We also like the US West media group, which is a combination of cable and wireless assets.

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One alternative is a cable that uses a combination of aluminium and carbon-glass fibre composite.

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The wiring is typically either category 5 Ethernet cabling or coaxial cable like that used for cable TV, or some combination of both, with other technologies mixed in.

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In a combination that would joint two companies in the cable television infrastructure sector, SeaChange is reportedly in talks to be acquired by Arris Group.

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The combination would make Time Warner the undisputed king of pay cable networks, since the company already owns HBO.

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This is sending companies like Comcast and the other cable television companies back to the drawing board to offer a better combination of services.

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The hottest market is India, where the combination of a staid state broadcaster with a free-to-air monopoly and fierce competition among cable and satellite companies has boosted pay-TV.

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Moffett noted in his previous report that there were no specific indications that the companies actually want to merge, but he also said a combination would offer huge cost savings, and give satellite TV a better chance to maintain a competitive position against cable providers.

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