December 1, 2011

The Winning Season

By Debra Baker, editor

When I was much younger – and in the days before “Fashion Police” – I used to love to watch the movie stars walk the red carpet prior to the Academy Awards. Later on in life, it’s been much more interesting to learn who made those clothes, who designed those sets, who did the fancy camera work and who wrote the words that allowed those men and women to be considered for an Oscar.

Who actually keeps the wheels on the bus? That’s the real story, isn’t it? That question set the stage years ago for CT’s popular annual “System of the Year” award, and it still rings true today as this month we also honor the winners of the inaugural “ CT Platinum Awards” program. Going one step further, CT proudly gives props to 10 people who not only have kept the wheels on the bus, they built the bus: the freshman class of our CT Hall of Fame. I hope these two new recognition programs will serve as the "pat on the back" most people want and deserve for a job well-done.

CT itself will be getting a make-over in 2012, starting in January, and building on its long history of providing readers with "best of breed" information regarding the technical and business sides of video, voice and data networks and services. Through conversations with readers coupled with short surveys, I've become sensitive to how fast subscribers want and need crucial guidance, especially when it comes to emerging technologies and methodologies. As a result, a larger CT (the magazine) will be published quarterly next year, but the editorial staff will be beefing up its daily industry coverage, providing more news and views in an updated, easy-to-navigate package. But wait, there's more!

Twice a month, readers will receive via e-mail a targeted, single-topic "mid-day report" that focuses on the "issue du jour," be it TV Everywhere, home networking, wireless backhaul, regulation/legislation, convergence, revenue enhancers, you name it. If there's a particular talking point you'd like to see addressed, let me know. In addition, readers will be invited to more Webcasts and special events as part of CT 's enhanced relationship with CableFAX and all of its in-house expertise.

As a reporter, I think all of this adds up to a winning combination: more information at a faster pace. I know you will, too.