GNG News Guy
12-03-2007, 12:09 PM
http://i.dslr.net/urls/30/2030.gif (http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Cable-Giants-Not-Bidding-In-700Mhz-Auction-89909)
With today being the deadline to announce your intent, both Time Warner Cable and Comcast have confirmed that neither one of them will bid in next year's 700Mhz auction. Time Warner Cable CEO Glenn Britt told attendees of the UBS Global Media Week and Communications Conference in New York this morning that "We are not going to be in this particular auction." At the moment it doesn't look like any of the major cable operators will be participating.
Time Warner Cable's partnership with Sprint to offer co-branded cellphone service is on shaky ground (http://www.thegng.org/shownews/89053), and the company doesn't seem particularly sure (http://www.ipdemocracy.com/archives/002789time_warner_wont_bid_on_700_mhz_spectrum.php ) about their wireless ambitions:Britt says that consumers really don't want a quadruple-play bundle. "I don't think the quadruple play is a big deal," he said. "So far we've not seen a great demand for that." Time Warner hasn't completely thrown in the towel when it comes to wireless. "What we're doing is trying to understand that space..we do own some spectrum. We haven't completely decided yet how to use it."
Meanwhile, Comcast has issued a statement (http://www.cmcsk.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=118591&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1083419&highlight=) indicating they won't be bidding at auction, either: "Comcast Corporation has decided not to bid in the 700 MHz wireless auction. The 20 MHz of spectrum acquired in the wireless auction last year with our cable partners in SpectrumCo provides us with significant long-term flexibility and many strategic options. We will continue to explore how wireless can complement our services through various partnerships and consumer trials."
read comment(s) (http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Cable-Giants-Not-Bidding-In-700Mhz-Auction-89909)
With today being the deadline to announce your intent, both Time Warner Cable and Comcast have confirmed that neither one of them will bid in next year's 700Mhz auction. Time Warner Cable CEO Glenn Britt told attendees of the UBS Global Media Week and Communications Conference in New York this morning that "We are not going to be in this particular auction." At the moment it doesn't look like any of the major cable operators will be participating.
Time Warner Cable's partnership with Sprint to offer co-branded cellphone service is on shaky ground (http://www.thegng.org/shownews/89053), and the company doesn't seem particularly sure (http://www.ipdemocracy.com/archives/002789time_warner_wont_bid_on_700_mhz_spectrum.php ) about their wireless ambitions:Britt says that consumers really don't want a quadruple-play bundle. "I don't think the quadruple play is a big deal," he said. "So far we've not seen a great demand for that." Time Warner hasn't completely thrown in the towel when it comes to wireless. "What we're doing is trying to understand that space..we do own some spectrum. We haven't completely decided yet how to use it."
Meanwhile, Comcast has issued a statement (http://www.cmcsk.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=118591&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1083419&highlight=) indicating they won't be bidding at auction, either: "Comcast Corporation has decided not to bid in the 700 MHz wireless auction. The 20 MHz of spectrum acquired in the wireless auction last year with our cable partners in SpectrumCo provides us with significant long-term flexibility and many strategic options. We will continue to explore how wireless can complement our services through various partnerships and consumer trials."
read comment(s) (http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Cable-Giants-Not-Bidding-In-700Mhz-Auction-89909)