Cable One tests EchoStar's Aria platform

Cable One has begun testing EchoStar's (Nasdaq: SATS) Aria platform, which could allow the cable MSO to use offer cloud-based video-on-demand, TV Everywhere online video access and an advanced interactive program guide to subscribers

EchoStar VP of sales and marketing Michael Hawkey discussed the Cable One test at a press conference EchoStar held at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Wednesday. EchoStar is targeting small and mid-sized cable MSOs with Aria, and Cable One is the first company to use the product. 

Aria could also allow Cable One and other operators to distribute multiplatform programming using technology from EchoStar's Sling Media subsidiary. While EchoStar could help Cable One offer more advanced services to subscribers, it's worth noting that the company is a corporate sibling of Dish Network (Nasdaq: DISH), which competes with cable MSOs and DirecTV (Nasdaq: DTV) for pay TV customers.

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