Fierce Telecom and Digital Media at CES – Yes, CES

In about a month, Dan O'Shea and I will be out at CES (more formally, 2009 International CES) wearing out our shoes and going hoarse as we cram in keynote speeches, expert panels, breaking news and in-depth briefings.

I'd like to tell you why we'll be there and a general idea of whom we'll be meeting with between January 6 and January 9 in Las Vegas.  I'm writing this now in the (no doubt vain) hope you'll try to get editorial meetings up with us sooner (i.e. before January 1) rather than later.

CES is best typically associated with very cool gizmos you'll find down at the local Best Buy, such as the latest 50 inch plasma TVs and hot laptops. But the show has grown into much more and includes vendors across a broad range of consumer offerings, including phone services, IPTV, and content providers; content is the "new" story CES is telling this year, with Disney-ABC, NBC Universal, Sony Pictures Television scheduled to be in attendance.

At CES, there is something for all of the Fierce Telecom and Digital Media publications:

FierceIPTV:   Editor Dan O'Shea will be looking at a range of vendors offering IPTV solutions at CES, including end-user service offerings, head-end gear, set top boxes, middleware, and software. 

FierceVoIP: Doug Mohney will be making the rounds, looking at both services (hello 8x8, Skype) and hardware.  You might be surprised at the amount of carrier CPE gear turns up at CES. I'll also be looking forward to talk to the Casabi folks, which flows into...

FierceTelecom: We expect both AT&T and Verizon to have new announcements relating to broadband and TV services. Triple and quad play offerings may also be on the table.  Dan O'Shea and Doug Mohney will be coordinating coverage.  

FierceOnlineVideo:  Doug Mohney expects to deep dive into the proliferation and future of "independent" streaming video delivery devices ranging from Grandpa TiVo to Roku's streaming box used by Netflix. Content providers, PC desktop video delivery, and statistical tracking are also on the radar.

To schedule a briefing appointment at CES-

             Dan O'Shea        doshea@fiercemarkets.com            January 8-9, 2008

             Doug Mohney      doug@fiercemarkets.com               January 7-9, 2008

Doug Mohney expects be available for meetings at Digital Experience, ShowStoppers, and Lunch@Piero's (if he doesn't break down screaming or fall over from exhaustion). Depending on flight arrival time, he may also attend the latter half of CES: Unveiled on Tuesday, January 6, 2008.

Companies seeking to brief Dan and Doug at CES are STRONGLY encouraged to email as soon as possible and preferably before December 24, 2008.