Many cable execs see mobility as the new plastics, judging by the crystal ball responses we’ve received. "2006 will be the year of portable video," Starz pres/CEO Robert Clasen says. "New devices and services, protected by strong digital rights management systems, will allow consumers to watch whatever, whenever and wherever they want." Abbe Raven of A&E Nets adds technology will "provide our consumers with greater choice, flexibility and control." ESPN’s Sean Bratches notes ’06 "will be a truly great year to be a consumer," as "technology delivers content…quicker than [consumers] can upgrade to the newest iPOD." ABC Family chief Paul Lee prognosticates "in a multiplatform explosion Americans will be watching ‘House’ at work, ‘The Office’ in the car, and ‘Cars’ at home." Taking small mobile devices to an absurd conclusion, Disney-ABC’s Albert Cheng predicts, "Google will innovate to help you find your misplaced keys, glasses, and pens." Not everyone’s convinced. "While new technologies this year opened the public’s mind to pay-per- download options, especially for portable devices, I expect that branch of the industry to grow only modestly," Turner Entertainment pres Mark Lazarus said. [Editor’s Note: More predictions tomorrow. Please visit https://www.cablefax.com for longer versions of these predictions.]

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