The Focus is on Innovation at NCTA's "Imagine Park"

WASHINGTON, April 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) today announced exciting new features highlighting cable innovation at "Imagine Park," the interactive exhibit floor venue at The Cable Show 2012, NCTA's 61^st Annual Convention and International Exposition taking place May 21-23, 2012, at the Boston Convention & Exposition Center.  Imagine Park is designed as a high-profile platform for introducing and demonstrating innovative new products and services, as well as facilitating discussions on issues affecting the future of media and entertainment. 

New to Imagine Park at The Cable Show 2012 are the following innovation platforms:

The App Pond – A showcase for newly developed applications for tablets, smartphones, and other connected devices that make entertainment, communications, and information portable, personal, interactive, social, and fun.  Designed in partnership with DIY Networks with inspiration from Boston's own Frog Pond, The App Pond in Imagine Park features an engaging and interactive landscape to experience the best in cable's mobile media, communications, branded entertainment, home and lifestyle, and educational apps.  NCTA is inviting companies to submit innovative and compelling apps to be featured in the App Pond.  To be considered, applicants should use the online submission form available at www.thecableshow.com/thepond no later than April 21.  Those selected will be notified by April 30 and will be required to provide a functioning app and a tablet or smartphone on which to display it.    

Imagine App Challenge – NCTA, in partnership with the Application Developers Alliance, is hosting a live, 48-hour student developer competition focused on building innovative and compelling new tablet and/or smartphone applications that leverage the power of broadband, powerful consumer devices and connected communities to create exciting new mobile and/or second screen experiences.  NCTA is working closely with the Alliance to recruit teams of students with app development experience to submit ideas for the competition.  Teams with the best ideas will be invited to attend The Cable Show and will be given 48 hours during the Show to move from idea to functioning application in a live competition to take place in Imagine Park.  Following the competition, students will demonstrate their applications to a panel of judges comprising representatives of cable operators, programmers, and established software companies in a special Imagine Park segment. 

"The Imagine App Challenge is a great opportunity for the next generation of app developers to show off their work and ideas," said Jon Potter, President of the Application Developers Alliance. "NCTA and its members understand the importance of encouraging developers to innovate with their platforms and expand the distribution of their content to new audiences and in new ways. The Alliance and our members are excited to be part of the App Challenge and look forward to seeing the great ideas that come out of it."

Students interested in participating can find complete details including an online application at www.thecableshow.com/imagineappchallenge. The deadline for ideas is April 21, 2012, and teams will be notified immediately thereafter.

Start-up Alley – Imagine Park is co-located this year with CableNET 2012, the cable industry innovation showcase produced by CableLabs® in partnership with NCTA.  In addition to the powerful and forward-looking demonstrations featured in CableNET, the exhibit will also feature a collection of Boston-area start-ups that are working on interesting new projects in the TV and Broadband marketplace.  Start-up Alley is an effort to introduce new ideas and fresh thinking around the exploding broadband landscape. 

"The cable industry thrives on bringing fresh, innovative ideas to market.  Adding new programs designed specifically for application developers and local start-up companies provides us with a unique opportunity to spark the imaginations of students and entrepreneurs throughout the Boston area," said Michael Powell, President & CEO, NCTA.

Imagine Park sponsorship opportunities are available.  Please contact Michael Garner at NCTA Convention Headquarters at (202) 463-7905 or via email at [email protected]. 

For additional questions about Imagine Park, contact NCTA at [email protected] or call NCTA's Department of Industry Affairs at (202) 222-2430.  Further information on The Cable Show 2012 is available at www.thecableshow.com. Prime exhibition space and sponsorship opportunities are available by contacting NCTA Convention Headquarters at (202) 463-7905 or e-mail [email protected].

NCTA is the principal trade association for the U.S. cable industry, representing cable operators serving more than 90 percent of the nation's cable television households and more than 200 cable program networks. The cable industry is the nation's largest broadband provider of high-speed Internet access, serving 45 million customers, after investing more than $185 billion to build two-way interactive networks with fiber optic technology. Cable companies also provide state-of-the-art digital telephone service to 24 million American consumers.

SOURCE NCTA