Netflix Privacy Concerns May Spark Lawsuit
Elsewhere: Cox launches mobile apps, AT&T cracks down on tethering, Cisco pushes Docsis 3.0 limits and SeaChange soars on software in Q4
March 18, 2011
Happy Friday, cable gang. Leading today's roundup is word that Netflix Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) faces a potential class-action lawsuit involving privacy concerns.
While some subscribers may find Netflix recommendations useful, its practice of retaining data about users' movie rental history has resulted in a potential class-action lawsuit. (See Netflix Shopping for Original TV Series.)
Add Cox Communications Inc. to the list of pay-TV providers with an app for Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL)’s iPad and iPhone, and Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) Android devices. Cox's version starts off with features that let subs remotely manage their DVRs and e-mail and voice-mail accounts. (See Everyone's Mad About the iPad .)
Here's a screenshot of the TV/DVR feature for the iPad version:Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO) is the latest vendor to test the limits of Docsis 3.0 by demonstrating the bonding of 48 downstream channels and producing downstream bursts of greater than 1.5 Gbit/s, just outpacing the 1.4 Gbit/s Get of Norway tested earlier this year. (See Get Tests 1.4-Gig Speeds, {doclink204540}, Cisco Aiming to One-Up Cable's Upstream , KDG, Cisco Hit 1Gig Cable Modem Speeds , Korean ISP Bonds With 800-Meg D3 Test and Cox, Moto Test 400Mbit/s Docsis 3.0 Upstream.)
SeaChange International Inc. (Nasdaq: SEAC)'s move to focus on software and play down its hardware business continues to pay off for the digital video firm. The company posted fourth-quarter revenues of US$61.4 million, up 16 percent, while notching net income of $10.9 million. Revenues for servers and storage, per the company's new strategy, dropped $3.5 million, to $8.8 million, year-on-year. Comcast Corp. (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK), Virgin Media Inc. (Nasdaq: VMED) and Cox Communications Inc. were SeaChange's 10 percent-or-greater customers in the quarter. (See SeaChange Ships Some Server Costs Overseas .)
AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is cracking down on customers who try to tether their phones to laptops to surf the Web on a bigger screen. (See AT&T Intros Mobile Data Caps.)
Cisco stock was up about 1.5 percent in early trading today on news that it will issue its first ever quarterly dividend -- a payout of 6 cents per share.
Cable networks griping about Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE: TWC)'s new iPad app may be "killing their golden goose," according to analyst Will Richmond. (See Deja Vu All Over Again and TWC's iPad App Launches With (Some) Live TV.)
Increasing DirecTV Group Inc. (NYSE: DTV)'s subscriber base by 289,000 subscribers during the fourth quarter helped earn CEO Michael White $32.9 million in total compensation in 2010. (See DirecTV Preps Broadband Boxes, Flirts With LTE.)
— Steve Donohue, Special to Light Reading Cable, and Jeff Baumgartner, Site Editor, Light Reading Cable
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