3D - a promising new video display technology -- undergoes scrutiny from all sides as authors share findings about set-top support and related challenges for building 3D into the cable experience. Discovery points:

• Challenges of 3D support in the set-top box
• Bandwidth and distribution implications for 3D TV

Key players from content creation, cable networks and distribution talk about the impact of new technologies and new conduits to the viewer. Discovery points:

• How new video delivery platforms including VOD and online are reshaping MSO and content provider relationships
• How cable innovations in content delivery are influencing and invigorating Hollywood
• Trends and directions in television programming for screens large and small

Metadata cell encoding and real-time interactive game are among subjects evaluated as authors describe innovative ways to employ cloud-based computing approaches for cable service applications. Discovery points:

• Metadata-driven cell encoding and what it means for cable
• Ubiquitous content discovery in a federated online environment

Produced in partnership with The Cable Center.

Discussion of new research surrounding customer use of online channels for customer care and support – along with the ability to share experiences with others online. Discovery points:

• New research from J.D. Power and Associates on loyalty impacts of e-care and self-service
• Assessment of the impact from customer experience over online and social media platforms
• Identification of challenges and opportunities emerging from the e-care and online conversation era

Produced in partnership with CTAM.

Smitten by cable programming’s choice and quality, viewers have made both niche and mass-market cable networks the darlings of the media world. Television network executives in charge of technology, digital media, distribution, programming and marketing talk about emerging opportunities and shifting strategies sparked by a revolution in delivery and display options. Discovery points:

• Audience receptivity and embrace of cable networks across alternative screens, from online to mobile
• Programming strategies and counter-strategies in a world of hundreds of channels
• Challenges of new-media program presentation to traditional channel ratings and awareness

An up-close look at varying cable industry strategies for introducing and deploying wireless voice, data and video products and platforms, including plans for integration with existing infrastructures and consumer offerings. Discovery points:

• Opportunity comparisons and contrasts between data- and voice-centric services and plans
• Research and metrics on consumer usage and adoption of cable-delivered wireless services
• Ideas and approaches for integrating wireless with incumbent pricing plans and services

With Information Technology (IT) increasingly driving cable’s productivity, efficiency and success in functions ranging from customer care to interactive advertising, Chief Information Officers discuss how their teams are rising to the challenge of an increasingly sophisticated and complex broadband world. Discovery points:

• Understand how bottom-line performance increasingly is being delivered to business units by IT
• Learn the new language of IT: multiplatform architecture support, flexible and dynamic content distribution, data management and custom application development
• Get fresh perspective on how IT supports and influences functions such as customer care, provisioning, marketing, content distribution, interactive advertising and more

Cable industry CTOs describe forthcoming technology initiatives and investment priorities designed to accommodate and advance new possibilities in content and connectivity. Discovery points:

• Plant and network capacity expansion modeling and drivers
• Investment and capital expenditure focus for 2010 and 2011
• What’s hot (and cool): Emerging devices and services that will rock cable’s world

Produced in partnership with ACC.

This session focuses on how companies are integrating social media into their PR and communication efforts, and how cable industry executives can leverage the medium for their own campaigns. Discovery points:

• Assessment of most impactful social networking platforms
• Social networking dos, don’ts and maybes
• Real-world examples and cases for customer interaction
• Research, usage and trend indicators

Drawing on current trends and approaches in application development and data integration, presenters offer creative ideas for adding value based on cross-functional IT contributions. Discovery points:

• Learn how consumer adoption of digital media applications can drive value across the IT ecosystem
• Understand how integration of IT and engineering data can reduce revenue “leakage”
• Hear about ways to improve collaboration and relationships across departments and functions

Top network development executives discuss the breakthrough appeal of cable original series…and why cable is the leading outlet for television creativity. Discovery points:

• Tracing cable’s evolution from new-kid-on-the-block to primary conduit for hit series
• How networks evaluate pitches and determine what has “hit” potential
• What’s next in prime-time drama, comedic and series development for cable networks?

When it comes to online safety for children, there are two points on which everyone agrees. Broadband offers infinite opportunities for children to learn and develop, but kids need help to stay safe online. Listen in as state attorneys general discuss new approaches for ensuring safe and enriching online experiences. Discovery points:

• Understand the critical role state AGs play in enforcing online protection laws
• Learn about new developments in ensuring safe online environments for kids
• Identify new sources of information for keeping kids safe online

Authors share fresh insights around potential improvements in signal delivery and network management, including emerging alternatives in optical networking and new HFC architectural considerations. Discovery points:

• New HFC network optimization paradigm for the digital era
• Video quality impairments 101 for MSOs

A technology and business conversation about the rapid evolution of anytime, anywhere access to content, involving key figures in the cable/broadband, internet and the entertainment communities. Discovery points:

