SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Technology Stocks : C-Cube -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?


To: John Rieman who wrote (38535)1/23/1999 9:20:00 AM
From: JOHN E CANTILLO  Read Replies (3) | Respond to of 50808
 
Here is my opinion on Fridays action, CUBE has made a great move in the past 5 months from 13 - 30. Many new investors bought CUBE at the these low levels. Now with DVD/DIVX in the stores for the holidays and Divi-Com doing so well everything looked great, not to mention the 2 upgrades, and the first company to have a recordable DVD chip. everyone thought this was our quarter to surprise estimates, even a 2 day run up before earnings are released. The only surprise were the shareholders who were convinced that CUBE was ready to break out and show why it's the leader in its sector.
Then a management blunder was made when they announced the purchase of TV/COM on the day of flat earnings, they couldn't have picked a worse day for this deal. I feel that it is IMPERATIVE that CUBE to respond to this sell off by buying some of its stock at this level and to restore confidence to the financial community, and to PROTECT SHAREHOLDER EQUITY.

JOHN



To: John Rieman who wrote (38535)1/24/1999 1:06:00 PM
From: JEFF K  Read Replies (2) | Respond to of 50808
 
John, going back to your answers to my questions

If you don't mind, the answers you gave have stirred additional questions.

1. Did I mis-hear Walt when he gave guidance to 99 by saying that he still expects Cube to at least meet analysts projections ?

2. When we say Cube goal is a 50% gross margin, is that so that they can buy market share?

3. It sounded to me that AB is planning his bottom line (if possible). Which I am assuming means he will pass up investing in certain revenue generating opportunities (ie PC-DVD playback) if he believes that a certain gross margin is not attainable, or that the long term growth prospects of the product is not there. With that said, I believe that he has committed Cube to the digital communications side believing that it has the best potential for a ROI. Do you agree ?

4. I'm not sure of whether AB's strategy for consumer digital products is to spend on R&D, maintain a technological advantage, and let the big guys (Philips, Sony, Etc) create consumer demand ?( by waiting for them release products sooner, spend on advertising , and then send products through the pipeline once the demand is there ) or do they have a choice in the matter ?

Thanx,
Jeff



To: John Rieman who wrote (38535)1/24/1999 7:28:00 PM
From: upanddown  Read Replies (2) | Respond to of 50808
 
Hi John:

I was in CUBE in 97 and followed this thread a lot, especially your posts along with BillyG and David. I thought at the time that I wanted to get back in when rewritable DVD was close since I felt that it would create a real boom for DVD to replace the VCR. I had understood at the time that rewritable was within a year or so but that has obviously been pushed back. Could you tell me what the current status of rewritable DVD is and what is causing the delay in its introduction ?

TIA,
John



To: John Rieman who wrote (38535)1/28/1999 4:54:00 PM
From: DiViT  Respond to of 50808
 
Canal Plus total domestic digital subscriber base increased

01/27/99
Interspace
(c) 1999 Phillips Business Information, Inc.

Canal Plus total domestic digital subscriber base (including cable)
increased from 757,000 to 1,323,000 in 1998, while international
digital subs increased from 469,000 to 1,220,000. Canal recorded
500,429 new subs to its domestic premium service over the year, 75
per cent of which were for the analogue over-the-air service. The
churn rate, at 8.5 per cent, was slightly down on last year, when it
was 9.3 per cent. Canal Satellite had 1.1 million subs at the end of
the year, a net increase of 332,000. Canal Satellite is reported
still to have around 10,000 subscribers to the analogue version,
transmitted via the Telecom platform - these are not included in the
figures. Canal Plus has been winding the analogue bouquet down since
the launch of digital in 1996 and has offered financial incentives
for subscribers to transfer.

Internationally, Canal Plus Horizons achieved substantial growth in
Morocco thanks to a joint promotion with Eutelsat. In Spain, most of
Canal Satelite Digital's growth came from analogue conversions as a
result of a marketing campaign. In Scandinavia, Canal Digital
increased its subscriber base by 40,000 in the last three months of
the year, while in Poland, the launch of the Cyfra+ digital bouquet
attracted, according to Canal Plus, a reported 60,000 subscriptions
and 40,000 reservations by the end of the year.

The arrival of the new year has brought good news to Telepiu in
Italy, with the number of subscribers exceeding the 1.5 million mark,
while the number of decoders installed has passed 1.1 million
(500,000 for the digital satellite service).

The increase in subscriptions during December was more than
satisfactory, with a record of 4,800 set on December 23, while the
number of digital subscribers has nearly trebled in the period
January-December 1998. Thanks to this performance, Italy has recorded
the largest percentage growth in Europe, confirming it as the third
largest digital market in Europe, after France and Spain.

Canal+ quarterly and annual subscription figures

France
Subscriptions 31.12.98 30.09.98 31.12.97
Canal Plus (premium) individual 4,441,515 4,366,695 4,308,005
Canal Plus (premium) collective 302,361 292,491 285,210
Canal Satellite Numerique (bouquet) 1,108,436 963,744 776,489
NC Numericable (bouquet) 354,975 352,192 340,135

International
Subscriptions 31.12.98 30.09.98 31.12.97
Africa 148,148 123,866 120,355

Belgium (Francophone) 177000 171,297 181,500
Belgium (Flemish) 171,405 166,036 161,026
Canal + (premium) 159,412 157,449 161,026
Canal Digitaal (bouquet) 11,993 8,857 -

Spain 2,192,964 2,111,679 1,725,062
Canal + (premium) 1,593,614 1,564,122 1,464,894
Canal Satelite (bouquet) 599,350 547,557 260,168

Italy 1,509,821 1,374,789 1,119,826
Tele + (premium) 965,840 920,573 868,164
D+ (bouquet) 348,411 281,485 150,857
+ Calcio (football) 195,570 172,731 100,805

Netherlands 270,129 244,087 224,126

Nordic countries 605,835 531,948 500,289
Canal + (premium) 375,669 333,531 302,494
Canal Digital (bouquet) 230,166 198,417 197,795

Poland 335,334 245,835 237,610
Canal + (premium) 275,279 245,835 237,610
Cyfra + (bouquet) 60,055 - -

Source: Canal+