Cox eyes nationwide digital ad
insertion rollout
By Susan Rush
From The September 12, 2002 Edition Of CED Broadband Direct
After rolling out local digital ad insertion services
in its Phoenix and Orange County, Calif. systems, Cox Communications
Inc. is ready to take the service national, and is turning to
SeaChange International Inc. to make it happen.
Cox plans to deploy SeaChange's Transport Streams Inserter digital
cable ad insertion gear in its largest systems this year, with
the remaining systems receiving the equipment in 2003. By the
end of the year, nine Cox master control centers and a number
of headends will be upgraded, including Hampton Roads and Northern
Virginia; New England; New Orleans; Oklahoma City; Omaha; San
Diego; and Tulsa. In these markets, roughly six digital cable
networks will be added to Cox's local ad sales inventory.
The Transport Streams Inserter, a rack-mounted box, is designed
to automatically enables frame-accurate insertion of locally-stored
ads, infomercials or programs into digital cable networks.
Yesterday, Cox said it expects to be free cash flow
positive for the entire year 2003. To achieve this, Cox will cut
capital expenditures $2 billion in 2002 to $1.6 billion in 2003.
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