Michael's Insight: Google files for permission to offer TV service

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Michael S. Willner spent his entire career in the cable television industry. He co-founded Insight Communications in 1985 and served as its CEO, a director and vice chairman of the board until the company was sold to Time Warner Cable in February, 2012.

As a young boy in Miami, Florida, Michael had a fascination with the television business at a very early age. He often rode his bicycle to the local NBC affiliate after school where the staff allowed him to help out in the studio while they produced and aired a live children's puppet show and the local news. Michael began his career in 1974 as the program director and news reporter for a small suburban New York cable system after graduating from the Boston University College of Communications. Soon after, he shifted his focus to general management and eventually became the chief operating officer of Vision Cable Communications, a cable company owned by a division of Newhouse Newspapers.

After starting Insight Communications, Michael quickly developed his hands-on style of management as CEO. He is a firm believer in open, honest communication. He personally ensured that employees and customers were always well-informed and had input and influence over important Company decisions. This commitment led to a secondary career - that of a leading man in a number of Insight television commercials in which he comfortably played himself with a great sense of self-deprecating humor.

Michael also became very active in industry affairs and has been one of cable's most active and effective ambassadors on Capitol Hill, testifying regularly before Congress on industry issues and pending legislation. He has served two consecutive terms as chairman of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA), the cable industry's trade lobby and currently served on its executive committee for many years. Michael also served as chairman of the board of the Cable Center from 2007 through 2011. He served on the executive committee of CableLabs; on the board of directors of C-SPAN, and the Walter Kaitz Foundation.

A recipient of the NCTA's 2004 Vanguard Award for Distinguished Leadership and a 2005 inductee into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame, Michael has yet to achieve his greatest goal of winning an Emmy for his leading role in Insight's commercials.

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Google files for permission to offer TV service

Google Seeks Approval for Kansas City Video Service [All Things D]

Google tipped its hand earlier this month that it was making plans to provide a video product for its Kansas City fiber project with an FCC application for a satellite facility to be located in Iowa. Now, it's confirming those plans by a filing with the Missouri Public Service Commission asking for an authorization to provide video service.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the search giant will be officially rolling out its TV service in the next couple of months, according to a source involved in the licesning of channels for the service. The Journal's story indicates that there is an expectation that the video service will cover live television, on demand offerings and online access to streaming content.

Currently, Google only plans to build a fiber network in the Kansas City area and it is unclear when the company will finish construction of that network and begin offering service to customers.

Posted at 12:23 PM in High Definition Television | Permalink

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nice info,. thanks for share :)

Posted by: whiplash from accident | Monday, June 25, 2012 at 02:43 PM

interesting news, when Google start offer this service for all country,.. ?

Posted by: Samsung Galaxy S3 Unlocked | Monday, June 18, 2012 at 05:51 AM

I've long been a fan of Google's services, but they keep putting their paws into more and more industries. The one thing I can say though is that they normally get it right! Which forces competition to do better. Just look at what they have done with cell phones.