(Brussels, 2 March) With the Oscars already a distant memory, all eyes in both the entertainment and tech worlds are now turned on Europe’s cable sector whose annual conference, Cable Congress, takes places in Brussels next week, 7-9 March.

Cable Congress 2012 will be a tight close-up on the industry that brings European consumers premium entertainment, cutting-edge user experience and high value communication packages.

Europe’s cable industry is now serving over 104 million revenue generating units (RGUs), an industry metric that governs the number of services – TV, internet or telephony – delivered to customers. New figures including growth in both broadband and telephony as well as growth for TV, including Video-on-Demand, will be unveiled during the event by IHS Screen Digest. Cable Congress will also take a closer look at the industry pushing broadband speeds across Europe closer to the speed of light by investing in next generation fiber-rich broadband networks.

Manuel Kohnstamm, President, Cable Europe, said: “Cable Congress is about more than just the cable industry. It has fast become reference point for internet and pay television industries and draws in the wider ICT community from across Europe and beyond. With 30% of the attendees in the C suite, it’s an obvious high level meeting point for those serious about leading Europe into its bright digital future. We are more than proud of our role in that respect.”

This year’s speaker lineup is stronger than ever, with the usual array of CEOs and other top level executives from the cable industry joined by leading lights from the wider pay television and technology world, including Brian Sullivan, CEO, Sky Deutschland, Genevieve Bell, Fellow & Director of Interaction and Experience Research, Intel and Marco de Ruiter, COO, Viacom Northern Europe.

In reference to the host city and capital of Europe, Brussels, and the important role regulation plays in protecting consumers and promoting the digital economy, Cable Congress 2012 features leading speakers from the policy world, including:

 Neelie Kroes, Vice President & Commissioner for Digital Agenda, European Commission

 Pat Cox, President of the European Parliament 2002-2004

 Robert Madelin, Director General, DG INFSO, European Commission

 George Serentschy, CEO Telecommunications RTR & BEREC Chairman 2012

 Matthias Kurth, President, BNetzA

 Scott Wallsten, VP for Research & Senior Fellow, Technology Policy Institute, Washington DC

Caroline van Weede, Managing Director, Cable Europe, said: “Europe’s cable operators really are 'up in lights' this year. It’s partly by delivering better and more competitive connectivity into Europe’s homes and businesses thanks to our investments which are really pushing competition with incumbents. And it’s also because we are, after all, in the entertainment business given the premium content coming off our premium networks. For me, the line-up of stars from the business and policy worlds this year says it all.”

For more information, please contact:

Gregg Svingen

Director of Communications

M: +32 476 490 603

E: gregg.svingen@cable-europe.eu

Jessica Fernandez

Information Manager

E: jessica.fernandez@cable-europe.eu

About Cable Europe

Cable Europe is a trade association that groups all leading broadband cable TV operators and their national associations throughout Europe. The aim of Cable Europe is to promote and defend the industry’s policies and business interests at European and international levels, and to foster cooperation among its members. Cable networks go into the home of 73 million customers in the European Union, providing Digital TV, Broadband Internet and Telephony services.

www.cable-europe.eu