Aug 02 2006
Houston: Time Warner Out, Comcast In
Thanks to tip from blogHOUSTON, I’ve learned that Time Warner Cable is pulling out of the Houston market and Comcast is moving in. The story originated on the KTRK Consumer Blog:
According to the division president of Time Warner Cable cable, the company is giving control of the Houston market to Comcast under an agreement reached back
in 1985.The two companies have been swapping markets recently after closing a deal to buy up bankrupt Adelphia cable.
The Houston cable swap will not take place until January 1st 2007 at the earliest.
Why is Time Warner pulling out of Houston? David Barron, columnist with the Houston Chronicle, wrote this on Monday:
Coming soon, presumably, to your Chronicle: NFL Network’s stepped-up ad campaign encouraging Time Warner Cable customers to de-mand access to NFL Network.
“We’ve gone quietly, trying to get something done, and going quiet with them isn’t working,” said network spokesman Seth Palansky. “We’ve got to get to our fans and let them know about the issue.”
The situation is particularly irksome in Texas, where Time Warner is the primary cable operator in Houston, Waco, Austin and San Antonio, among others. Time Warner also will operate the Dallas system in an assets swap with Comcast, which carries NFL Network, and is expected to drop the network in that market. …
Apparently, the NFL is exerting more force on Time Warner that we thought. Or, as so eloquently stated by The Times’ Sports Free for All:
If the Corleone family is need of a new godfather, they can turn to NFL commish Paul Tagliabue.
Update: The Houston Chronicle’s TechBlog has the story now with latest information.
jkOnTheRun was also out early with Internal memo leaks news of Time Warner Houston dissolving- customers to be switched to Comcast.
Looks like the blog world has been busy again.
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