MUMBAI: The collective decision of leaders of the top three US cable TV operators to look for both programming companies and smaller cable systems is of any indication, the US television industry is going to witness some tough competition between cable TV operators and satellite TV and phone companies.

Chief executives of Comcast Corp., Time Warner Inc., and Charter Communications Inc. reaffirmed their faith in the combination of content and distribution, during the annual National Cable Television Association conference held on Monday, 3 May.

"We have an interest at the right time and right price to expand our cable footprint. The growth prospects (for cable) are as good as any of the businesses in our portfolio," said Time Warner CEO Richard Parsons. Others who joined hands with Parsons include Comcast CEO Brian Roberts and Charter Communications' controlling shareholder and chairman of Vulcan Inc. Paul Allen.

"We have an interest at the right time and right price to expand our cable footprint. The growth prospects (for cable) are as good as any of the businesses in our portfolio," said Time Warner CEO Richard Parsons.

According to a Reuters news wire, all three executives would look to buy smaller cable operators to compete with satellite TV providers, which have a national footprint.