Super Bowl Update

DAVIESS CO., Ind. ― Suddenlink cable customers in the northernmost part of the Tri-State could lose seven Fox cable networks on Wednesday if the cable provider and News Corp. don't reach a new carriage agreement within the next few hours.

Customers in Daviess and Greene counties in Southwestern Indiana stand to lose Speed, Nat Geo, FX, Fox Sports Midwest, Fox Soccer Channel, Fox Movie Channel and Fox College Sports.

Fox broadcast network programming ― provided in the area by LIN TV-owned WTHI-MyFox10 ― is not affected.

"Fox has been focused on completing a renewal agreement with Suddenlink," News Corp. said in a statement.  "We've submitted several proposals to Suddenlink in an effort to make sure you continue to receive all of our networks that you currently have on your TV lineup."

The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission earlier this month approved NewWave Communications' application to provide video services in several additional Southwestern Indiana communities, including several here in the Tri-State.

NewWave has acquired and will soon take over control of cable systems in Elnora, Odon and Plainville, Ind.; those communities were previously served by Suddenlink Communications, which is exiting the market.  (Suddenlink's main presence is in the southern U.S.)

It's not known how much NewWave paid Suddenlink for the systems.

For NewWave, the acquisition of these systems, as well as others in Sullivan, Greene, Vigo, Parke and Clay counties, marks an expansion of its Indiana service territory that began with the company's purchase of Avenue Broadband in 2011.  The company has a substantial presence in both Southeastern Illinois and Southwestern Indiana.

However, with the expansion also comes a contraction elsewhere ― NewWave recently completed its long-planned spinoff of its smaller, non-modernized systems in Crawford, Dubois, Spencer and Warrick counties to Summit Digital, a small Michigan-based cable provider.  That purchase involved an unspecified amount of cash and stock.

NBCUniversal and Suddenlink Communications today announced an extensive affiliation agreement to offer NBCUniversal’s entire portfolio of broadcast and cable content to Suddenlink cable customers.

For Suddenlink customers in this part of the country, the agreement covers retransmission consent for continued carriage of cable networks USA, Bravo Media, cloo, Chiller, CNBC, G4, MSNBC, mun2, NBC Sports Network, Oxygen Media, Syfy, Telemundo Media and Universal HD.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We are thrilled to continue our successful and long standing partnership with Suddenlink,” said Matt Bond, NBCU EVP, content distribution. “This agreement underscores our commitment to TV Everywhere and I’m pleased Suddenlink appreciates the value our strong portfolio of broadcast stations, cable networks and Olympics coverage delivers to their subscribers.”

“We’re excited about the opportunity to continue featuring NBCUniversal networks and stations on our cable line ups, under an agreement that is fair and reasonable to our customers,” said Patty McCaskill, SVP and chief programming officer, Suddenlink. “Among other things, this agreement allows us to enhance our Suddenlink2GO service, which give our customers the ability to enjoy popular programs on multiple devices, inside and outside their homes.”

Cequel Communications Holdings, LLC, which does business as Suddenlink Communications, announced today that it and its existing equity holders have reached an agreement under which BC Partners and CPP Investment Board (CPPIB) will partner with Suddenlink's management team, led by its chairman and CEO Jerry Kent, to purchase the company for $6.6 billion from Goldman Sachs Capital Partners, Oaktree Capital Management and Suddenlink's other equity holders.

Suddenlink, which was founded in 2003 from the post-bankruptcy remains of the former Classic Communications, is today the seventh-largest cable system operator in the United States.  It has grown exponentially (from 325,000 customers to over 1.4 million) in recent years, having acquired systems from companies such as Alliance, Cox, Charter, Tele-Media, Shaw, Thompson and USA Media.

Suddenlink offers television, high-speed Internet and phone service to over 1.4 million residential and commercial customers, primarily in Texas, West Virginia, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana, as well as Tri-State communities such as Odon, Plainville and Elnora, Ind., and just south of the immediate Tri-State, the city of Russellville, Ky.

"This agreement will allow us to continue to invest in our infrastructure, new technology, and most importantly, our people," said Suddenlink's Chairman and CEO Jerry Kent.  "We have 6,000 employees who are dedicated to providing a superior level of customer care, and who generate consistent, industry-leading operating results.  The injection of fresh, forward-looking capital is a testament to their hard work and capabilities.  We thank our lenders and original investors who believed in us and helped us build such an amazing company.  We believe our new partners are a perfect match for our management team, to help us keep doing what we do best - taking better care of our customers than our competitors - and we look forward to continuing our long, successful track record of delivering superior returns."

"Suddenlink is one of the most attractive cable companies in the U.S. today, with a world-class infrastructure and a dedication to providing customers with the very best offering and service," said BC Partners co-chairman and managing partner Raymond Svider.  "We are excited to be partnering with Jerry Kent and the high quality and experienced management team he has assembled.

"This represents a unique opportunity to acquire a leading cable operator that has consistently generated industry-leading results," said André Bourbonnais, senior VP for private investments at CPPIB.  "We are delighted to partner with Suddenlink's management team and BC Partners to position the company for continued growth and long-term success."

The sale of the company is expected to close in the fourth quarter of this year, pending regulatory approval.