Comcast Corporation engages in the development, management, and operation of broadband cable networks, as well as provision of programming content in the United States. The company offers various consumer entertainment and communication products and services. As of December 31, 2006, the company's cable systems served approximately 23.4 million video subscribers, 11 million high-speed Internet subscribers and 2.4 million phone subscribers and passed approximately 45.7 million homes in 39 states and the District of Columbia.
Segments
The company operates in two segments: Cable and Programming.
Cable Segment
The company's cable segment manages and operates its cable systems, including video, high-speed Internet and phone services (cable services).
Cable Services
The company offers various services over its cable systems, including video, high-speed Internet and phone.
Video Services
The company offers a range of video services. The company tailors its channel offerings for each system serving a particular geographic area according to applicable local and federal regulatory requirements, programming preferences and demographics.
Basic cable: The company's basic cable services consist of a limited basic service with access to between 10 and 20 channels of programming and an expanded basic service with access to between 60 and 80 channels of programming. The services consist of programming provided by national and local broadcast networks, national and regional cable networks, and governmental and public access programming.
Digital cable: The company's digital cable services consist of a digital starter cable service, a digital cable service, and specialty tiers with sports, family or ethnic themes. The digital starter cable service uses a digital set-top box to deliver between 60 and 80 channels of video programming, multiple music channels, an interactive program guide and a partial ON DEMAND library. Digital cable services also use a digital set-top box to deliver approximately 250 channels of video programming, multiple music channels, an interactive program guide, access to ON DEMAND library, and multiple offerings from any premium channel programming purchased by the subscriber (including programming that varies as to time of broadcast and theme of content).
Video on demand: The company's video on demand service, which it refers to as ON DEMAND, allows its digital starter cable and full digital cable subscribers the opportunity to choose from a library of programs, start the programs at whatever time is convenient, and pause, rewind or fast-forward the programs.
Subscription video on demand: The company's subscription video on demand service provides subscribers with ON DEMAND access to packages of programming that are either associated with a particular premium content provider to which they already subscribe, such as HBO On-Demand, or are otherwise made available on a subscription basis. Certain selected packages of programming are available for an additional fee.
High-Definition Television: The company's HDTV service provides its digital cable subscribers with improved, high-resolution picture quality, improved audio quality and a wide-screen format. The company's HDTV service offers a selection of programming with access up to approximately 20 high-definition channels, including most broadcast networks, national cable networks, premium channels and regional sports networks. In addition, the company's ON DEMAND service provides approximately 150 HDTV programming choices.
Digital Video Recorder: The company's DVR service lets digital cable subscribers select, record and store programs and play them at whatever time is convenient. DVR service also provides the ability to pause and rewind live television.
Premium channel programming: The company's premium channel programming service, which includes cable networks such as HBO, Showtime, Starz and Cinemax, generally offers, without commercial interruption, feature motion pictures, live and taped sporting events, concerts and other special features.
Pay-per-view programming: The company's pay-per-view service allows its cable subscribers to order, for a separate fee, individual movies and special-event programs, such as professional boxing, professional wrestling and concerts, on an unedited, commercial-free basis.
High-Speed Internet Services
The company offers high-speed Internet service with Internet access at downstream speeds from 6Mbps to 16Mbps, depending on the level of service selected. This service also includes the company's interactive portal, Comcast.net, which provides multiple e-mail addresses and online storage.
Phone Services
The company offers Comcast Digital Voice, its IP-enabled phone service that provides unlimited local and domestic long-distance calling, including features such as Voice Mail, Caller ID and Call Waiting. As of December 31, 2006, Comcast Digital Voice service was available to 32 million homes.
Advertising
The company also coordinates the advertising sales efforts of other cable operators in some markets, and in other markets it has formed and operate advertising interconnects, which establish a physical, direct link between multiple cable systems and provide for the sale of regional and national advertising.
Regional Sports and News Networks
The company's regional sports and news networks include Comcast SportsNet (Philadelphia), Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic (Baltimore/Washington), Cable Sports Southeast, CN8—The Comcast Network, Comcast SportsNet Chicago, MountainWest Sports Network and Comcast SportsNet West (Sacramento).
Competition
DBS Systems: The company's competitors in the DBS Systems include DirecTV and EchoStar. The company's competitors in High-Speed Internet Services include Internet service providers (ISPs), such as AOL, Earthlink; Microsoft; Verizon and AT&T.
Programming Segment
The company's Programming segment consists of its six consolidated national programming networks: E!, Style, The Golf Channel, VERSUS (formerly known as OLN), G4 and AZN Television.
Other Businesses
In addition to its controlling interest in Comcast Spectacor, which owns the Philadelphia Flyers, the Philadelphia 76ers and two multipurpose arenas, the company also owns non-controlling interests in MGM, iN DEMAND, TV One, PBS KIDS Sprout, FEARnet, SportsChannel New England, New England Cable News, Pittsburgh Cable News Channel, Music Choice and Sterling Entertainment.
History
Comcast Corp. was founded in 1969.
