Verizon Chair & CEO Lowell McAdam said that the mobile phone company "could partner with other sports networks, leagues or video app providers" for opportunities similar to its first-ever Super Bowl live-streaming deal with CBS last season, according to Georg Szalai of the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. McAdam yesterday at a UBS investor conference "discussed mobile video opportunities for the telecom giant, particularly in sports." He said that sports leagues "have an interest in making out-of-market games available to a broader audience." McAdam said that games "could be offered with a delay of 3-4 days or even two weeks and still offer 'a real win-win' for Verizon and content firms." He added, "The market has demonstrated that it wants it. Within the next two years, you will see some dramatic change in viewership." Asked if there was revenue to be made from sports, McAdam noted that the NFL Mobile app "is free, but attractive content boosts mobile usage, plus the app offers premium services on top of the free usage, which brings in additional revenue" (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 12/9).
NOT FOR SALE: In N.Y., Claire Atkinson noted incoming Time Warner Cable CEO Rob Marcus yesterday at the UBS event "slammed a Bloomberg report that made it look like he was ready to sell the company." Marcus "laid out his vision for the future of Time Warner Cable, even as potential bidders appear to be closing in" (NYPOST.com, 12/9). Marcus said that there "are 'clearly' programming cost and other benefits to cable industry consolidation, but indicated Time Warner Cable doesn't want to overburden its balance sheet with debt" (WSJ.com, 12/9).
