Most of the RealScreen Summit taking place in DC this week focuses on getting content, particularly non-scripted, produced and picked up by networks. But when Eileen O’Neill, Discovery Comm group pres for Discovery and TLC nets, was asked about the challenges facing the cable industry on a macro scale, her concern was a familiar one. “A business model that was fairly straight forward a couple years ago is under a lot of pressure,” she said during a 1-hour, on-stage interview, stressing that cable needs revenue from both advertisers and distributors. Her thoughts on a la carte, selling digital and scripted shows on the net.

More top stories in today’s CableFAX Daily:
 
The Dodgers RSN is a year away from launch, but already the hand-wringing is starting over the price. Some MVPDs have begun charging an RSN fee, while another MSO calls teams striking out on their own with an RSN a “major problem.”
 
Rather than continuing to treat the Connect America Fund “as if it were the Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (LEC) Fund,” the FCC should focus on the actual goal of universal service support: providing service to consumers, NCTA said in comments in response to the FCC’s USF FNPRM.
 
Cupcakes have been done. So has pawn. Right now, we seem to be in the redneck/Amish phase. What’s next? Maybe it’s time to take reality programming in the direction of wealth. Reality producers talk what’s next.

The Daily

Subscribe
Friday–November 21

Turning 20: TAC Reaches Milestone, Despite Challenging Landscape

In an era when even the well-funded cable networks are fighting a grueling battle to maintain relevance in the modern media landscape, The Africa Channel recently celebrated 20 years of illuminating what Africa means.

Read the Full Issue
The Skinny is delivered on Tuesday and focuses on the cable profession. You'll stay in the know on the headlines, topics and special issues you value most. Sign Up

Calendar

Dec 4
Most Powerful Women Awards Cablefax Most Powerful Women | Join Us on December 4 at Current, NYC
Full Calendar

Jobs

Seeking an INDUSTRY JOB or hiring for one?
VIEW JOBS

In conjunction with our sister brand, Cynopsis, we are offering hiring managers a deep pool of media-savvy, skilled candidates at a range of experience levels and sectors. The result will be an even more robust industry job board, to help both employers and job seekers.

Contact us at marketing@cynopsis.com, for more information about posting a job on the website and our Jobs newsletter, sent twice weekly to 85,000 media professionals.