East Coast Cable Show Grows Up

RANI LONG

At a time when cable show attendance is declining, East Coast Cable 2000 claims they're bigger and better than ever.

Now in its 20th year, the convention will be held at the Baltimore Convention Center Sept. 12-14, playing host to an estimated 5,000 cable operators, programmers, vendors, educators and others who will discuss the future of the cable telecommunications industry.

Called the Atlantic Cable Show until two years ago, East Coast Cable now claims to be the largest cable show on the East Coast. Last year's records reported about 4,600 attendees, a 20% increase over the previous year, and the organization is expecting to exceed that number this year.

Bill Cologie, president-Pennsylvania Cable and Telecommunications Association, credits the growth to experienced planning and new management.

"We have talented people helping us plan," he says. "Two years ago we made a contract with CTAM to help us in formulating our panels, putting together our program and helping us design our marketing strategy - that has been a very beneficial relationship. Additionally, this year, for the first time, we have a new show manager, Dobson & Associates," - the same company that manages the Western Show and National Show - "so we're delighted to have them on board. I would suspect their presence enhances the overall nature of the show, because exhibitors know them and are comfortable with them. I'm sure their contacts help us in attracting a lot of the new exhibitors we have."

Ginny Morris, senior manager, worldwide trade shows for Motorola's Broadband Communications Sector, says, "We want to ensure that we reach an increasing number of operators and others planning to attend the show this year. We are positive our efforts will pay off as East Coast Cable continues to grow in prominence and reputation as the major cable show on the East Coast."

This year's show does not have a theme but will have a wide variety of sessions exploring topics from "Success Strategies That Work in Smaller Markets" to "Cable's High Tech Future."

"A couple of years ago when there was talk that regional shows should go away," says Cologie, "we decided we either needed to grow our show or do away with our show. There was no way we would just remain with the status quo - because it would just go into a gradual decline. So we made the decision to grow our show."