Comcast (NSDQ: CMCSA) COO Steve Burke presented a fairly typical cable industry pitch at the Communicapia conference, talking up the company’s continued growth in both data and voice, and the overall positive effect that the triple play is having on profits. Although the market has rewarded Comcast nicely for its efforts, Burke nonetheless complained that investors focus too much on the negative, whether it’s competition from telcos and satellite operators or the potentially disruptive threat of IPTV. He did acknowledge that competition from the telcos would intensify, both in places where they’ve rolled out TV and in situations where they’ve partnered with satellite operators to bundle TV on the same bill (particularly when the cost of TV is being subsidized). As for the inevitable slowdown in Comcast’s data and voice lines — which he predicted would still be a few years out — the company believes that fresh investments in the corporate telephony market and interactive advertising will pick up the slack.
He also hinted at the kind of M&A the company might do going forward, saying the company isn’t interested in any big video content purchases, but rather more deals like Fandango: online services that complement its core business in some way. He specifically alluded to purchases of smaller internet sites that help people find out what’s on TV. That sounds familiar… oh, yeah.
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