Cox Rolls Out a Low-Cost Package
Posted by Steve Fravel on Sunday, January 29, 2012 · 
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As American consumers find themselves with less discretionary income and more video choices, large cable operators are seeking new ways to attract and retain subscribers. Last year, Time Warner Cable rolled out a $29.99 TV Essentials plan and Comcast soon followed with a $24.95 offering. It is worth noting that neither line-up includes ESPN, often the most expensive of the program networks.
This past week, Cox Cable followed suit and un-wrapped a new collection called TV Economy priced at $34.99. It also does not include ESPN. When comparing the low-cost packages with the typical expanded basic packages that might run in the $60 to $80 per month range, the multi-system operators may have created a small “bridge” to get them past the continued drain due to high consumer retail rates.
Looking ahead, one must wonder if consumers will be willing to forgo access to certain expensive programming in exchange for lower video bills. Time and continued package modification will tell.
Industry Demands Scrutiny of Verizon-Cable Agreements
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, January 23, 2012 · ·
Last week Comcast and Verizon Wireless announced that they will launch a new marketing program in Seattle and Portland, Ore., selling their respective services to the other’s customers.
This is the first marketing promotion under the new landmark partnership which was announced last month, whereby Verizon Wireless agreed to pay $3.6 billion to a consortium of cable providers for 122 advanced wireless services (AWS) spectrum licenses covering approximately 259 million people, or more than 85% of the U.S. population. Additionally, the cable companies and Verizon Wireless entered into a joint re-sale, marketing and technology development agreement. Separately, just a few days later, Verizon Wireless entered into an similar agreement with Cox Communications to purchase 20 MHz of AWS spectrum licenses covering 28 million POPs for $315 million. Read more
Verizon Wireless Adds Cox to its Cable Partners
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, December 19, 2011 · ·
Cox Communications announced December 16, that it has entered into an agreement to sell Verizon Wireless its 20 MHz Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) spectrum licenses covering 28 million POPs for $315 million. The deal plays on the joint venture announced by SpectrumCo. and Verizon Wireless which was revealed just a few weeks ago.
Cox and Verizon Wireless also announced that they plan to sell each other’s residential and commercial products and services through their respective sales channels. Over time, Cox may have the option to sell Verizon Wireless’ services on a wholesale basis. In addition, Cox expects to enter into arrangements with the innovation technology joint venture formed by Verizon Wireless and SpectrumCo. partners Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks, to better integrate wireline and wireless products and services. Read more
Cox Plans Reorganization
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, October 3, 2011 · ·
Cox Communications is planning a significant reorganization in order to streamline its operations, including consolidating several regional cable systems and integrating the company’s wireless business. Light Reading Cable broke the story last Friday, and Cox later confirmed the changes.
Cox intends to shrink from nine systems to seven by consolidating its Arizona and Las Vegas systems and combining its Louisiana and Florida/Georgia assets. Cox also plans to combine its wireless and technology groups under one chief technology officer.
Cox released the following statement: “The organizational changes are part of an ongoing evolution of our business to ensure Cox remains competitive, efficient and effective in serving our customers. We began consolidating systems several years ago and have continued to regionalize and centralize functions and processes as appropriate. The work to consolidate these two systems will begin later next year followed by operational and personnel changes as necessary. The impact will be invisible to our customers and the communities we serve.”
For more, see this post at Light Reading Cable.
Cox Abandons Plans for its Own Wireless Network
Posted by Jesse Ward on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 · ·
Cox Communications announced early last week that it has abandoned plans to launch its own wireless network and will instead focus on rolling out wireless voice and data service via its wholesale agreement with Sprint Nextel.
“We will soon begin to decommission our 3G network to better focus on making Cox Wireless available to more than 50% of our footprint this year,” Cox said in a statement. “We believe this approach is good for our customers, allowing us to take the necessary steps to fulfill our promise to deliver a Cox experience that customers expect from us. In continuing with our successful wholesale model for 3G wireless services, we will accomplish speed to market while achieving greater operational efficiencies from a wholesale model that continues to improve.” Read more
Cox Launches ‘TV Everywhere’ Test With TNT, TBS
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, December 20, 2010 · (1) ·
Cox Communications has jumped on the TV Everywhere bandwagon, beta testing a new online service which offers full-length episodes from TNT and TBS within 24 hours after they air. Users who subscribe to Cox’s cable TV service can access this limited catalog of walled off and digital rights managed Internet video content.
The operator kicked off an initial test launch December 16 in all of its markets but with limited content including TNT’s The Closer, Southland and Men of a Certain Age, and TBS’s Conan, House of Payne, Meet the Browns and Lopez Tonight. Cox plans to expand the service in the first quarter of 2011. Read more
Cox Communications, TiVo Premiere and VoD
Posted by Steve Fravel on Friday, August 13, 2010 · ·
TiVo Inc., and Cox Communications have announced a new alliance that will allow Cox subscribers to use an integrated TiVo Premiere to access Cox On Demand. This marks the first time a U.S. cable operator will provide access to the entire video-on-demand (VoD) library via a retail DVR, and the first time that an off-the-shelf retail product will be integrated into a cable VoD service, according to a TiVo press release.