- In Search of America's ‘Hottest Forecasters’
- Dow vs. S&P 500: Which is a Better Investment?
- Mick Fleetwood on the MP3 ‘Dumbing Down’ of Music
- Avis on the Road to Strong Growth: Analyst
- Private Homebuilders: Dead Men Walking
- LinkedIn’s Growth Is Already Priced In: Analyst
- The Real Reason Behind Bank of America’s Rally
- 5 Hedge Funds’ Top Stocks Soar After 2011 Rout
- This Valentine’s Day Love Is Served on a Silver Platter
- Dividend Payout Could Hit Record Amount This Year
- With Investors So Bullish, Stock Pullback Must Be Ahead
- Is Bill Gross, PIMCO's Bond King, Losing His Touch?
- Greece Austerity Deal Runs Into Trouble Once Again
- Why Saving Greece Could Destroy the World
- Apple’s Record Run: $500 Is a Magic Number
- Housing Still Hurting Consumers, Economy: Bernanke
- Get Ready for $5 Gas This Year: Ex-Shell CEO
- The World's Best Beers
MOST SHARED
- How to Date a Wall Street Man
- Standard & Poors Downgrades 34 Italian Banks
- Dividend Payout Could Hit Record Amount This Year
- Follow Leon Cooperman into RIM, Halliburton?
- Dow vs. S&P 500: Which is a Better Investment?
- Pauley Perrette's Southern Bakery a Hit in Manhattan
- Gene Munster Expects Apple Growth, Dividend
- Dow Logs Worst Day of 2012 Amid Greek Drama
- Stanford's Lawyers Subpoena Attorney of Key Witness
- How Rescuing Greece Could Destroy the World
Cable Vs. Telcos: Which Will Dominate American Homes?
Text Size 
Features Editor
Consumer demand is soaring for data, video and voice services. But which is better suited to provide them: cable or telephone companies? On "Morning Call," Katy Bachman, senior editor at Mediaweek magazine, and Blair Levin, telecom and media regulatory analyst at Stifel Nicolaus, took sides in the debate.
Bachman said the winner will be the telcos. She asked CNBC's Becky Quick to consider, "How many people really like their cable company?" The editor noted that satellite-TV companies have been taking market share from cable providers in recent years -- proof, she says, of cable's vulnerability.
Bachman said the data and entertainment inroads being made by telcos into family homes -- such as Verizon Communications' new FIOS fiber-optic system -- must be considered "market by market." She points to "Dallas and Tampa" as evidence tha telcos are steadily gaining ground.
Levin, a former chief of staff of the Federal Communications Commission, votes for cable. He conceded that cable firms have a "brand problem" -- but said that "it's a lot easier for cable to enter the telco market," than it is for telephone companies to jump into video services. Levin pointed out that "cable guys have the technology and already built the networks" they'll need to grow.
- Marketing clichés aside, sometimes diamonds are for investing.
- The ‘Fast Money’ traders weigh in on fashion related stocks from apparel to footwear.
- This list of the 10 most active cities for speed traps was compiled by Trapster.com. See if your town is there.
- This Valentine’s Day should prove a love fest for restaurants, as many couples will be dining out.
- Here’s a look at Westminster Kennel Club’s most successful breeds—and how much they cost.
- What kind of homes do celebrity couples share? Here’s our updated list. Take a look.
Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes
