By Braden Hall
It is no secret that cable television services are struggling to keep up in the wireless age. With the recent announcement from Apple that they are completely revamping their AppleTV service in the next month, pressure is building on companies like Comcast Corporation and Time Warner Cable to provide mobile streaming.
Many in the industry believe the best solution is for cable companies to acquire or partner with a wireless division. For many cable providers, especially regional companies like Charter, this would be a great option. They lose a great deal of business to streaming services available for on the go users. The public enjoys taking television wherever they go and the cable television industry has not yet tapped into this market.
Cable television companies have many requirements of a wireless provider partner. First, they need a broad spectrum of services capable of broadcasting to mobile users. Second, they need to already have the infrastructure to reach customers. Third, they need to be national providers in order to serve as many customers as possible.
The implications of these requirements are fascinating. Although T-Mobile has been actively interested in partnering with a cable television company over the last few years, it lacks the spectrum of services that make it attractive to businesses like Comcast and Charter. Other companies, such as Sprint, have spectrum and an evolving network for consumers. Cable providers may still have an interest in Sprint just to utilize their spectrum. AT&T has a basket of services, necessary infrastructure, and a national presence, which is why partnering with DirecTV made a lot of sense.
It remains to be seen whether or not the cable industry will actually begin to take concrete steps to reach their mobile customers, and partner with the wireless community. It appears these two industries are about to undergo a series of changes that could be beneficial to both sides. Cable companies need to acquire a partnership with a wireless company to remain relevant. Now, more than ever, consumers want to access television services wherever they go. Satisfying that desire will be the key to cable;s success in the years to come.
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