Comcast to target cable theft
Stephanie Wentworth
Staff
Comcast is offering unauthorized cable customers a get-out-of-jail-free card.
During the first two weeks in November, Comcast will grant amnesty to anyone who admits cable theft in Baltimore, Washington, D.C., southern Maryland, the Eastern Shore and several surrounding counties.
By calling a hotline or visiting a Web site, violators can turn themselves in and avoid prosecution. After the two-week amnesty program, Comcast will begin house-by-house electronic audits to identify cable thieves, the company said Thursday. The information will be turned over to the appropriate authorities for possible prosecution.
Comcast, the region's dominant cable provider, said some violators may not realize they are receiving illegal cable. Company executives said the amnesty program would educate communities about "active" and "passive" cable theft.
In 2003 Comcast ran a similar campaign that the company said generated 8,000 calls and thousands of leads through their Web site. The National Cable Television Association (NCTA), reported the cable industry lost nearly $4.76 billion during 2004 in unrealized revenue due to theft, more than 8 percent of the industry's $57.6 billion gross revenue.
Comcast and other dominant cable companies are in a fierce battle for customers, as satellite providers such as DirecTV and telephone companies such as Verizon Communications have stepped up their marketing efforts.
Comcast has 21.4 million cable customers nationwide.
http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2005/10/24/daily31.html
Stephanie Wentworth
Staff
Comcast is offering unauthorized cable customers a get-out-of-jail-free card.
During the first two weeks in November, Comcast will grant amnesty to anyone who admits cable theft in Baltimore, Washington, D.C., southern Maryland, the Eastern Shore and several surrounding counties.
By calling a hotline or visiting a Web site, violators can turn themselves in and avoid prosecution. After the two-week amnesty program, Comcast will begin house-by-house electronic audits to identify cable thieves, the company said Thursday. The information will be turned over to the appropriate authorities for possible prosecution.
Comcast, the region's dominant cable provider, said some violators may not realize they are receiving illegal cable. Company executives said the amnesty program would educate communities about "active" and "passive" cable theft.
In 2003 Comcast ran a similar campaign that the company said generated 8,000 calls and thousands of leads through their Web site. The National Cable Television Association (NCTA), reported the cable industry lost nearly $4.76 billion during 2004 in unrealized revenue due to theft, more than 8 percent of the industry's $57.6 billion gross revenue.
Comcast and other dominant cable companies are in a fierce battle for customers, as satellite providers such as DirecTV and telephone companies such as Verizon Communications have stepped up their marketing efforts.
Comcast has 21.4 million cable customers nationwide.
http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2005/10/24/daily31.html