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Spotlight on Television 2.0 Leaders: Comcast Corporation

Emerging Media Dynamics, Inc.
July 1, 2006
35 Pages - SKU: EMD1326792

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Spotlight on Television 2.0 Leaders: Comcast Corporation

This report provides a detailed description and analysis of Comcast’s efforts to develop new IP-based and mobile content offerings. Comcast, the top U.S. multichannel video and high-speed service provider, has recently pushed ahead with a number of web-based and mobile video initiatives. These cutting-edge forays place Comcast into new entertainment sectors that are far afield from Comcast's traditional core video businesses and are far more dynamic than even Comcast's fast-growing high-speed and digital voice services.

This exclusive analysis provides strategic details on Comcast's TV 2.0 efforts, which include:

Wider distribution of “The Fan:” Comcast is making its video player “The Fan” available to Internet users who don’t subscribe to Comcast’s broadband services, a move that could give the company greater ability to share in the web advertising boom.

Pursuit of a Mobile “Third Screen:” Comcast has joined hands with mobile carrier Sprint-Nextel and fellow cable operators to develop broadband mobile services that feature not only video but also other TV-related applications.

Enthusiasm for Video Search: Spurred by Google’s success in the Internet search realm, Comcast has embraced the idea that it can develop video search capabilities that encompass both TV and web-based content. Hand-in-hand with the pursuit of video search, Comcast is exploring the idea of offering contextual-based advertising along the lines of Google’s ad models.

Development of New Content Networks: Comcast and Sony Pictures are preparing to launch a new horror “network” that will be available via TV-delivered on-demand technology, a multimedia media website and eventually mobile platforms, the first service resulting from a landmark pact between Comcast and Sony.

Acquisition of or Investment in TV 2.0 Start-Ups: Comcast has made strategic acquisitions of or investments in promising TV 2.0 start-ups. Among these purchases and investments are cross-platform video content delivery company thePlatform and web-based video sharing site, Revver.

As the report spells out, these efforts could provide Comcast with a wide range of financial and operational benefits, including:

Enhanced prospects for new revenue streams;
Improved subscriber retention and acquisition;
Competitive differentiation;
Getting a jump on emerging web-based competitors; and
Deeper experience in IP video delivery.

Introduction and Executive Summary

I. Short History of Comcast
A. AT&T Acquisition
B. Joint Adelphia Acquisition
C. Disney Bid/MGM Deal

II. Overview of Comcast’s Businesses
A. Programming and Entertainment Properties
B. Cable Systems
1) Digital Video
2) High-Speed Data
3) Digital Voice Services
4) Advertising
5) Overall Financial Performance

III. Comcast’s Television 2.0 Initiatives
A. “The Fan Web” Video Portal
B. Comcast’s Pursuit of a Mobile “Third Screen"
C. Comcast’s Interest in Video Search
D. Horror Network
E. Acquisition of ThePlatform
F. Investment in Revver
G. Other Comcast Investments

IV. Growth and Financial Implications of Comcast’s TV 2.0 Efforts
A. Prospects for New Revenue Streams
B. Improved Subscriber Retention and Acquisition
C. Competitive Differentiation
D. Getting a Jump on Emerging Web-Based Competitors
E. Greater Experience in IP-Based Video Delivery
About the Author
About Emerging Media Dynamics

List of Tables
Table 1 - Comcast Clusters Following Adelphia Deal/Time Warner Partnership Dissolution
Table 2 -- Comcast Programming, Sports and Entertainment Properties
Table 3 - Comcast Phone Metrics, Q2 05 to Q2 06

List of Figures
Figure 1 - Comcast Year-End Homes Passed, Subscribers 1990 - 2005
Figure 2 - Comcast Content Properties, Revenue and Cash Flow Q1 03 to Q2 06
Figure 3 - Comcast Homes Passed, Subscribers, Penetration, Q1 04 to Q2 06
Figure 4 - Comcast Homes Passed, Subscribers, Penetration, Q1 04 to Q2 06
Figure 5 - Comcast Video Services as % of Total Revenue, Q1 04 to Q2 06
Figure 6 - Comcast High-Speed Data Subs. and Penetration, Q1 04 to Q2 06
Figure 7 - Comcast High-Speed Data Subs. and Penetration, Q1 04 to Q2 06
Figure 8 - Comcast High-Speed Data Revenue as % of Total Cable Revenue
Figure 9 - Comcast Advertising Revenue, Q4 01 to Q2 06
Figure 10 - Comcast Cable Total Revenue and Cash Flow, Q1 04 to Q2 06
Figure 11 - Comcast Average Monthly Revenue, Cash Flow per Sub., Q1 04 to Q2 06
Figure 12 - Comcast Cable Operating Cash Flow Margin, Q4 01 to Q2 06
Figure 13 - Screenshot of Comcast’s “The Fan"

Spotlight on Television 2.0 Leaders: Comcast Corporation

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