https://potsandpansbyccg.com/2024/04/19/cord-cutting-continues-in-2023/
“Leichtman Research Group recently released the cable customer counts for the largest providers of traditional cable service at the end of 2023. LRG compiles most of these numbers from the statistics provided to stockholders, except for Cox and Mediacom – they now combine an estimate for both companies. Leichtman says this group of companies represents 96% of all traditional U.S. cable customers.
I suspect there are regular blog readers who wonder why I post these statistics every quarter. There are several reasons.
- I find it fascinating to watch the slow train wreck of the implosion of the cable TV industry. Recall that the big cable companies like Comcast and Charter got so large through selling only cable TV and no other products. Technology let them compete and then beat telcos for broadband customers, but they already had a huge number of customers in 2000 when broadband competition kicked off in earnest.
- I’m fascinated to see that there are still over 55 million household buying cable TV from the largest companies. A lot of folks have completely written off cable TV as irrelevant, and a thing of the past, but 42% of households are still buying a traditional cable TV package. Roughly 30 million homes have cut the cord since 2018, but there are still 55 million more homes that might someday migrate all of their video to broadband networks.
The traditional cable providers continue to lose customers at a torrid pace, losing 1.7 million customers in the third quarter. Overall, traditional cable providers lost over 18,700 customers every day during the quarter. The overall penetration of traditional cable TV is now down to 42% of all households, down from 73% at the end of 2017.
In the fourth quarter, Comcast dropped from being the large cable provider and fell below Charter. Losses were big across the board, and only Charter, Verizon, and Breezeline lost less than 10% of the cable customer base for the year. The traditional cable providers lost over 6.9 million cable customers for the year – with only a fourth of those customers choosing an online cable substitute.
In the fourth quarter, online cable substitutes like YouTube and Hulu Live picked up 1,476,000 customers, almost all by YouTube. For the year, these providers added almost 1.9 million customers.”
Barcelona Declaration on Open Research Information: “Researchers Need ‘Open’ Bibliographic Databases, New Declaration Says”
Core Skills in the Age of AI: What Remains Essential?
Core Skills in the Age of AI: What Remains Essential?
“Core skills such as communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving remain important in the AI era.”
Michigan Virtual Leads Statewide Workgroup to Release Sample K–12 AI Guidance Document
“Nonprofit educational organization Michigan Virtual (MV) is one of 13 organizations statewide that have partnered to release a new “Sample Guidance on Staff Use of Generative AI for K–12 School Districts” document. The group includes the Michigan Education Association, administrator and principal organizations, and others.
An outgrowth of the work of MV’s AI Lab established in October 2023, the guidance document focuses on “the impacts of data compliance, ethical use requirements, and challenges around disclosure for educators,” according to the organization’s release.
The guidance offers four recommended practices for using generative AI tools when there is no formal district policy in place:
- Consider Impact: Assess the potential consequences of using AI, especially in terms of data privacy and integrity;
- Critical Evaluation: Encourage cross-referencing AI information with reliable sources and consult with educational technology experts;
- Stay Informed: Regularly update knowledge on AI advancements and adapt district guidelines accordingly; and
- Alignment to Goals: Where applicable, align AI integration to how it supports existing school improvement goals.
Specifically as noted on MV’s website, the document also contains:
- Risks and limitations related to AI output around accuracy, bias, and content;
- Disclosure expectations of staff using AI regarding the amount of AI involvement, demonstration, and citation practices;
- Data stewardship that complies with state and federal laws, organizational regulations and requirements, and ethical use based on district objectives; and
- Types of data and how they are used, credited, and protected in teaching, research, confidentiality, and intellectual property.
The document cautions that any AI policies “should be modified and reviewed with independent legal counsel as needed prior to implementation.”
“Artificial intelligence is beginning to impact schools each day, often without clear guidelines or directions, and it’s critical that our educators are supported,” said Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute Senior Director Ken Dirkin. “We’ve partnered with education leaders around the state to establish best practices and guidelines in the hopes that such standards are considered when developing local policies around this new technology.”
MV has also produced “A Planning Guide for AI: A Framework for School Districts.”
More resources are available on the MV site here.”
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