The big event of the week wasn't even at CES, as Steve Jobs announced the iPhone at the Mac World conference. Then lawsuits commenced.

But there were other things more relevant to the cable industry. One big issue for programmers visible at the show is the issue of multiple platforms. Consumers can already get content on a wide array of devices. Programmers will have to create new strategies, figuring out how to take the content and push it out to many platforms simultaneously, while still figuring out the best way to handle Digital Rights Management.

Sling Media announced a new technology called Clip+Sling, which may address the question of how programmers can tap into the current trend of viewers taking clips from TV shows and throwing them on up YouTube and Google Video. While there are still lots of details to be worked out, to my eye, Clip+Sling offers some intriguing possibilities.

If you follow hi-def TV, you know about 720p and 1080i. Well, 1080p was highly visible at CES. This is 1080p/60 -- that is, 60 frames per second. There doesn't actually seem to be much content available now or in the near future in this format, but carrying such programming may present bandwidth issues.

There was also the HD Camcorder from Panasonic, with 8 GB of storage (about 90 minutes of footage), and set to be priced about $1,500. If consumers start shooting videos on it and then uploading them to the web, this may be another bandwidth hog to keep an eye on.

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin spoke at CES on Wednesday and made it clear that cable operators shouldn't count on getting waivers of the FCC's July 2007 deadline for the set-top box integration ban. Some of the coverage has suggested that this move is a benefit to consumers, but there is a hitch. I refer you to our Talking Points on the Integration Ban:

The cost to consumers is considerable, while the benefits to consumers who would use those boxes are non-existent. A new technology being developed by the cable industry – downloadable security technology – will soon make this debate moot by enabling cable operators to download the system security software to any set-top box or to a DCAS-enabled digital television purchased at retail.

NCTA reacted to Chairman Martin’s speech with a statement:

"The denial of cable's waiver requests would mean that, starting in July, consumers would be paying a new $600 million tax, costing cable customers another 2-3 dollars per month. It is incomprehensible that the FCC would deny these waiver requests at a time when Congress and the Administration have made the digital transition a national priority and are trying to manage the costs to consumers. We urge the Chairman and the Commission to move in another direction on this issue and grant cable's requests to relieve consumers of this potential burden."