Can advanced services stem DBS sub losses? Yes, with the addition of DVRs, VOD and premium SVOD we’re going to be able to change the tide. How successful we’ll be remains to be seen. I think we’ve seen some of it already with high speed. I think the biggest driver this year will be HD. Does Murdoch’s entry change your business plan? We see satellite as pretty aggressive competitors and we’re dealing with it aggressively. It’s hard to say how Murdoch changes that. Obviously, Fox has some very creative, smart people. It depends on what they do. We’re working to solidify ourselves in the home as a complete entertainment and info service, which they can’t do. Will the ESPN deals reduce programmer-operator tension? I don’t think so. ESPN is one programmer. Still, I’m hopeful the deals will help with the sports rights issues. The problem was that as long as ESPN had a huge check coming in every year, it didn’t have to come in with lower bids. How does Mediacom view a Comcast-Disney merger? Having a cable operator control developed content utilized in the cable universe I think would be good. There are size issues, and that concerns us. But we have good relationships with Comcast. They are a quality operator. We hope they’d look at it from both sides of the fence. Best movie you’ve seen this year? Lord of the Rings.

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Ratings

ESPN ’s sweep of both the weekly primetime and total-day cable ratings came to a close. Though the sports net kept its spot at the top of the prime chart with 6.18 million viewers P2+ thanks to the College

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