Windjammer Cable

[Greg Goodfellow]

Does anyone know about this cable system? It seems that Time-Warner has sold our system to them. We should be glad. At least now, we'll no longer be seeing the message that WTAE, the ABC affiliate in Pittsburgh, is replacing WABC. That message has been running for around a year and a half.

[Big Media]

1-800-DIRECTV


They are shutting most of their West Virginia systems either this month or by March 31 (some franchise agreements call for 90 days notice). They are closing AL of the systems in the Charleston/Huntington DMA. Some of those in Northern WV may be sold to ShenTel but I wouldn't hold my breath. The systems are too small to invest money into upgrading them for DTV.

You know how some corporations transfer their loosing properties to a 3rd party so they can quietly shut them down without dragging the main company into it?

That's Windjammer. They are all former TWC or Rapid Cable execs.

[genlock]

Where are the windjammer systems in Hunt-Chas dma?

[Big Media]

Walton, Quick, Frametown, Elkview, Gassaway (served by Shentel), Crown City/Greenbottom (now Suddenlink, I believe), Pedro (this system may be overbuilt by the TWC cluster in Portsmouth), Birch River, Pritchard (this system may have a buyer), Nettie, Sandyville, Nebo, and Flatrock.

Remember that most of those communities still have stand-alone headends that must be upgraded. There is limited or no fiber in these areas except the fiber that connects Shentel Weston, WV, with Shentel Summersville, WV.

I suspect that Shentel may overbuild those central WV communities if and when Windjammer vacates.

[Greg Goodfellow]

Thanks, everyone. It seems we failed the DTV test the other night, so I'm wondering if we'll be relying totally on DishNetwork as of 2/17. Don't you just LOVE the fact that all the announcements indicated that cable customers would be okay.

Should have known...an earlier incarnation of our cable was known as Bates. And yes, our cable was as dead as were the residents of the motel.

[Big Media]

You are not alone. Econoco Cable; D&C Cable; Bradley Cable; Bowen Cable; Flatgap TV Cable; and Sitka are other examples of cable systems who have gone dark, were acquired, or overbuilt as a direct result of the DTV transition. Granted these systems were already suffering due to stiff competition by Dish and DirecTV, but the DTV upgrades were way too much for these smaller systems to handle.

There are a couple of survivor stories though. Voglers TV Cable, which serves about 100 to 200 customers in Lincoln County (all in Branchland, most up 4-Mile, one of the most God forsaken places on earth), is making a go at it and will continue to operate after the transition.

It can be done.

[genlock]

They just had to get some coupons and buy some cheap converter boxes to make the system work.
Maybe a ups too.