• Business modeling for online content delivery, from advertising support to subscriptions
• Trends and predictions for migration of video to alternative screens and platforms
• Capabilities of emerging wideband networks and implications for content consumption

Experts in high-capacity networking share ideas and approaches for achieving large-scale improvement in bi-directional data transfer rates within wired and wireless cable networks. Discovery points:

• WiMAX links and OFDM overlay for HFC networks: mobility and higher capacity
• Taking the DOCSIS upstream to a gigabit per second

A forward-looking examination of early-stage ideas and technologies associated with cable broadband platforms and designed to enhance customer experiences. Discovery points:

• Learn about new technologies with potential cable industry application
• Understand the key issues and needs start-up companies are addressing
• Hear descriptions and see demonstrations of solutions for home networking, cloud computing, new input devices and more

Presenters offer ideas and approaches for driving business profitability and revenue growth by applying innovative data analytics initiatives. Discovery points:

• Recognize opportunities flowing from improved subscriber data management
• Make the connection between subscriber segmentation data and emerging advanced advertising businesses
• Improve operations and marketing efficiencies through new interpretation of customer data

Advertising agency executives examine the increasingly vital interplay between creative and media planning disciplines, driven by a wholesale change in how targeted TV advertising works. Discovery points:

• Understanding platforms, terminology and possibilities spawned by new cable advertising presentation technologies
• Ideas and strategies for integrating advanced advertising elements into traditional TV campaigns
• Examples and use cases depicting real-world deployments of advanced advertising platforms

The FCC faces a wide-range of issues this year that will affect and influence cable television operators, programmers and equipment suppliers. Find out how the debates are shaping up as Legal Advisors to the Commissioners share updates and observations. Discovery points:

• Hear the views of the 8th Floor regarding how the competitive landscape impacts the need for regulation
• Learn about continuity and change in the Commission’s regulatory agenda and the impact on the cable business

From online HD video streaming to gigabit coaxial access network deployment, authors detail an emerging movement toward network architectures. Discovery points:

• Empowering online HD streaming
• Next-generation access architectures and gigabit coaxial access networks

Produced in partnership with CTAM.

Top executives from cable’s business services community on the products, people and processes they’ve put in place to compete for a greater share of the multi-billion dollar commercial telecom market. Discovery points:

• Expanding the market: from SMBs to enterprise customers
• Assessing the rising role of Ethernet connectivity in the business marketplace
• Product and service evolution and innovation, focusing on hosted services
• Research findings on business decision-making and telecom selection processes

The trend toward cloud-based computing and access to shared network resources is driving new cost savings, operational efficiencies and IT delivery models across multiple industry sectors. Here, presenters explain advantages and applications flowing from the IT cloud to cable providers. Discovery points:

• Applying cloud solutions to cable industry sales and service initiatives
• Best practices for running a cloud computing infrastructure
• Maximizing web orders: usability, integration and up-selling
• In the home: architecture of a whole home device management system

The FCC is pursuing an active agenda for 2010, including dozens of proceedings to implement recommendations of the National Broadband Plan. Find out how the Chiefs of key Bureaus and Offices view their roles, and learn what’s in store for the cable industry. Discovery points:

• Learn from the agency experts about the FCC’s vision and priorities for the coming year
• Hear about new proposals for the treatment of cable systems and set-top boxes
• Gain insight into the latest FCC initiatives addressing broadband deployment and adoption

Service providers from outside the U.S. share strategies, results and metrics from advanced-service deployments that could foreshadow or influence domestic rollouts. Discovery points:

• Insight into services and innovations with potential for U.S. introduction
• Research and expression of consumer adoption, usage and reaction to new products/services
• Reaction and assessment by industry experts, offering immediate analysis and evaluation

From all-AVC networks to extensible QoS, authors present detailed examinations of software innovations that are capable of producing profound efficiencies and improvements in cable service delivery.

• Moving to all-IP, all-AVC HFC access
• 100 million programs in three characters: innovations in search for massive dataspaces

This session focuses on a general update of EBIF/ITV, the national rollout of true ITV national platform by MSOs and opportunities it creates for a new programming and advertising ecosystem. Discovery points:

• How EBIF works, and what types of programming enhancements, advertising placements and possibilities it supports
• Explanation of EBIF presence and scope across the U.S. cable industry
• Programmer views and examples of EBIF-based applications
• Advertiser experiences and examples of EBIF-powered campaigns

Produced in partnership with CTAM.

