March 30, 2012

Media Advisory: MSNBC Program “Your Business” To Feature ACA Member Ben Hooks, CEO of Buford Media

WHO: Ben Hooks, CEO of Buford Media and former Chairman of the American Cable Association                 Matthew M. Polka, President and CEO, American Cable Association

WHAT: To discuss key issues related to the operation of small cable companies, including surging     retransmission consent fees and other programming costs. WHEN: 7:30 a.m., Sunday, April 1, 2012. 

WHERE: MSNBC program “Your Business,” with host JJ Ramberg. 

WHY:  Program to focus on underappreciated fact that millions of consumers receive their voice, video and broadband services from small and family-owned companies with strong ties to their local communities.

Sneak Peek: Mom and Pop Cable Owner

When most people think of cable companies, they think of the big players like Time Warner and Comcast, and with good reason. 20% of the companies are serving 80% of the customers. But the fact is, there are nearly 900 cable companies owned by small businesses, serving mostly rural areas all over the country. They average 7,000 subscribers and added together, they serve about 7.6 million subscribers in aggregate. Not only do they provide cable TV signals but also broadband computer and telephone signals as well. We will look at some of smallest players who manage to survive in a marketplace dominated by a handful of the wealthiest corporations in the US. It is also a marketplace dominated by a crazy quilt of arcane federal regulations. We will meet Ben Hooks, owner and operator of a “Mom & Pop” cable company, and learn how he manages to survive in this hugely competitive and highly regulated marketplace.

From “Your Business”

 

About the American Cable Association: Based in Pittsburgh, the American Cable Association is a trade organization representing about 850 smaller and medium-sized, independent cable companies who provide broadband services for more than 7.4 million cable subscribers primarily located in rural and smaller suburban markets across America.  Through active participation in the regulatory and legislative process in Washington, D.C., ACA’s members work together to advance the interests of their customers and ensure the future competitiveness and viability of their business.  For more information, visit https://acaconnects.org/