Verizon Adds Longhorn Network
Posted by Steve Fravel on Friday, August 26, 2011 · 
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Verizon can claim a first; having come to terms with ESPN on a national distribution deal for the new 24-hour Longhorn Network. The announcement of the agreement comes in the “nick of time,” as the network is scheduled to launch at 6 o’clock central on August 26. Read more
Charter and Comcast Echo TWC Sub Losses
Posted by Steve Fravel on Thursday, August 4, 2011 · ·
Charter and Comcast released second-quarter results, and like Time Warner Cable (TWC), both lost residential cable subscribers. The subscriber loss, as with that reported by TWC, was offset by gains in nonvideo subscribers.
For Charter, which is aggressively marketing broadband and telephone packages with direct broadcast satellite operator Dish Network, the second quarter closed with 673,500 nonvideo subscribers, for an increase of 40,000 from the first quarter. Charter notes that this is a 26% increase over the same period last year. Charter forged an agreement with Dish earlier this year to offer high-speed data and voice to satellite TV customers in specific markets. But Charter indicated that residential video customer totals reflected a loss of 93,100 from the same period in 2010.
Time Warner Cable Gains Support from Broadband Subs
Posted by Steve Fravel on Friday, July 29, 2011 · ·
While showing a 35% spike in business service revenue and the addition of 54,000 residential broadband subscribers, Time Warner Cable this week revealed a second quarter loss of 128,000 cable subscribers.
“Time Warner Cable continued to perform well in the second quarter, driven by very strong results in business services and higher residential ARPU,” Time Warner CEO Glenn Britt said. ”We also continued to generate strong cash flow while still investing in our core business, allowing us to return more than $1 billion to our shareholders.”
As of the end of June, Time Warner reported 14.45 million total residential cable subscribers. TWC noted that programming expenses rose 4.1% due to rate increases tied to content contracts and climbing retransmission consent expenses.
AMC Network in Play?
Posted by Steve Fravel on Friday, July 8, 2011 · ·
Spun off last week by Cablevision, the former Rainbow Media Holdings may be the acquisition target for one of several media companies. Rumor has it that Disney, News Corp. and Time-Warner each may have an interest in buying the newly renamed AMC Networks.
AMC Networks owns AMC, IFC, WE TV and the Sundance Channel. AMC also owns IFC Films and international programmer and TV program distribution unit. Speculation is that a deal for AMC Networks could run in the $3 billion range.
None of the organizations has commented publicly on the rumor. Of course if a deal is to go through it will provide the wining content provider with even more market power in retransmission consent negotiations.
Time Warner Cable to Acquire Rural Systems in Kentucky, Tennessee
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, June 13, 2011 · ·
Time Warner Cable announced this morning that it will acquire some systems from NewWave Communications. Specifically, Time Warner Cable plans to acquire 70,000 basic video subscribers, 42,000 Internet subscribers and 26,000 phone subscribers from NewWave in Kentucky and western Tennessee for $260 million in cash.
NewWave Communications was founded by its management team and Pamlico Capital in 2003 and provides communications services including high-speed data, cable television and telephone to smaller, rural communities in the Midwest. Headquartered in Sikeston, Mo., the cable operator will continue to serve more than 80,000 customers in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Arkansas after this transaction is closed. Read more
Suddenlink Launches ‘TV Everywhere’
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, June 13, 2011 · ·
Last week, rural cable operator Suddenlink launched Suddenlink2GO, an online video service featuring “tens of thousands” of full-length TV episodes and shorter video clips, plus more than 1,300 movie titles accessible via any computer with a high-speed Internet connection.
Authenticated subscribers will have access to content from the previously launched HBO Go and MAX Go services, available for no additional charge to all Suddenlink HBO and Cinemax subscribers. The site also offers a range of programming from Turner’s TBS, TNT, truTV, Cartoon Network and Adult Swim, as well as programs and clips available from Hulu.
It should be noted that most of the online content also is accessible through free, over-the-top sources, and available to anyone, regardless of their customer relationship with Suddenlink. The MSO is providing value by integrating its online offerings into a single, user-friendly interface. Read more
Midcontinent Buys US Cable Assets
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, June 13, 2011 · ·
Midcontinent Communications announced last week that it will acquire the Minnesota and Wisconsin cable assets of US Cable. The systems pass approximately 86,000 homes and serve approximately 33,000 customers. Ninety percent of US Cable’s customers are served by a fiber network fed from a single cable head-end.
“The US Cable fiber network is within 100 miles of our fiber network and we plan to connect the two networks, thereby expanding our reach eastward and getting us into the main network operator interconnect location in Minneapolis,” said Pat McAdaragh, Midcontinent’s president and CEO.” ”The US Cable team has done an excellent job managing these systems and bringing the latest technology to smaller, rural communities.”
Midcontinent, based in Sioux Falls, S.D., currently serves about 250,000 customers in 240 communities throughout North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota. Midcontinent offers broadband Internet, digital and high definition television, and local and long-distance phone service. Read more