• Moody’s reviews Comcast for possible upgrade
By The Associated Press
Moody’s Investors Service on Monday put Comcast Corp.’s long-term debt ratings on review for possible upgrade, citing the strengthening of the cable operator’s capital structure. The review affects $32 billion of senior unsecured debt, with an investment grade rating of “Baa2.”
The review will focus on Comcast’s growth prospects for the medium term, competitive position and the economy’s impact in the short run.
Given that Comcast, the nation’s largest cable operator, has financial flexibility with its “sizeable and growing” free cash flow, the review will also consider management’s commitment to stay within investment grade ratings and aversion to big debt burdens. Shares of Comcast rose 24 cents to close at $14.41.
• Insight re-ups with Convergys
By Brian Santo
Insight Communications has renewed a contract to continue using business support products from Convergys for another three years.
Insight is using Convergys’ ICOMS system – a convergent voice, video, and data billing and customer care solution – to support more than 760,000 customers in the Midwest.
With Convergys’ business support system (BSS) solution, Insight will continue to collect revenue from video, high-speed data and telephony customers via a single, cost-efficient platform. It will also have the ability to launch new marketing campaigns and targeted, advanced service offerings.
• Buckeye launches IP theft beta test
By Traci Patterson
Buckeye CableSystem has launched a company-wide beta test of a collaborative solution provided by PerfTech and Secure Signals in order to combat IP service theft.
The combined solution includes PerfTech’s Audit Sentry application, a component of its Bulletin System, and Secure Signals’ piracy conversion program.
Buckeye President Chip Carstensen stated: “We have been working with Secure Signals for eight years. In one year alone, Secure Signals converted 1,500 of our digital video pirates into paying customers, resulting in 3.75 percent subscriber growth and $3.1 million in net revenue for Buckeye CableSystem. With proven results of that significance, we’re excited to be the first to launch a new solution targeting Internet service thieves.”
• Juniper names Meehan to board
By Traci Patterson
Juniper Networks has named William F. Meehan III to its board of directors. Meehan is the Raccoon Partners Lecturer in Management at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University and was a senior director of McKinsey and Co.
“I am honored to join the board of Juniper Networks,” Meehan said. “Juniper is well positioned in the market, with a differentiated value that delivers choice and flexibility to customers and alignment between their IT infrastructure and their overall business objectives.”
At McKinsey and Co., Meehan’s focus included top management strategy, organization and leadership, including mentoring more than a dozen new CEOs in shaping their agenda.
• Transparent Tech appoints sales exec
By Brian Santo
Video-on-demand (VOD) specialist Transparent Technologies Inc. (TTi) said it has appointed Colin Bryant to director of sales for the Midwest. Bryant is responsible for all aspects of business development in the central region, including direct and channel sales and ongoing engagement with customers and business partners.
Prior to joining TTi, Bryant was regional account manager for Solunet Inc., where he was responsible for the region and worked with several regional service providers. He held similar positions at LightEdge Solutions, a managed service provider, and Parallel Technologies, a regional network integrator.
TTi provides consulting and staffing services to the cable and broadcast industries.