Day 2 – 24 April 2008: Plenary Sessions

09:00 - 10:00 Cable Europe General Assembly 
Accessible only for members of Cable Europe

10:00 - 10:30 Opening of the Conference Floor and Exhibition

10:30 - 11:00 Facts and Figures
Speaker: Ben Keen, Chief Analyst and Director, Screen Digest

An overview of the latest data on the cable industry and the markets in which it operates. This session will provide you with an analytical overview of trends and evaluations.

• Olivier Gérolami, Chief Operating Officer, Numericable
• Bernard Dijkhuizen, Chief Executive Officer, Zesko
• Sam Howe, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Time Warner Cable
• Simon Amselem, Senior Vice President Channel Distribution EMEA, Disney-ABC International Television
• Jane Thompson, Managing Director, International, IAC 

Moderator: Theresa Wise, Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Business Development, Senior vice president, Corporate Strategy and Business Development , The Walt Disney Company Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA)

This session will touch upon the latest changes in the media industry, new ways of creating, delivering and consuming content. Modern digital video technology creates a lot of new opportunities and puts pressure on the existing partnerships between content, cable and other platforms for content distribution.  What kind of partnerships will be most successful going forward? How is cable positioning itself in the fast changing media market next to Internet giants like Google?

Additionally the session will discuss the status of convergence and how cable is delivering upon the promise of convergence.

12:15 - 13:45 Lunch

13:45 - 14:25 How Not to Be A Cable Operator: Collaboration Opportunities with Web Service Providers for Enhanced Profitability
Speaker: Scott Puopolo, Vice President, Global Head Service Provider, Internet Business Solutions Group Cisco Systems

Scott will attempt the impossible by predicating how the hyperkinetic world of digital entertainment, applications and communications services will evolve in the next 15 years. His presentation will elaborate on how industry structures are likely to shift, thus changing the nature of business models, sources of economics, and  mechanics of business relationships. It will also identify the key differentiators for cable companies to address in light of this vision. Scott's keynote will leverage on his significant strategy, operations, and financial experience in the communications, media and high technology industries.

• Martin Kull, Chief Technology Officer, Com Hem
  
• Lorenz Glatz, Chief Technology Officer, Kabel Deutschland
  
• Howard Watson, Chief Technology Officer, Virgin Media
  
• Mourad Veeneman, Vice President Network Design & Next Generation Technology

Moderator: Chris Forrester, Editorial Director, Rapid TV News

The Chief Technology Officer Panel has been a consistent favourite at the Cable Congress. This year’s forum brings together four leading CTOs of the European cable industry.  Each one of them will present his number one strategic challenge and how he is addressing it. Topics for the panel discussion will also include: world standards for cable, the need for speed and on-demand versus broadcasting.
-- This session has been developed  partnership with EuroCableLabs

• Caroline van Weede, Managing Director, Cable Europe

The Cable Congress conference programme continues with three parallel sessions focusing on the key issues at stake for marketing, technology and regulation.

Day 2 - 24 April 2008: Parallel Sessions

16:00 - 17:10 Marketing Session

• Benny Salaets, Director Product Marketing Media, Telenet
• Istvan Polony, Chief Strategy Officer, Fibernet
• Miguel Bielich, Vice President Strategy and Planning, Products and Online Media Group, Liberty Global

Cable continues to struggle with the balance of technology, capital investment and developing products that will drive penetration and ARPU. Is forced migration to digital products the way to drive digital and gain the full benefits of technology? 

And the need for speed? Can cable operators find the right balance of speed and price that will drive High Speed Internet and attract subscribers to the bundled packages?  Is it about speed, price or packaging?  These operators will look at this and other questions as they take off the gloves and discuss the issues that are on the minds of the European cable community.
-- This session has been developed  partnership with CTAM Europe

16:00 - 17:10 Technology Session – the Future Cable Network

• Jan Vorstermans, Executive Vice President, Technology and Infrastructure Management and Chief Technology and Information Officer, Telenet Solutions
  
• Paul Kearney, Chief Technology Officer, ONO
  
• Mark Bugajski, Vice President Advanced Technology, ARRIS Group
  
• Nick Fielibert, Vice President, Chief Technical Officer and Chief Architect, European Markets and Asia Scientific Atlanta, A Cisco Company
• Esko Myllylä, Chief Technology Officer, Teleste Corporation

Moderator: Patti A Reali, Research Director, Carrier Network Infrastructure Technology & Service Provider Research, Gartner

This session brings together cable and technology vendors to discuss what the future cable network will look like.  Ingredients for this panel include: fibre, IP, broadcasting, switch digital video, on-demand, channel bonding and much more. Expect a vision for the future.
-- This session has been developed  partnership with EuroCableLabs

16:00 - 17:10 Regulatory Session – Telecoms Review and Next Generation Networks

• Annegret Groebel , Head of Section, International Coordination, BNetzA (German telecom regulator Bundesnetzagentur)
• Peter Rodford, Head of Unit DG Information Society, European Commission
  
• Pilar del Castillo Vera, Member of the European Parliament
  
• Georg Merdian, Director Infrastructure Regulation, Kabel Deutschland

Moderator: Yves Blondeel, Managing Director, T-Regs Europe consultancy

This panel will discuss the 2007 European Commission’s proposals to review the regulatory framework for telecommunications services. Are these proposals helping the development of new services and investments in upgraded cable networks and other alternative high speed network infrastructure? Or should the European Parliament amend these proposals?
-- This session has been developed  partnership with Cable Europe Regulatory Working Group

20:00 Cable Congress Party