That's according to an article in Multichannel News.
Several large cable operators, such as Comcast and Time Warner, have announced plans to expand their high-def lineups to stay competitive with satcasters DIRECTV and EchoStar. DIRECTV plans to offer 100 high-def channels by year's end.
However, some smaller cable systems do not have the bandwidth to expand their HD menus at this time. Still, at a panel session at this week's conference, The Independent Show, cable executives said they have no choice but to find a way to expand high-def.
“It’s a race against satellite to
get more HD on,” said Steve Weed, CEO of WaveDivision Holidings,
according to Multichannel News.
Jeff Ross, president of the Armstrong Group, a small cable
system in Ohio, echoed Weed's concerns but said cable can win by
offering the "right content."
"Looking at some of of the competitive threats that are present
and are coming, I think it’s important for us to continue to
grow our HD product,” Ross said. “We are the choice for HD
product today, but I do think (DIRECTV) come out with tonnage …
but we as cable operators have the ability to pick the right
content. It’s ours to lose.”
Ross said Armstrong now has 20 high-def channels but plans to
double that.
But Kay Monigold, CEO of Buford Media Group, a Texas-based cable
operator, said she's not offering any high-def now due to system
limitations. But she added that high-def is a must later this
year.
“We feel like we’ve got to have some HD offering,” she said.
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