As SCTE-ISBE’s Cable-Tec Expo kicks off in Atlanta today, the organizations announced a 10-year plan, which includes greater involvement by MSOs, to boost the event’s long-term success.
The plan includes strengthening partnerships with cable operators and industry associations, collaborative vendor relationships and strategic event locations. It will be implemented starting at next year’s show in New Orleans, which is SCTE-ISBE’s 50th anniversary.
The strategies were created by the organizations’ president and CEO Mark Dzuban, and Zenita Henderson, senior director of Marketing Operations, Business Development and National Conferences, in collaboration from the groups’ board of directors, and event attendees and exhibitors.
“The cable industry’s Organization Review Committee gave SCTE•ISBE and SCTE•ISBE Cable-Tec Expo high marks,” said Bill Warga, vice president of Technology for Liberty Global and chair of the SCTE•ISBE Board of Directors, in a statement. “Our goal with this plan is to continue to build the relevance and value of Expo as a platform for driving learning and development, applied science, and technology leadership for the next decade.”
Specifically, SCTE-ISBE outlined three key components of the plan:
- A schedule of fall dates through 2029 in cities that “are focal points of the industry,” this includes returning to Denver and Atlanta, as well as individual events in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
- Greater involvement by the MSO community, with cable operator sponsors in each location who will head up program content efforts, line up guest speakers and secure involvement by senior leadership teams including C-level executives
- Increased interaction with potential customers for exhibiting companies, providing complimentary admission for Fall Technical Forum speakers and bringing back the Cable-Tec Expo Exhibitor Committee.
“What’s fueled the success of Cable-Tec Expo in recent years has been the willingness of operators, vendors, and our partner organizations to make the event a priority for their teams,” said Tom Adams, executive vice president, Field Operations for Charter Communications and vice-chair of the SCTE•ISBE Board of Directors. “Our plan is designed to provide a framework that will help the industry as a whole continue to leverage the power of Expo to promote technical excellence and innovation that can drive bottom line results.”
This year Cox Communications president Pat Esser is delivering a keynote speech, while Kevin Hart, Cox’s EVP and chief product and technology officer, is chairing the event.
Dzuban said that the support from Esser and Hart this year provided a template as to how the Expo and operators can work more closely together going forward.
Cable-Tec Expo is being held at Atlanta’s Georgia World Congress Center starting today and runs through Thursday, Oct. 25.