ACA Notebook

Remember the old days when ACA members’ biggest competition was the satellite guys? Things certainly have changed. Sure, the dishheads still require maneuvering, but "the other competitor, probably the one I am most actively trying to strategize to compete with, is what’s available on the Internet, DVD packages, iPods," Sunflower Broadband gm Patrick Knorr told the ACA Summit in DC Tues. "There is a lot of competition for the entertainment dollar, especially in a college town that can redirect that dollar to one of these alternatives." One technology his company wants to pursue is instant messaging on set-top boxes. That’s "something we consider critical," he said. While the telcos aren’t causing much competition for many of the small ops at this week’s Summit, it’s a different story for Massillon Cable. AT&T is gearing up to launch in the operator’s footprint, where the telco serves about 60% of its overall sub base, said pres Robert Gessner, noting that Massillon has responded by trying to offer highly competitive packages. — Remember when we told you that Outdoor Channel is slashing its subscriber fees in an effort to gain more carriage (Cfax, 4/2). Well, Outdoor COO, evp and gen counsel Tom Hornish provided a little bit more info on just how big a reduction the programmer is considering. "More than half, depending on penetration," Hornish told attendees during a morning panel.