Comcast is looking into virtualizing one of two key technologies, then licensing it to other cable companies, a move that would put it in competition with leading vendors including Arris/CommScope and Cisco Systems. The company could syndicate either its cable modem termination system or its converged cable access platform.

The number of broadband subscribers that use one terabyte of data or more each month doubled year-over-year in the first quarter to reach 4.2%, reports OpenVault, an analytics firm, which may affect policy at companies such as Comcast and CableOne. Homes without traditional pay-TV service consumed nearly twice the data that those of multichannel TV customers did.

Altice has yet to alter its stance opposing the T-Mobile-Sprint merger, despite the companies' new assurances that their deal would not upset the cable company's current agreement with Sprint. Antitrust staff at the Department of Justice also came out against the merger today, though the department's final decision is still a month in the future.

Comcast is developing a device that would draw on ambient sensors to monitor the health of at-risk people in their homes, with hopes to launch it and an accompanying service commercially next year. The technology could also potentially issue alerts for falls and make phone calls in emergencies.

Fox is taking the sports betting lead among major media companies by launching "Fox Bet" -- an online app that will allow users to place wagers on sporting events. ESPN and Turner Sports have also announced partnerships aimed at developing programming in this area, while NBC and CBS are so far limiting their investment to their streaming services.

Hulu will likely try to complement owner Disney's new streaming service by adding original content that skews older and is edgier than that on Disney+, industry executives suggest, noting that the subscription VOD service will enjoy a larger budget and a single owner. FX also expects to work closely with its new corporate sibling, with network head John Landgraf expressing excitement about the possibility.

ESPN will seek to include its ESPN+ streaming platform in its next round of negotiations for live sports events, Jimmy Pitaro, the network's president, said at an industry conference. ESPN+, which lacks access to pro football and basketball games along with many baseball telecasts, could also air alternative versions of live events, he added.

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