O’Hara: “American Idol will be bigger than ever. * Comcast invests more into content while they contest the FCC 30 percent distribution footprint cap in court. * Online video continues to rapidly improve and change the game. * Henry Schleiff gets several MSO deals done in dramatic fashion.” ICTV evp/COO Ed Forman: “Cable will begin to win back television viewers who’ve been seduced by the choice and control of broadband video.” HDNet’s Mark Cuban: “This should be a banner year for cable networks. With the writers strike having a huge impact on the broadcast networks, cable should be able to lever flexibility and maneuverability to continue to take audience early in the year.”