What feature allowed broadband cable operators to transport multiple TV channels?

Broadband cable operators use video compression technology as a crucial feature that facilitates the transport of multiple TV channels simultaneously. This technology reduces the amount of data needed to encode video signals, allowing various channels to be transmitted over the same cable infrastructure without requiring an excessive bandwidth allocation. By compressing the video data, operators can maximize the use of available bandwidth, enabling many channels to be delivered to consumers efficiently.

The other options, while related to video technology, do not directly address the ability to transport multiple TV channels. High definition video technology pertains to the quality and resolution of the video content rather than the quantity of channels that can be carried. Digital rights management technology focuses on protecting the intellectual property of the content, and wide area network technology is more about connecting remote sites rather than the specific transmission of television signals. Thus, video compression technology is specifically designed to enhance the delivery capacity of broadcasters.