Comcast, Cox, NBCU top list of WICT 'Best Companies for Women in Cable'

Women in Cable Telecommunications announced on Thursday its list of winners for the "Best Companies for Women in Cable" awards, with Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA) and Cox Communications tied for first place for best operators and NBCUniversal taking the top spot for best programmers.

The best operators list was rounded out by Bright House Networks, Time Warner Cable (NYSE: VZ), Midcontinent Communications and Suddenlink Communications in spots two through five. The second through fifth best programmers were Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA), Disney ABC Television Group, Scripps Networks Interactive and Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.

The data, which WICT said "assess companies' practices as to how they support pay equity, advancement opportunities, and resources for work/life support," was compiled an analyzed by Mercer. Twenty-five companies representing 59 percent of the cable work force participated in the survey.

"We applaud those companies recognized as the best for women in cable," said Maria Brennan, president and CEO of WICT, in a prepared statement. "They offer great lessons that we will share as part of an ongoing advocacy campaign to help the industry absorb and enact best practices."

Four of the women honored with Touchstones of Leadership Awards at the Oct. 29 WICT PowerBrokers breakfast work for companies on WICT's list of winners. Becky Bobzien-Simms, senior director of infrastructure procurement at Time Warner Cable, will receive the Geraldine B. Laybourne Fearless Award. Samantha Callahan, regional vice president of the Beltway Region for human resources at Comcast, will be honored with the Inspire Award. Suzanne Underwald, SVP of legal affairs at Scripps, will be given the Communicate Award, and Catherine Frymark, SVP of communications at Discovery, will receive the Connect Award.

Despite the gains women have made in senior-level management positions at cable companies in the last 10 years, WICT and the National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications recently announced that the number of women in cable management positions is expected to decline in the next five years because promotion rates are higher for men and turnover rates are higher for women.

For more:
- see the WICT release
- see the Touchstones of Leadership Awards announcement

Related articles:
Report predicts fewer women in cable management positions in 5 years
WICT and SCTE accepting applications for Women's TechConnect Initiative
WICT names Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Turner, Suddenlink as Touchstone Partners