Verizon’s FiOS service has become pay-TV’s beast in the East, delivering pain to cable TV rivals. With service via its fiber-optic network, Verizon Communications (VZ) has nearly 5.2 million FiOS TV customers, many of them former customers of Time Warner Cable (TWC), Cablevision Systems (CVC) and Comcast (CMCSA). Verizon also has nearly 6 million FiOS Internet subscribers, but many of them are upgrades from Verizon’s slower copper-line DSL
Time Warner Cable (TWC) and Viacom (VIA) on Tuesday announced a long-term programming deal that expands broadband access to content via mobile devices, avoiding any programming blackout. The pair’s current agreement expires Dec. 31. Viacom’s programming includes cable channels Nickelodeon, MTV and Comedy Central. In the new deal, Time Warner Cable gained rights to distribute movie network Epix, a joint venture among Viacom, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Charter Communications (CHTR) reportedly is readying a bid of less than $140 per share for Time Warner Cable (TWC), which an analyst says is too low, while also saying the amount of cash in the deal would be key. “We do not believe a $140 per share offer will be enough to entice Time Warner Cable to sell to Charter — particularly given a cash/stock offer and the time-frame to close,” Stifel Nicolaus analyst Christopher King wrote in a research