LAS VEGAS—If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. That seems to be the motive behind the announcement this week when the National Cable Television Cooperative (NCTC), a group representing more than 750 rural broadband and cable operators in all 50 states, announced a new initiative that allows NCTC member companies to purchase Amazon Fire TV streaming devices at a discount.

The new discount program will enable NCTC's member companies to provide their subscribers with high-quality streaming media devices, including Fire TV Stick, Fire TV Stick 4K, and Fire TV Cube. Operators may offer the Fire TV devices bundled with their pay-TV video service offerings or in conjunction with their broadband services. NCTC expects to begin offering the discounted Fire TV products to NCTC's member companies in the coming weeks.

"As more of our members deploy app-based pay-TV offerings, having the option to purchase Amazon Fire TV streaming devices at a discount will help our broadband and cable operator members retain video customers by creating affordable options that do not rely on a traditional set-top box. These devices are a great compliment to services like MobiTV or for broadband only offerings by our members," said Rich Fickle, president of NCTC. "NCTC is committed to creating new ways for independent cable and broadband providers to delight customers by offering the products and services that today's video and broadband consumers want."

LOS ANGELES—There was no blackout of Fox-owned broadcast stations and networks for National Cable Television Cooperative members and subscribers when the clock struck midnight on 2019, as the two sides reached a new carriage agreement.

Fox shared the news on its site www.keepfoxnewsandsports.com, which features the following statement:

“We are pleased to have reached an agreement with the NCTC that avoids any disruption to our viewers. All of the NCTC’s members will continue to carry our portfolio of leading sports, entertainment and news programming for years to come.”

The Fox programming referred to in that statement includes Fox-owned broadcast stations, Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, FS1, FS2, Fox Deportes and Fox Soccer Plus.

The NCTC represents more than 700 small and rural cable operators that cover around 3 million subscribers.

Fears of a blackout were raised by NCTC as it claimed that Fox was seeking a rate increase 10x its current rate. The financial terms for the agreement have not been disclosed.

SAN JOSE, Calif.—An agreement has been struck between Harmonic and the National Cable Television Cooperative to jointly offer Harmonic’s CableOS virtualized cable access system to cable operator members of the NCTC. The CableOS system will be able to assist the cable operators in their migration to DOCSIS 3.1 Gigabit internet.

As a turnkey system, CableOS helps operators transition from older CMTS platforms to new cloud-native DOCSIS 3.1 networks. The system will allow for small- and mid-size cable operators to increase broadband capacity while also providing reliable streaming video services, according to Rich Fickle, president and CEO of NCTC.

Some NCTC members have already deployed the CableOS, including 1Tennessee, Buckeye Broadband, Comporium, Hilliary Communications and TVS Cable.

NCTC has more than 750 member companies throughout the U.S.