Actionable tips, case studies and “what works” examples surrounding successful implementations of voice, data and video solutions for providers within one of cable’s most promising commercial market segments. Discovery points:

• Telecom needs of health-care industry participants
• Case study presentation on new approaches to medical industry information networks
• Customer-level perspective on cable’s role and potential in health-care communications

Financial analysts and industry executives evaluate cable’s financial performance and handicap potential of new initiatives and services. Discovery points:

• Where are the next significant revenue growth and value-creation areas for cable distributors?
• What emerging risk factors can be identified, and how will cable contend with them?
• Projections for industry revenues, cash-flow generation and capital investments

From franchise authorization to telecom regulation, state utility commissioners explore policy approaches involving the implementation of communications policy in a digital era. Discovery points:

• State implementation of National Broadband Plan provisions and intents
• Ideas for transitioning from a circuit-switched network to an IP network
• Repurposing the universal service fund to support broadband, and deploying smart grid technologies

Presentations of real-world deployment lessons and new approaches - including cloud-based solutions and XML template definitions - for coaxing enhanced performance from the interactive software platform.

Thought leaders from cable, social networks and content sectors describe visions for a new media experience building on conversation, community and contribution. Discovery points:

• Research and findings surrounding integration of social media and traditional television
• Implications of changing viewing patterns including multi-tasking and live chat
• Creative ideas for incorporation of interaction and conversation elements with traditional content

Senior technologists and executives from television networks and consumer electronics leaders describe and evaluate new dimensions in content creation and delivery spawned by a variety of emerging video technologies, from Internet streaming to social networking to 3D display. Discovery points:

• Consumer appeal and adoption rates for new video technologies
• Assessing consumer media devices and their place in an expanding video delivery marketplace
• Evaluating Internet-connected TVs, Blu-ray players and other living room platforms for television consumption

Produced in partnership with SCTE.

Representatives from leading cable operating companies in a roundtable-style discussion of real-world ideas and tactics for dealing with rising energy prices and evaluating alternative energy sources. Discovery points:

• Hear how cable providers are reducing energy demand and adopting alternative energy sources
• Understand financial impacts of energy consumption
• Learn about approaches and practices that can save money

Produced in partnership with Cable in the Classroom.

Against a backdrop of widely available broadband service and prolific digital communications tools, a panel of experts from industry, academia and the non-profit world addresses the importance of raising children as “digital citizens.” Discovery points:

• Media literacy and digital literacy as resources in the development of digital citizens and in broadband adoption projects
• Ethics of digital citizenship
• Cable’s role in helping families manage media content from multiple sources
• Public policy benefits in supporting digital citizenship education

Against a backdrop of a challenging retail economy, experts from the cable and retail industries examine ways to strengthen cable-retailer partnerships to achieve positive impact for both sectors. Discovery points:

• Understanding of current and emerging retail issues and opportunities
• Impact of the Internet, social media and mobility on the brick-and-mortar retail experience
• The ideal cable-retail relationship…and what it takes to create it

Media measurement experts and advertising industry executives explain the need for fresh approaches to audience measurement that transcend dated demographic models, and describe how they’re coming to form. Discovery points:

• New technologies and platforms for measurement of TV viewing
• Implications for advertisers, TV networks and advertising sales approaches
• Scientific expression of viewer engagement and what it means for advertising

Produced in partnership with CAB.

Tips, ideas and current viewpoints on how local cable advertising can thrive within a shifting mix of advertising options. Discovery points:

• Explanations of advertising-supported platforms, from Internet and mobile to VOD and iTV applications…and more
• Competitive advantages and differentiators for cable advertising
• Positioning and selling your medium for maximum advertiser appeal

Produced in partnership with SCTE.

Best practices and actionable information to help engineering pros understand and maintain DOCSIS 3.0 networks. Discovery points:

• DOCSIS 3.0 technology overview and explanation
• Troubleshooting and impairment assessment tips and techniques
• Key DOCSIS 3.0 attributes and service-enablement approaches

Explanation and assessment of various platforms and technologies used to deliver viewer-controlled, time-independent television to includes set-top DVRs, network DVRs/RS-DVRs, video on demand, and Internet video. Presenter is author of the recent Focal Press book, Digital Video Recorders: Changing TV and Advertising Forever. Discovery point:

• Pros, cons, assessments, and evaluations of each platform, offering a tutorial for the New Age of Television.

For newcomers and veterans alike, a big picture view of cable’s infrastructure, product mix, challenges for today and expectations for tomorrow. Discovery points:

• Explanation of fundamental technology underpinning a variety of products/services
• Industry history, development and key inflection points
• Projections and assessment of future growth opportunities

Cable industry policy representatives offer updates and perspectives around the highly competitive broadband landscape and the issues affecting the industry, ranging from network neutrality to retransmission consent. Discovery points:

• Understand implications of the broadband stimulus program
• Learn how the National Broadband Plan may influence demand and public perceptions around high-speed Internet services and availability
• Gain critical insight into current regulatory thinking and directions around set-top box "gateways," cable-broadcast business relationships and more