> In a great example of a pebble causing waves in a big pond, Scott Hatfield's resignation as Cox Communications' CTO has set the SCTE off in search of a new chairman for Cable Tec Expo 2010, CED's Mike Robuck reports. Hatfield had been running the show, but now, SCTE President-CEO and his lieutenant, SVP Marv Nelson are exploring alternatives. Story.
> Cable's old friend/foe AOL seems to be bulking up with cash these days to take a run at becoming an online content developer. The company, now out from under the Time Warner umbrella, sold DMS Insights for n undisclosed price and social network Bebo reportedly for $10 million. It's also trying to sell instant messaging service ICQ to a Russian holding company. All the deals are reportedly so the company can bulk up and attack an online space that has changed significantly since its salad days as America Online. Story.
> If you're looking for money, you'd do worse than to look at Mediacom Communications, which leads four cable and satellite companies as measured by cash flow ratio. The lower the ratio, it goes, the better the value. Mediacom came in at 14.8, followed by Liberty Global (17.7), DISH Network (22.3) and Comcast (24.1). Mediacom's founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Rocco B. Commisso has bid to take the company private. Story.
> Insight Communications has launched its local news and information channels in five Kentucky and Indiana markets, starting with 24-hour local weather coverage. The company has been hiring reporters and on-air personalities for the network and will use freelancers as well. Story.
And finally... Pace is crowing about a 15.2 percent increase in year-over-year set-top box shipments and a report by IMS Research that shows the company leaping from third to first in set-top box sales for over 100 of the world's pay TV operators. News release.